A Witch at Home: A little on Witchcraft in the Kitchen

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Although, my last blog post had me in a position of sharing my practices, once again my guides have taken me off one path and on to another. Sometimes I think they are just as lost as I am. However, I do understand why they are having me jump around. It’s like looking through old photo albums to understand where I have been and to where I will be heading. Good and bad memories need to be left in the past to allow oneself to be in the moment. This post came from one of those moments, in how I was conversing about how cooking can be just as a magickal act as casting a spell.

The kitchen has been the heart and hearth of many homes, past and present. When you have a gathering in your home, where do most of your guests end up? The kitchen, of course! The kitchen is like an old pair of sweat pants. It’s comfortable. It’s warm. It’s where you watched your mom make your favorite meals and ate cake batter off your grandmother’s spoon. It’s a familiar place to be, even if you’re in unfamiliar surroundings. This connection to the kitchen is the same as our ancestors had with the hearth of the house. The hearth was the center of the home, it provided heat on cold winter nights, and it was where the meals of the day were cooked. The hearth was also the focal point for many magickal and spiritual practices. It acted much like a household altar. Many of today’s fireplace traditions can be traced back to the days of the hearth’s predominance in the home.

Magick in the kitchen and hearth goes back thousands of years and is practiced across cultures. Fire and stone ovens were thought to be magickal because of their transformative powers. As society progressed, a large iron cauldron hung regularly over the fire of the hearth. In many households, this is where dinners were cooked and laundry was washed, and medicines were made, all in the same pot. What we consider old world Witchcraft, folk magick, and superstitions today was a common practice that could be found in the days of the hearth. Many of which can now be seen in two paths or traditions in modern Witchcraft, known as Kitchen and Green Witchcraft.

Kitchen Witchcraft is a unique tradition of many solitary practitioners. It is about finding sacredness in everyday simple acts such as cooking and cleaning. Kitchen Witches make the simple chores of everyday life a sacred and magickal act, and for many, this is also how they honor their gods and goddesses.  Kitchen witchery can be seen as one of the oldest forms of Witchcraft in that it follows the tradition of the wise women of ancient times.  Even if you do not practice any sort of kitchen magick, the power of food and how it sparks emotions and memories is almost magick in itself. Is there a meal or dish that creates a feeling of happiness or love? It is this magick that can be shared with anyone. From cooking a meal for a significant other on Valentine’s Day to making a pot of chicken soup for a sick friend, everyone adds a little magick to their cooking. It’s about the intent and emotion behind the cooking. For Witches and non-Witches alike, we all add a little magick to what we prepare. Then there is also the concept of using food itself within spell work. Spells that use food or those that are focused within the kitchen are some of the oldest practices in Witchcraft. This may be due to the easy access and commonality of food in our lives. Witches of old did much of their practices around the hearth. Where today this can be seen as a stove and what has become known as kitchen witchery. From baking bread with bay leaves to egg divination, kitchen-based spells can be found in every tradition.

A few years ago, there was a TV commercial that would show someone drawing a heart in peanut butter before making a sandwich and then presenting it to someone. I immediately could see the potential of a spell happening to the unsuspecting mothers coping this act. Kitchen witchery is about transforming the ordinary and mundane tasks and making them sacred and magickal. Cooking is no exception; even simple morning toast can be a magickal act. Bon appetit!

Back to the Basics: The Beginning

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This last Full moon had an interesting effect on me, In the middle of my personal ritual I started reciting and performing a few of my older parts of ritual that I have not done in years. Many of which come from my earlier Wiccan/Witchcraft days and some even further from my learning years. It was though I had forgotten my current practices and my mind filled in the blanks with the ones that were embedded from the beginning.

After I was done, I had to pull out my first BOS just to verify that what I had just automatically did was in fact from that time period. It was! For most of the following day I pondered what to do with this and why it happened. Was there a reason I went back to these basics, was there something I needed to learn from this? The truth is these practices do not resonate with me anymore, or so I thought.

I decided to use the remaining night of the Full moon to experiment and do another ritual only utilizing these past practices. I even dusted off a few of my older tools, which surprisingly still held their energies. What I discovered was more than I had expected. I felt more connected, more in the moment and even better yet, more on the threshold of being between the worlds. As much as I feel that my belief systems have changed or evolved, I felt that certain something I haven’t felt in a long time, excitement. It was like the first time discovering a new practice or being shown a new way of doing something from your guides. The only downfall to all this was this raised a lot more questions.

What followed next was what led me to this blog post. I needed to find out why and what this was all about. So, what is a Witch to do? Well… meditate of course. I sat in meditation for over 3 hours conversing with my guides, ancestors and the various Deities I keep in high regard. In their typical fashion, no one would give me straight answer. Which then lead me to realize this is something I need to figure out for myself. It wasn’t until I figured that out, that Hekate shed some light on a few things that I started to see the bigger picture. My path was to change direction again, but before that I needed to close out a few past receipts that I had and cash in on some that I have been neglecting.

I will not disclose all of these here as many are personal. However, there are few that I can share and plan to keep sharing, right here. As many who have been to my classes and signings know, I have always stated that I never wanted to be an author, it was my guides who led me to do so. From that I found myself down a path I never would have thought I would be on. From running successful events like the Pocono Witches Festival to owning my own store. Unfortunately, the one thing that took a back seat was my writing, that’s not to say I haven’t been writing, I just haven’t done a whole lot, especially here on the blog. Well, that was until now. So, the plan is to go through my old BOS and “re-live” my past rituals and practices and share them here. This will keep me writing and also fulfill another aspect that is needed, routine and structure!

With so much going on, keeping the routine and structure in my practices has declined. That’s not to say I do not have them, I have just gotten side tracked with everything else. Over the years I have followed less of the structured rituals most often found in many wiccan based traditions that I had started with. I feel this event of going back to my roots that was presented is guiding me to put more structure into my practices. However, I have to figure out how this will flow into my current spiritual beliefs. I hope you will join me on this new and exciting curve of my path. Over the next few weeks I will be sharing many of my past personal rituals and practices, as well as my journey as I return to the beginning.

Connecting with the Elements: Water

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Happy Lughnasadh!

For me, this month of working with the element of Water and the direction of West has been a whirlwind or in keeping with the theme a whirlpool.  So much has happened over this past month, I don’t know where to begin. I think the element has made experience every emotion a human can feel and then some. I will be glad when this one is over and I can move into the North and ground. I found it really interesting that everything that was pre-planned within this month fell in line with the element. From events that centered around the elements to taking a break with a camping and rafting trip down the Delaware River. The scary thing is that I still have a week or two before I am finished and I can see it getting worse. As I come to a close, I can feel situations pulling my moral compass into directions that are going to fuel emotions and my mouth. Retrograde has nothing on the element of Water.

This Month I put a focus on not only the element itself, but its associated direction and my traditions animal spirit of Bear. Bear for me has many personalities. Bear can be the two-sided mamma Bear who is loving and nurturing, and yet be the fierce protector. Bear is also the guardian and doorkeeper of the underworld. When working the Wheel, Bear takes over your journey after Wolf/Coyote lead you down your path. He takes you the land of the dead where you find your true self. Bear introduces you to your ancestors and puts in dangerous situations that rip you apart from the inside out.

Bear resides in the West, he lives at the base of the mountains, where lies certain death (hence his association with the dead).  But enough of Bear and the West lets talk a little about the element of Water.

The element of Water is most often connected with our emotions. Water is life’s necessity without it nothing can live. It is a component in the cells of all living beings; it is our very essence. It is the one common denominator that connects all as one. Water is constantly flowing and changing, which is why it’s associated with our emotions. Both cannot remain in one state for long and are always in constant motion. Our emotions are what define and shape who we are as living beings and as Individuals. In “The Modern Witch’s Curriculum”, I replaced the word Water with LOVE to help the reader subconsciously connect with the element. So, I will do the same here from this point forward. When we focus on increasing the LOVE element in our lives, we begin the process of cleansing and healing our spirit. The element helps us purify and cleanse our spirit of harmful emotions that could be holding us back. Once these emotions are removed or at least acknowledged, we can begin the healing process while working within this element. This is a time to focus on working out those unresolved issues that so many of us hold on to.

I have listed the practices that I will be working on over the next few weeks, as well as a few others that you can do to connect with the direction and the element of LOVE.

Mindful Bathing

I tend to do this more often than meditation when exploring this element. Although, I do still like to listen to the sounds of the ocean or rain when going to sleep, which usually turns into a conventional meditation session anyway. When doing mindful bathing, I recommend not using candles, incense, or salts. This will keep your focus on just one element. Prepare by drawing a warm bath. Before stepping in, request the element to physically, mentally and emotionally cleanse, heal and purify you. As you step in, envision the healing LOVE enveloping your body and spirit. Once you are settled and comfortable, breathe slowly and deeply.  Allow the LOVE to help you relax. Imagine becoming one with the LOVE. When you are finished remember to that the element of LOVE.

Devotionals

During this month I choose to devote time to two of the most important allies in my life, my Ancestors and the Orisha, Oshun. Although, both are always a normal focus for me, I really made it a point to sit and talk with them each day, rather than just my normal morning rituals. I have a strong relationship with both already, that this didn’t put me out of my comfort zone too much.

When creating a devotional routine to a Deity in connection with the element of LOVE, I would do this with a Deity that has some form of linking the element in their mythos or to you personally. You do not have to make it lengthy, just spend a few moments with your deity, asking for blessings, advice, or just thanking them. I usually like to offer incense and say a few words.

Ritual

Because each month begins and ends with a Full Moon ritual as I work through the ritual becomes a major part of connecting with the elements. I started this month off with a full moon cleansing ritual. Even though the members of my group are not going through the prep work of connecting with each element. They get to reap the benefits of the elemental focus of the rituals. For this Full Moon we utilized the cleansing and healing magickal properties of water by washing away the harmful energies that may lay dormant in our mind, words, and heart. We also put a lot of focus on our ancestors with a meditation session and then sending any messages we had for them down the river.

There are many ways you can add water to your Full Moon rituals, in my first book “Casting Creative Magickal Circles” I have a circle casting that uses water taken from the four directions to cast a circle.

Divination

Many divination practices work well during this month as well. From scrying to dreams, this element has a profound effect on our ability to use our intuition. As with any types of magickal practices I always recommended keeping a journal, so why not keep a journal of your dreams this month. You find that your dreams will be heightened as you work through the element. Although, dreams are most often associated with the element of fire. It is the actual dream and the messages contained within them that can be attributed to the element of LOVE and not the actual act of dreaming.

You can also incorporate the use of tarot in when working with the element of LOVE. Here are a few ways to use tarot this month:

– Refresh your knowledge of all the cup cards of the deck.

– Pick a card that is associated with the element to mediate on each day.

– Use a spread that focuses on the magickal correspondences of LOVE. Here is one from “The Modern Witch’s Curriculum” that I tend to use often.

 

Place card 1 on the far left, then place card 2 and card 3 diagonally going down. Then place card 4 and 5 diagonally going up. Place card 6 between card 1 and 5 and above 3.

 

  1. Your tide. What state are your emotions?
  2. Your dam. What blocks you?
  3. Your depth. Where does my compassion lay?
  4. Your swell. What enlightens you?
  5. Your crest. What is your breaking point?
  6. Your ship. What will make you successful?

 

Some other things you can do

I have listed other things that I will be doing throughout the month and that I have done in the past as well.

– Write a Letter to someone who you have something to say too.

– Clean your house, car or office

–Research and learn about how other traditions and cultures view and use the element of LOVE. If we look at the history of our ancestors, there is a direct correlation between LOVE and spirituality. For some Native American tribes Love is the creative life force. Hindu traditions consider LOVE to be a purifier, life giver, and the destroyer of evil. In the more recent western cultures, the Christian church places significant importance on LOVE as well, in their practices of baptism. Research your own tradition and ancestral practices and their uses and beliefs associated with LOVE.

– Attune yourself to the element of LOVE by evaluating your relationships (parents, children, companions, friends). Science states that our bodies are comprised of approximately 60% of LOVE. Metaphysically, then we can only assume that LOVE and its energy can affect us on a spiritual level and vice versa. According to the Japanese author and researcher Dr. Masaru Emoto, he claimed that our thoughts and emotions could influence water’s molecular structure. He analyzed frozen water crystals that were exposed to thoughts and feelings of positive emotions and found them to have beautiful geometric designs and water influenced by negative thoughts and emotions appeared to create jagged and ugly looking shapes7. Although, Emoto’s work is widely regarded as pseudoscience and has yet to be proven scientifically, there may still be something in his findings, spiritually. If our thoughts can affect the molecular structure of LOVE, then what effect might our thoughts have on our bodies and our emotions? Because our emotions also affect our relationships these two are both closely related to the energy of LOVE. Evaluate your relationships and the emotions they cause. In doing so, you open yourself up to a better understanding of the energy of LOVE.

– Study the correspondences of herbs, oils, and crystals associated with the element of LOVE. Create your own incense or oil recipe. The belief that unconnected things share a metaphysical connection is not an uncommon belief in many cultures and religions. Correspondences are not limited to just Witchcraft, Pagan, and other magickal traditions. Correspondences can also be found in Chinese and East Indian traditional medicine manuals and in many of the worlds religious teachings. This may be the reason that there are so many connections and yet so many differences among the teachings of Witchcraft. Nonetheless, this is what makes modern and eclectic Witchcraft so wonderful. Today, many Witches create their own correspondences based on their own experiences and personal beliefs. However, the one core concept they all share is that everything in nature has a special meaning and can be used in the magickal world. Use these special meanings to create your own LOVE oil or incense based on what you researched.

– Create and perform a spell using the element of LOVE as its focus. LOVE and its magick are often used for healing and purification. For centuries, believers have journeyed to sacred springs and source of LOVE, and more recently people visit spas and hot springs in the hope of relaxation and of being healed. Just as then, the Witches of today understand the energy of LOVE. The practice of ritual bathing to wash away unwanted energies and to shift their consciousness can be seen in many traditions of Witchcraft and many other religions as well. However, these are not the only purposes. LOVE has many uses in magick. Create a spell using LOVE as its main focus or tool.

Connecting with the Elements: FIRE

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Happy Summer Solstice!

Over the last few months I have found myself so busy with countless things to do and organizing the Pocono Witches Festival that I have felt a slip in my spiritual practices and connection. It is not that I fully let everything go, I always make sure I do at least one thing Magickal each day. I was just feeling there was a lack of connection as everything else was consuming me. Well, low and behold, during the last Full Moon my roommate asked to do a ritual about transformation. It was then that I decided to go through a four-month prep for a long overdue vision quest. Now, normally this requires only a month-long period of preparation. Whereas, each week of the month, one uses the time to connect to each direction, element, and the spirits that correspond. I choose to extend that to 4 months (measuring from Full moon to Full moon) for a multitude of reasons, schedule being one, but most importantly to give myself new routines and focus to reconnect. Traditionally, this prep period should be started in the East, however, I decided to start with the South. It just fit better with what I needed and also with the seasonal time of year, with the Summer Solstice falls in the first week. Although, I cannot share everything that is traditionally done during this time I can share with you what I will be doing and some basics that I have done in the past. Most of which will help connect with the direction of South, the element of fire, and spirits of Wolf and Coyote.

Many of these practices and their information can be found in “The Modern Witches’ Curriculum” while others were added for my own personal needs and circumstance.

steel wool of fire cracker

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The direction of South in many traditions, both cultural and modern corresponds to the element of Fire. The element of fire can bring us both creativity and destruction. It is the only element that forms by consuming another element. Fire, unlike the other elements, does not exist in a natural state and is born of change. The element of fire is the strongest of the four and therefor it is the easiest to connect with. When we focus on increasing the fire element in our lives, we increase our creativity, joy, energy, inspiration, and love. The direction also deals with our spiritual selves and the paths we choose to follow. It is the direction and element that can be used to clear our spiritual selves, remove spiritual blockages and transform. It helps us work on our shadow, doubts, and harmful patterns.

I have listed the practices that I will be working on over the next few weeks, as well as a few others that you can do to connect with the direction and the element of Fire.

Meditation

I have always had a problem with morning meditations so I choose to do them at night before I go to bed or while I am laying down. During a normal prep period I like to use guided meditations that are pre-recorded by others or ones that I have written myself. Each night, I repeat the same meditation, however, this go around I am alternating between a few over the month. I have chosen ones that focus either on the element itself, the animal spirits associated with the direction, or the spiritual attributes they are connected with. Some days I am just falling asleep listening to the recorded sounds of a crackling fire. This guided meditation was written many years ago and was posted previously here in another blog post.

Spirit of the Wolf Guided Meditation

Begin by lighting a candle and some incense. Turn off the lights. Close your eyes, make yourself comfortable and relax. Next begin to prepare for the meditation by breathing in deeply through your nose, filling your belly, hold for a count of three and exhale through your mouth. Do this three times, or until you feel relaxed, centered and open.

Feel the room around you, acknowledge the glow of the candle and scent of incense.
As you breath in, begin to visualize the smoke of the incense circling you, surrounding you.
It begins to create a bubble around you. This bubble will protect your body on your journey.

You find yourself sitting in the dark, outside on a hill.
You can feel the cool grass beneath you, but, the air is warm around you.
Crickets quietly chirp in the distance.
Although, you are sitting in the dark, you are not afraid….
Appearing before you is the spirit of the wolf.
He sits harmlessly before you.
Looking closer you can see that he is in spirit form rather than solid, yet his soft fur sways in the warm breeze.
He will be your guide on this journey and will take you through the phases of the moon.
Begin your journey by feeling and reaching out to wolf’s energy.
Allow it to mix with your own, you will become one with wolf.

Now, as wolf, looking up to the black sky, you notice a tiny sliver of light begin to appear, it is the new moon.
Feel and see yourself going toward the moon.
At the same time the moon also comes to you.
You and the moon meet and join together.. You are the new moon….
Take some time and feel the energy of the new moon.
It is of new beginnings and birth.
Allow yourself to succumb to its energy and let the moon show you what you need to learn at this time…….

After a moment, wolf calls you back and to let go of the new moon’s energy.
As you pull away, you begin to see the sliver of the moon begin to grow into a waxing crescent moon.
Its energies of growth and love begin to surround you.
Allow the knowledge of where you are headed to enter you, let the moon show you what steps you need to take to grow at this time.

Again, the wolf calls you back after a few moments, the images begin to fade and you are now overcome by the bright light of the full moon… The energies and power are almost too overwhelming.
It is time to open yourself up to them and be the full moon.
These powerful energies feel as though they are recharging you, like a battery.
You can feel your own magikal energies reach the highest they have ever been.
You are now glowing with pure positive energy.
The energy pours out of you in all directions and reflects off the clouds above and touches the trees and plants below.
As above, so below you are the full moon…

Just as you feel you are able to expand your energies around the world, the light fades into a waxing crescent moon.
It begins to draw back some of the energies you have just absorbed.
Along with some the full moon energies, the waning moon extracts all the negative thoughts you hide within yourself.
It takes your fears.
Your self-created obstacles.
You can see all this pouring out of you in a long dark plume of black smoke…..

You are now floating in darkness, no sound…Total emptiness.
You are not afraid. You know you are protected by the spirit of the wolf.
This is the time to confront all the negatives that had poured out of you.
Face them, learn from them… This is the dark of the moon……….

After a moment, all the images begin to fade as you hear the cry of the wolf.
You have now returned to the hilltop, looking up, you can see all the moon phases in the sky.
Bid farewell to them, individually and thank them for their wisdom.

Eventually, the darken sky becomes day and before is the wolf.
Thank and honor his spirit.
You may also wish to take a moment to accept any wisdom he gives you.
Say your farewells… Take 3 breaths, and open your eyes….

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Devotionals

Although this is one area I myself struggle with, devotionals are a great way to keep the lines of communication open with your deities. During this month I have chosen to keep a devotional routine to Hekate as the Light-Bringer. As one of the major epitaphs of Hekate that I work with is Hekate Phosphorus, I thought she would be a great way to connect to not only the element but to also connect with my path and the loss of its sight. When creating a devotional routine to a Deity in connection with the element of fire, I would do this with a Deity that has some form of linking to fire in their mythos or to you personally. You do not have to make it lengthy, just spend a few moments with your deity, asking for blessings, advice, or just thanking them. I usually like to offer incense and say a few words.

Magickal Workings

This is one area I do not have problems with keeping a routine, I tend to do something magickal every day. Although, with the amount of work there is to do with running 2 large events, the podcast, and meeting with clients (even though that sometimes falls under magickal workings) I am finding it harder to do this. The good thing is that I needed to make more candles to put on The Hierophant website. I have chosen to concentrate this portion of the month to creating more of my magickal candles. I understand not everyone has an outlet to make a mass number of candles throughout the month. However, that shouldn’t stop you from doing some form of candle magick for yourself or others during the month. For example, lighting a 7-day magickal candle each week for any intention will not only bring you closer to setting up a daily magickal routine, it brings you closer to the element of fire regularly for the month.

Ritual

Because I started this on the Full Moon of June, I was fortunate that the Summer Solstice fell within the month fire. What a better way to connect with the element than honoring a big ball of fire. Even if there was no major magickal calendar event to happen, I set out to also do a ritual during every aspect of the moon. THE MOON!! You may be asking yourself what does the moon have to do with fire. For one, in many cultures, some form of fire has always present or is a focus during any Full Moon ceremony or spiritual event. Even if we think of how the moon is lit in the night sky, we can attribute that to fire, well to that big ball of it in the sky at least. Thinking in the terms of the suns light reflections we can mirror this in our rituals by working on our own spiritual reflected self by using the phases of the moon.

Because many of my blog posts are shared on social media, where groups usually discourage the sharing of rituals and spells (I guess they feel it’s better for people to turn to unknown sources that an experienced Witch for these things). However, you can find rituals for every phase of the moon in “The Modern Witches Curriculum”. What I will share is one of the Tarot Spreads that can also be incorporated into any Waning Moon ritual.

Waning Moon Tarot Spread

wan tarot

Place Card 1 on the far left and card 2 on the far right. Then place cards 3-6 from top to bottom in a crescent moon shape between the first 2 cards.

  1. What is going right in your life?
  2. What needs to be removed from your life?
  3. What is the cause of what needs to be removed?
  4. What can you do to achieve the removal?
  5. What outside influences are available to me?
  6. What changes should I expect?

Some other things you can do

I have listed other things that I will be doing throughout the month and that I have done in the past as well.

–Research and learn about how other traditions and cultures view and use the element of fire. Fire has and probably always will be an important part of human culture. From the Greek myth of Prometheus stealing fire from the gods to the burning bush in the Christian Bible, fire has always been a part of our spirituality and religion. Fire plays an important role in Witchcraft as well. It is one of the building blocks of the universe, a foundation of our magick circle, and a tool in purification rites.

– Attune yourself to the element of fire by making a list of 5 things that get you all fired up, either angry or inspired and take a constructive action to change or invoke these things. In his book Earth Power, famous Wiccan author, Scott Cunningham wrote “Attuning and working with these energies in magic not only lends you the power to affect dramatic changes in your life, it also allows you to sense your own place in the larger scheme of Nature.”

Understanding what attributes of fire, we possess or lack help us maintain a spiritual balance within ourselves and the world around us. When our fire energy is in balance, we are often more joyful and playful, communicate better, and have a true enthusiasm for life. Some symptoms when we lack or are out of balance are depression, insomnia, loss of spark, and a need for control. Know that there are specific compensations for a weak or lacking element that can sometimes also create balance.

-Study the correspondences of herbs, oils, and crystals associated with the element of fire. Create your own incense or oil recipe. Not all Witches use element correspondences however, those who do know there is a great deal of variation between traditions. In most cases, in Witchcraft the elements are involved in one way or another and each offer something unique and special.

– Get a chakra balancing through reiki work or some other practice that you feel comfortable with.

There are so many things you can also do each day to help you connect with the direction, the spirits, and the element. Something as simple as lighting a candle while you are home to setting some time as side to do some shadow work. I will be posting one outline a month if you choose to follow or just dabble in connecting to each element. Balance is key to a healthy spiritual life.

“Look! He is coming to the people

running with the sacred fire

fire is medicine, it is powerful.”

-Blackfoot Medicine Song

A Creative Ritual for Abundance Using Tarot Instead of Your Normal Tools

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Crystal Mystic Tarot Future Fortune Prophecy

As someone with an artist mind, I am always trying to find creative approaches to writing rituals. This is what led to writing my first book, “Casting Creative Magickal Circles”. Although, the formalities found in the book are all for casting of the magick circle, I have also written full creative rituals (hmmm future book). A few years ago, I was working with a small band of ill-equipped Wiccans in New Jersey, where we alternated hosting and presenting rituals utilizing their own tools and items. When It came to my turn in the wheel, I had this dilemma of not wanting others to use my tools. So, creatively, I wrote the ritual using alternatives. Knowing that many of the tools used in Witchcraft or in this case Wicca can also be found as symbols within most tarot decks, it was a sure alternative. Since it’s not so much about the tool as it is about the symbolism that triggers our minds when in a ritual state.

All that is truly needed for this ritual is a tarot deck that has traditional type images of the suits of pentacle, cup, wand, and sword, however, any other items such as candles, incense, stones, etc. can be added.

Preparation: Locate and pull out these cards in order, placing the cards in this order from top to bottom.

Ace of Swords (will be used as an athame)

Ace of Pentacles (North, Earth, Abundance)

The Sun (East, Beginnings, Joy)

Ace of wands (South, Fire, Energy)

Death (West, Change, emotion)

The Emperor (Male, God, Leader)

The Empress (Female, Goddess, Mother)

The World (The All, the Collective)

Ace of Cups (Bounty, Abundance)

Tarot Ritual of Abundance

bembo-visconti-tarot-cups-01-ace

 

Starting in the north where abundance is an attribute. With cards in hand turn over the first card (Ace of Swords), slowly walk clockwise around your space visualizing protective and loving energy creating a circle and then expanding into a sphere around your space.

As you walk say or something similar:

“I cast this circle with love and protection,

As it grows so does the Earth,

Together as one in joy and abundance.”

When you return to the North place the card on the altar,

Saying: “So mote it be”.

Starting again in the North, Place the Ace of Pentacles down on the ground or on the altar in its direction saying or something similar:

“I call upon the spirit of the North and of Earth,

I welcome you to this circle.

You bring me the bounty and stability in my

Ever-changing world.”

 

Moving to the East, place The Sun card and say or something Similar:

“I call upon the spirit of the East and of Air,

And welcome you to this circle.

You bring me victory and new beginnings in my

Ever-changing world.”

 

Continuing to the South, placing the Ace of Wands saying or something similar:

“I call upon the spirit of the South and of Fire,

I welcome you to this circle.

You bring me the spark and motivation in my

Ever-changing world.”

 

Lastly, place the Death card in the West saying or something Similar:

“I call upon the spirit of the West and of Water,

And welcome you to this circle.

You provide change and empathy in my

Ever-changing world.”

 

Returning back to the North, Place The Emperor card on the right side of the altar saying or something similar:

“I call to the Father God, leader of the ever-changing world, who without will see no abundance.”

 

Next place The Empress card on the left side saying or something similar:

“I call to the Goddess, Mother of all, who without will not grow.”

 

Place The World card in the top center saying or something similar:

“Hail and Welcome to All that is represented here and in my ever-changing world”

 

Once you feel comfortable and connected, place the Ace of Cups in the center of the altar with a focus of abundance in your life and say or something similar:

“In this ever-changing world I live, I am connected to its ebb and flow, it’s ups and downs. Its shortcomings and richness’s. Today I am in need of abundance, so that tomorrow I may give in return. As the Earth replenishes its lows, let my cup spill over so that I may do the same.”

“As above, so below let abundance flow. So, Mote it Be!”

 

At this time, you may want to add any aspect of ritual that your tradition calls for.

When you are ready, Thank the God and Goddess and return the cards to the deck in reverse. Staring in the west, moving counter clockwise, say or something similar:

“Farewell spirit of the West

I thank you for your presence

May you continue to nourish my heart”

 

Return the Death card to the deck. Move on to the South saying or something similar:

“Farewell to the spirit of the South and of Fire,

I thank you for providing the passion for my spirit to move forward”

 

Return the Ace of Wands to the deck, continue to the East and say or something similar:

“Farewell spirit of the East

I thank you for your attendance and

Bringing me victory to start anew.”

 

Return The Sun card and move on to the North,

“Farewell spirit of the North

I thank you for your presence

May you always provide me with abundance.”

 

Take up the Ace of Swords, walking counter-clockwise and release the circle saying or something Similar:

“I release this circle of joy and abundance,

Out into the universe,

In celebration of the ever-changing world.

So, Mote it be!”

 

Return the card to the Deck and Ground.

 

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How to Write Your Own Guided Meditation from The Modern Witch’s Curriculum by E. Massey

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In “The Modern Witch’s Curriculum”, the month of March has a focus on meditation and healing. One of the activities the reader is asked to do, is to write their own guided meditations. Out of all the writing I do, guided meditations are my absolute favorite. As an artist, this is the perfect way for me to convey the images and worlds I create in my mind and put them in an expressive format. Writing guided meditations is not as hard as you might think, in fact, if you have been self-meditating you have already been creating your own meditations. All you need to do is put them down on paper.

Writing Your Own Guided Meditation

Before you begin have a clear intent or goal for your guided meditation. Get into the right frame of mind, I like to take a few moments to focus and relax as if I am actually going to meditate. This makes it much easier for you to visualize what you are writing about. You may want to plan out your script, starting with a bullet point list of events you wish to describe in the meditation. Another method is to get into a state of deep relaxation, and then allow the entire meditation script to flow. Personally, I allow my guided meditation scripts to gradually form in my mind as I write. Allowing my mind to create what is happening, like watching a movie unfold and then putting it down on paper. Everyone is different, so the approach you take is entirely up to you. You may want to add music or environmental sounds to your meditation. Music can make or break a guided meditation it not only adds beauty but it also helps to relax and depth to the overall mood of the journey. As you write your meditation, you may want to add in symbolic images. In a deeper state, symbolic guided imagery can be very powerful. Consider the specific purpose of your guided meditation, and then introduce symbols that represent that purpose and give deeper meaning to the journey. Be wary of sentence length. Allowing a moment for visualizations to occur. Then move on to the next sentence.

General Structure of a Guided Meditation

  1. Getting comfortable

Give the listener a little time to prepare for the meditation and to get comfortable.

  1. Start with a general relaxation

Spend five to ten minutes relaxing the body and the mind with visualizations and/or breathing exercises. You may want to use a countdown technique during or just after relaxation.

  1. Begin the Journey

Start by describing the environment that you will experience. Include all five senses by describing what can be seen, smelled or heard and touched. The more one can connect their senses to the environment, the more deeply they will become immersed. Be careful not to let the description drag on. Don’t spend too much time describing specifics; your imagination will automatically fill in any blanks.

  1. The Return

During the meditation you will become very relaxed and will have entered into a deep state of relaxation. Coming back to normal waking consciousness should be done gently and gradually. One common way is to guide listeners back to the starting point of the meditation. Once you have returned to the starting point, slowly bring your awareness back into the world around them. Becoming aware of their physical body and of their surroundings.

The “Modern Witch’s Curriculum” is available in both print and e-book formats on this website or through your favorite online bookstore.

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Guided Meditation: New Paths with Hekate

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Over last few months I have found myself focused on so many projects (check them out at the end of the meditation), I hardly know the direction I am headed. Luckily, I have a lot of support to help me through this and despite everything I am doing, I still manage to keep my spiritual connections strong. I may not be doing as much magickal work as I feel I should be, but Hekate has always been the one to assure me that I am on the right path. She has understood that my everyday devotionals some times gets puts aside for something else. From the beginning, she has shown me that as long as I acknowledge her in my everyday tasks, I  am good with her. I found this to be very different from what I was used too. Basically, what she has told me was “I have put you on this path, and it is your turn to do the work to continue, the time will come when you can attend to me.”  Don’t get me wrong, It is not that I have not done anything spiritually or magickally over the last few months, I have just slowed down from where I was before. One way that I attempted to stay on a routine is by holding ritual with my group. Unfortunately, the last few times we have had to cancel thanks to the crazy weather here in Pennsylvania.

This guided meditation was from the last full moon ritual that I wrote for the group. I had wanted to share it early but I wanted to wait until I had done it with my group, well that never happened so here it is…

Items needed before you begin: A silver bowl filled with water, Pen and Paper, Candle dedicated to the Goddess Hekate and your favorite incense for meditation.

Before you begin light incense and the candle dedicated to the Goddess Hekate.

Think about the direction you would like your path to take you, whisper this into the bowl of water, take notice of how your breath ripples the water.

Close your eyes, make yourself comfortable and relax. Breath in deeply through your nose, filling your belly, hold for a count of three and exhale through your mouth. Repeat 3x.

Feel the room around you, acknowledge the glow of Hekate’s candles and scent of incense.
As you breath in, begin to visualize the smoke of the incense circling you, surrounding you. It begins to create a bubble around you. This bubble will protect your body on your journey.

The smoke begins fill the room, like a white mist rolling in, becoming more and more dense. Reflecting on the mist is cool white light.

Slowly the light grows brighter and with it the mist starts to disperse, fading away and leaving you standing on rocky terrain, in front of a cave mouth. It is night but everything is cast in a cool blue light. In search of its source you look up and see the moon in full glory. Returning back to your surroundings, to the right of the cave opening is a white statue of Hekate, she is bearing two torches and looking up at the moon. At the statues feet is a large silver bowl of liquid that holds a complete reflection of the full moon.

Wanting to take a closer look at the bowl, you approach the statue. Within, seconds a young girl wearing a white and gold tunic appears out of no where. She points to the bowl and tells you that this is where your journey will begin and where it will end. The bowl is your universe and you need to tell it what you want and that Hekate is only here to shed light on the path you are to take. She continues by telling you to whisper into the bowl, your one true goal or destination.

You thank the girl and she again pointing, this time toward the cave, and tells you that is where your path will start. You begin to walk past her into the cave, inside it is lit by torches hung on both sides of the cave, and you see that the cave narrows to a tunnel. As You walk deeper into the cave you notice that it begins to slope downwards. Soon the tunnel opens out into a cavern. Its ceiling is so high you cannot see it.  The walls and floors are spotted with crystals embedded in the rock, in the center of the cavern stands an altar bearing another silver bowl with a blue flame burning in it.  The light from the flame is reflected by all the crystals throughout the cavern, making it seem as though you are floating in space.

You approach the altar, but as you come close to it, the altar disappears and before you is the figure of Hekate standing in its place.  She wears a simple white tunic and a silver rayed crown. Despite the disappearance of the flame, the cavern is still filled with the light reflected by the crystals.

Hekate smiles at you and points to the far wall behind her.  Among the crystals you can see another silver bowl sitting in an alcove of the rock wall.  Without a word you know what you are being called to do. As you approach the bowl, Hekate’s voice follows you, and she says “This is vision bowl of the Oracles.  You may look into it and it will show you a path for you to follow.” At first glance in to the bowl you can see the full moon. This image fades and begins to show you, your path as it will be as of this night. Watch and remember.

After a while Hekate speaks again, and tells you it is time to go and hands you a piece of paper. She explains that you are to place it into the silver bowl at the mouth of the cave. You thank Hekate and walk towards the entrance you came in through and start to walk up the sloping tunnel towards the surface. Standing once more in the cave opening out in the moonlight with your paper in hand. Turning around you look again at the statue, and see that Hekate is no longer holding torches, but is holding the silver bowl with the blue flame from the altar that was inside the cave. You walk over and place the paper that Hekate gave you into the bowl. As the paper burns it turns into brilliant red light.

As you stare at the beauty of her statue, and consider how lifelike it is, you notice a white mist rolling in, becoming more and more dense, surrounding you and obscuring your surroundings, so you can no longer see the statue or the cave.  All around you is the mist.  And now the mist starts to disperse, and as it does so you see once more the walls around you, the ceiling above and the floor below.  You become aware of yourself in the room with Hekate.s candles once more.

Open your eyes when you ready.

After you have collected yourself, using the pen and paper write down the end goal you now have been shown by Hekate. Light on fire off the Hekate candle and drop it into the bowl of water. Extinguish candle when done.

 

Along with my newest book and class tour. Here is some of the projects I have been up too, click on the image for more information.

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Imbolc, A Festival of (Hekate, The) Light (Bringer), an adaptation from Casting Creative Magickal Circles.

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I have been so consumed with the store, organizing events, and finalizing my Salem tour that I haven’t had a chance to post something new on my blog. I am also hoping by the end of January everything will be put into place and I can return to finishing up “The Little Witch’s Curriculum” before the summer. This would put me around Imbolc. I can honestly say this is not one of my favorites of the Wheel but I do still celebrate it with my group. I also have my own specific practice for this time of the year. I use this “Festival of Lights” to burn off all of the last year’s candles to end or release their magick through one ritual. Although in my own personal practice, I don’t necessarily follow the “Wiccan” Wheel of the year as much as I used to, this year I want (need) to return back to having a more structured spiritual practice. This “resolution” for the year really wasn’t my idea, it was Hekate, who guided me to return to my beginnings. Despite an already cumbersome schedule, I do understand why and the need to do this. It isn’t so much for the religious ideals, but for the routine of ritual and practice. This homecoming would also include more Moon rituals and devotions, all of which would focus around Hekate in some way or another. Thankfully, I am not traveling this journey alone, I completely am letting her guide me every step of the way. Much of this new curve has rolled over into my group, which has been recently reinvented sort of speak as well.  However, we do still hold to The Wheel of the year and enjoy the celebrating of the Sun’s path around the earth. It just now has a foundation in Hekate’s mysteries.

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For this year’s group Imbolc, I plan to use this circle casting from my book “Casting Creative Magickal Circles”. I feel that this one can easily be altered to include the Phosphorus (light-bringer) or Dadophoros (torch-bearer) epithets of Hekate. The adaptations are shown in red.

Festival of Light Group Circle

Items needed: one blue(red) altar candle, one tea light candle for every participant.

Prior to your Imbolc ritual request that every participant brings one tea light to the ritual.

Before starting make sure that all participants have their candles in hand. When ready, begin in the east; the direction of the rising sun(light). Start by lighting the blue(red) altar candle saying:

“We come together in honor of the growing sun(Hekate’s growing light),

Round and round we are bound.”

Starting with the closest person light their candle off the blue(red) altar candle, direct each participant to light their candle off the person next to them. While chanting:

“Round and round we are bound!”

Continue clockwise until all candles are lit.

Once everyone’s candle is light, direct the participants to hold them up and say:

“Together we cast this circle of protection and love (light),

Round and round we are bound.

Gathered together to honor the sun (as Hekate Phosphorus, The Light Bearing Queen) .

With harm to none.”

Visualize protective and loving energy connecting each candle, then expanding into a sphere around your space.

Saying: “So mote it be”.

After the circle is cast direct everyone to place his or her candles on the altar for the duration of the ritual.

When you are ready to release the circle have everyone gather his or her candles. Depending on the length of your ritual some of the candles may have burnt out. Lit or unlit it will not matter for the releasing of the circle. When all participants have their candles in hand, direct them to turn facing outward away from the altar.

Say or something similar:

“We release our circle of love and light (Hekate’s light),

Out into the world.

May its light bring joy (enlightenment) to those in need.”

 

Direct everyone to extinguish his or her candles.

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Witch Cords: By Knot and Feather or Whatever

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Witch’s ladder found in England in 1878

Other than candle magick, Witch cords are my favorite type of sympathetic magick to use. Cord magick also known as knot magick, or a Witch’s ladder is a very old form of folk magick. Traditionally the ladder is made from knotted cord or hair, natural items and charms are knotted or braided with a specific magickal intention in mind. The number of knots and types of woven items can vary as well as the color and number of cords.

The first recorded evidence of a witch ladder was found in an old house in Somerset, England in 1878. A “rope” with feathers and other items woven into it was found in the attic space. However, this is not the only account of such cords used for magickal intentions. The Gospel of The Witches Author, Charles Godfrey Leland discovered that the Witches in Italy used a similar form of the Witch’s ladder, called a “Witches garland”; Which was made of a cord, and contained black hen feathers. It was said that a spell was uttered as each knot was tied and that the cord was placed under the victim’s bed, to cause the ill fortune. Another was mentioned in an article found In Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould’s “Curgenven”; published in 1893. In his account the ladder was made of wool, and white and brown thread, and at every two inches was tied cock’s feathers. It’s maker then would weave into it; ill intentions intended for the victim. The ladder was then thrown to the bottom of a pond.

This type of folk-magick can also be found in its simplest form, also known as “knot magick”. Knot magick was traditionally been used by sailors to bind winds and then untying the knot to stir up a wind. The “Old-wives tale” of using a square knot on a bandage would make a wound heal faster.

marksamcord.jpgDespite it being overlooked by modern Witches, cord magick is very effective and can be done anywhere, at any time, and with any items you have on hand. I often recommend it for those who live and work in non-accepting places. They can be simple or lavish in design, all depends on the Witch. One of the more attractive cords I carry on my online store, The Hierophant, was created by “The Staten Island Witch” Mark Eadicicco for Samhain. Whereas my cords tend to be more traditional in style. Whether of “knot” you choose to cast a more traditional one or a modern one, it’s all about the intention weaved within.

Typically, the more modern “traditional” knot spells use nine knots. While constructing the cord; concentrate and focus your energy on your intent and repeated for each knot that you tie. Thus, your magick will continue to work as long as the knots are tied. Once your goal has manifested or is no longer needed, depending on the intent you should untie, cut and/or dispose of the cord. Tied with in the knots can vary depending on your intent, as would the color of the cords.

To make a basic modern Witch’s ladder, you will need yarn, ribbon, or cord in a color that matches your intent. Some Witches like to use three different colors, one or two for intent (i. e.: money and success), one to represent the knotter (or two in cases of love), and a third to bind (usually red) and nine items that are similar in correspondence (beads, shells, bones, buttons, feathers, stones or whatever you have on hand).

Cut the yarn in a workable length. Tie the ends of the three pieces of yarn together into your first knot. Begin braiding the yarn together, tying and knotting the feathers or beads into the yarn, while adding your energy and envisioning your intent. If you wish, you can say this variation of the traditionally used chant as the items are tied into the knots (not sure where the traditional one evolved from, but this is the one I have used in the past):

By knot of one, this has spell’s begun.
By knot of two, the magick comes true.
By knot of three, so it shall be.
By knot of four, my power is stored.
By knot of five, my will shall it drive.
By knot of six, this spell I fix.
By knot of seven, the future I leaven.
By knot of eight, my will be fate.
By knot of nine, what is done is mine.

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A Day of Thanks and Giving: Understanding the Truth About Thanksgiving and Celebrating it as a Pagan

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Since Samhain I have not had to time to even think about the upcoming holidays. With the opening of the online portion of my store, The Hierophant, setting up my 2019 Salem area tour (yes, I did say Salem, Woohoo!, and finishing up my 2018 classes I have been so consumed. So, I thought I take a moment to talk about what I have come to rename “A day of thanks and giving”. Let’s start with what is commonly taught about Thanksgiving, then what we know as the truth and why I have renamed it and a way we as Witches and Pagans can celebrate it with respect to others who you may be sharing a table with.

Thanksgiving as We Commonly Know It

Thanksgiving is a national American holiday, celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Originally celebrated as a harvest type festival. Since 1789, Thanksgiving has been celebrated nationally but did not become a federal holiday until 1863.

What Americans commonly call the “First Thanksgiving” was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World. It was a feast that had lasted for three days and was reported that it was attended by 90 Native Americans (Wampanoag) and 53 Pilgrims. Another reason for this feast was that it was a symbolic gesture of peace and thanks between the settlers and “Indians”, after an English-speaking chief named Squanto, taught the settlers how to survive. At this feast it was said to contain food that had been grown by the Pilgrims by means of “Indian” knowledge. Turkey, goose, duck, corn, squashes were all to have been placed on this recounted table of “gratitude”.

The Thanksgiving Story as We Should Know It

The real story began in 1614 when European explorers returned to Europe with a ship full of Patuxet Indians bound for slavery. In their efforts to capture new slaves from untouched lands, they had left behind smallpox which virtually wiped out those who had escaped capture. When the Pilgrims arrived in the “new world” they found only one living Patuxet Indian, a man named Squanto (who’s real name was Tisquantum) who had survived slavery and knew their language. He taught them to grow corn and to fish, and negotiated a peace treaty between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Nation which was short-lived.

Word had spread in England about the Eden to be found in the “new world” which caused others to arrive by the boat load. They seized land by any means possible, capturing strong young Natives for slaves and killing the rest. However, the Pequot Nation had not agreed to Squanto’s peace treaty and fought back. Making the lesser known Pequot War one of the bloodiest Indian wars ever fought.

pequot_warThen In 1637 the body of a white man was discovered dead in a boat. Blaming the Pequot tribe who had gathered possibly for their annual Green Corn ceremonies. In the early morning, while the tribe slept, armed settlers invaded and surrounded their camp . Upon ordering them to come outside, those who did were shot or beaten to death and those who remained inside were burned alive. The victory was celebrated with feast as a thank you to their God for winning over the savages and for the newly acquired land.

While many Indigenous people and historians, still debate over what exactly happened to what directly led to the creation of “Thanksgiving Day.”, the truth is it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns, hell it wasn’t even turkey and buttered corn.

National Day of Mourning

The National Day of Mourning is an annual protest organized since 1970 by Indigenous Americans of New England (although, others have joined in) on the fourth Thursday of November, the same day as Thanksgiving. Participants in the National Day of Mourning honor their ancestors and the struggles to survive today. It is also to educate Americans about the history of Thanksgiving. In an interview, Cedric Cromwell, the chairman and president of the tribal council of the Mashpee Wampanoag, said, “…it was a holocaust, and that holocaust must be shared and communicated so that we ensure that mankind doesn’t do that to each other again”. I found it interesting that he still sits down with his family on the day, but for him it’s meaning is about history and truth rather than the myths we have been feed.

A Day of Thanks and Giving

Although, I grew up under Native influence, we still celebrated Thanksgiving (for my grandfather it was always Turkey Day). For us it wasn’t so much about the “American history” it was more of a way for all of our family to get together, and for football. Not that anyone in family really was a die-hard football fan. It was just the American thing to do, I guess. It wasn’t until I reached high school that I learned the horrible history of Thanksgiving. For me this began the drop of calling it Thanksgiving Day, moving on to what my Grandfather called it “Turkey Day”. I’m still not sure to this day if he used this title because of its history or if that’s how he referred to it.  It wasn’t until years later that I used A Day of Thanks and Giving to denote Thanksgiving Day. For me, it means a day to give thanks to the earth and its bounty and to the people in my life by giving the means of food and good cheer. It also has a denotation of respect and honor to many of my ancestors.

father_knows_best_thanksgiving_1954Now that I am hours away from my parents, we do not spend this holiday together. However, I do spend it with my cousin, who was is the daughter of my first teacher. Although, she was raised within a Wiccan household, she is primary Christian based. Which means we say a prayer before we eat. There have been times when this has fallen on me to deliver. With respect to all those present I tend to keep the focus on the Harvest and family aspects of the Holiday. After the prayer we always share a round of things we are thankful for. The following is the prayer that I have used, and of course you can always tweak it to your family and situations.

Day of Thanks and Giving Prayer

We are thankful to Mother Earth for the bounty before us,

We are thankful to our Father who shines above us,

We ask for blessings be bestowed upon our friends and family seated here today

And to those that are not with us but are in spirit

We share this meal in love and respect.

So, it is, so shall be

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