News: The Modern Witch’s Curriculum by E. Massey is Now Available as an E-book for Only 9.99

Posted on February 7, 2019 by E.Massey

Currently Only Available at ww.e-massey.com

There comes a time in every Witch’s life when they feel there is nothing left to learn. When all the classes and all the books just cannot satisfy our desire to want to learn more. What if there was a book for all magickal practitioners that went beyond Witchcraft and magick 101, and 102. What if there was a resource that allowed a Witch to grow and learn without the constraints of a specific tradition and at their own pace?

“A Modern Witch’s Curriculum” is that resource and will fulfill a Witch’s desire to learn and to grow. It allows those who are involved in any of the earth-based religions to progress and learn beyond their initial teachings. It provides many hands-on magickal and spiritual activities and experiences that can be started at any time of the year and on any day of the week. In a way this may be the last book you will ever purchase.

“This is the book that never ends”

“The Modern Witch’s Curriculum” combines history, science, and hands-on magickal and spiritual activities and experiences in an easy to follow calendar format. Although, the curriculum begins in October, it can be started at any time of the year and on any day of the week. There is no beginning or ending to this book. It can be used over and over again.

Best of all, the information in this book is relevant to anyone of any magickal tradition or spiritual background, whether they follow a Wiccan, Green or eclectic path, in fact, much of the book will find an audience to those who want to learn more about their own traditions and themselves. Many of the exercises and activities were created to guide the reader to areas of study and spiritual knowledge by using any resources that are accessible to them. These can be books, the Internet, and even individual experiences of the people within a circle or community. There are no boundaries or requirements on how the reader can collect the information for the activities; it’s all individual choice.

Guided Meditation: New Paths with Hekate

Posted on January 24, 2019 by E.Massey

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.

Info Coming Soon

Witch Cords: By Knot and Feather or Whatever

Posted on November 28, 2018 by E.Massey

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.

Despite 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.

Be sure to stop by E. Massey’s online store, The Hierophant.

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

Posted on November 14, 2018 by E.Massey

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.

Then 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.

Now 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

Don’t Forget to check out E. Massey’s Online Store The Hierophant

Familiars vs. Magickal Pets

Posted on October 29, 2018 by E.Massey

Photo by David Bartus on Pexels.com

With the arrival of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina series on Netflix I am pretty sure that we will see a surge in the black cat and “familiar” craze. Known as Salem, in the original 90’s show Sabrina’s cat companion was a chatty campy fellow who became a fan favorite. This new series based on the comic books of the same name finds Salem’s role to be more feline and in-line with the Witches “familiar”, at least from what I have seen so far. I can honestly say I was not a fan of the original series, but I did give this one a try. I haven’t finished the season yet so my opinions may change and not because how Witches or anything else are portrayed like I’ve seen argued. WHO CARES! IT’S ENTERTAINMENT, WITCHES! Even If you haven’t watched the first season yet, you must have come across the teaser introducing Sabrina’s kitty friend which starts out as a spirit that she called upon. Which is a lot closer to the idea of a “familiar” than a talking cat who wants to take over the world.

Whenever the word “familiar” comes up I always end up cringing at its uses. I find that most people in the community tend to use the word for any household animal and pet. This is not to say that some of these animals couldn’t be considered a familiar. It seems to me that the whole idea has gotten misrepresented and/or misinformed over the years. There is so many meanings to the use of the title of “familiar” that it was hard to track down information. Especially in terms of what has become accepted and adapted within the Pagan and Witch community verses the traditional ideas on the subject. There is so much information I have come across that relates to the Christian theories of the middle ages and the days of the Witch trials. Whereas, “familiars” were “demons” or “Evil” spirits said to be given to Witches by the devil. These spirits took on various animal shapes (in some cases they were described just as non-human forms) that could be sent out to do a Witch’s bidding both magickally and mundanely.

The History in Witchcraft

Familiars, from the Latin “familiaris”, meaning a household servant, were mentioned even in the Bible, depending on which version you read. In the book of Leviticus (20:27) there are referres to the familiar and guardian spirits associated with various spiritual and magickal practitioners: “A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them”. With this punishment, there is no wonder why there was hysteria around Witchcraft.

During the Witch hysteria of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the fascination with a Witch and familiars was mostly found in England and Scotland. Being mentioned in several trial records, especially those related to “The Witch-Finder General” Matthew Hopkins. The Witchcraft Act of 1604 made it a felony to “consult, convene with, entertain, employ, feed, or reward any evil and wicked spirit to or for any intent or purpose.” The Malleus Maleficarum, the main Witch inquisitor’s handbook of the time offered no instructions concerning familiars in the interrogation and trial of Witches. The book does acknowledge that an animal familiar “always works with the Witch in everything.” In the confession of Elizabeth Demdike during the Pendle Witch Trials of 1612 , it was said that her familiar’s name was Tibb. Tibb was a spirit who could take the shape of almost any animal he pleased, and in one piece of her confession he had taken the shape of a black cat. This familiar spirit wanted to aid Elizabeth in the cursing of three local individuals, but when she opposed, he knocked her into a ditch.

In the Salem Trials in 1692, accused John Bradsheet was charged for “inciting a dog to afflict.” The dog was tried and hanged as a Witch. Although there were not as many mentions of familiars in the American Witch trails we can see that over the centuries familiars have taken many forms depending on what was seen as “evil” at the time. These were the cat, mouse/rat, ferret, hare, bat, snake, frog/toad, dog or bird. As time went on and we stepped into the more modern views of the familiar we find that the well-known “King of the Witches”, Alex Sanders, was reported to boast of the creation of a “spiritual baby”, who became one of his familiars.

Modern Views

In modern Witchcraft, wicca, and other Pagan traditions the “familiar” is viewed in an altogether different light. Whereas, a familiar can be any animal with which the individual feels an affinity toward. While these animals are no longer considered demons or even spirits anymore, They are treated with the same respect. Sadly, the consensus seems to also show they have even lost being a partner in one’s practice of magick. Many have adapted the term to mean an actual, living animal companion that they consider a “familiar”. Professing they have an emotional and psychic bond with a particular cat, dog, or whatever pet that have taken into their home. This is all well and good but denotes the traditional concept of the familiar and its potential and might be better suited to be called magickal or spiritual pets.

Another common thought along the “familiar” thread is that they are connected to the indigenous practice of animal spirits, known to many modern practitioners as the cringe-worthy use of the term Totem (read my previous post on this topic). Although, I see the similarities these concepts are completely different. The concept behind “Totem” animals is that they are an animal spirit that has chosen to guard a specific tribe or family and “usually” do not do any type of spiritual bidding for any particular human. Then there is the idea of animal spirit guides that have been chosen or given through ceremony. They can also come to you in a dream or in real life with a message or to teach you a valuable lesson. Shamans and medicine men of various tribal traditions have long honored the spirits of animals for their wisdom and assistance in magickal workings and the mundane. Whereas with the Witch’s familiar, the animal is just the vessel for a spirit and will stay with the Witch for a certain time in order to help him or her magickally, to do his/her bidding, and then they may or may not leave. They can also be called upon or summoned into a Witch’s life just as we see in the Chilling adventures of Sabrina.

Finding and Working with Familiars

One of the best books on the subject I have come across is Raven Grimassi’s “The Witch’s Familiar”. Where he discusses the history and methods on obtaining and working with familiars in a more traditional fashion. He utilizes the concepts of meditation, journeying, and ritual to achieve this goal. He explores the ideas of three different types of familiars: physical, astral, and spiritual in a way that no matter what your take is on the subject, he covers it intelligently.

Whether or not you follow the ways Grimassi points out or your own, the bottom line is that familiars are magick users’ helpers who exist in both the spirit and the mundane. Depending on the Witch’s work, familiars can serve as gatekeeper, messenger and guide. There are many ways for a familiar and a Witch to work together. A Witch may send a familiar to complete a task or serve as guard during magickal work to protect and alert to the presence of spirits that may be harmful. The ways are endless.

Also know that not everyone has, needs, or even wants a familiar. I myself have found no use for them at this time, I just find the whole subject intriguing. If you have an animal companion that you consider a familiar but doesn’t fit the traditional ideas, many suggest working on strengthening your psychic connection with that animal.

If an animal has appeared in your life unexpectedly, such as a stray cat that sticks around, it may have been drawn to you psychically. However, be sure to rule out mundane reasons it has arrived. Do you leave food for them to eat? Is it that time of year? many animals tend to scavenge during the spring and fall. I truly believe that the best way to gain a familiar is through summoning one into your life. Also note that this is completely different from summoning and binding spirits for workings that can be found in many other Witchcraft traditions. Familiars are about connecting with animals that are used as vessels by spirits that are connected to you by other means. Those means are only privy between Witch and familiar and if you are lucky maybe it will be just as campy as the original Salem, and want to take over the world.

Dont forget to check out The Hierophant opening October 31 2018

List of New Classes and Workshops by E. Massey for 2019

Posted on October 23, 2018 by E.Massey

With 2019 just around the corner E. Massey has put together a list of the classes and workshops he will be offering to the community. In the coming year he will offer more intense topics than his previous classes (which will still be available upon request) that will encourage spiritual exploration and personal growth to students. Booking information can be found at www.e-massey.com or by emailing a request for details to Androide Entertainment at entertainment.robots@gmail.com or emx0912@gmail.com

Massey Workshops and Classes 2019

Details of each workshop and class can be found below

Adult Classes and Workshops

Magickal Paint and Sip
Raising Little Witch’s: Developmentally appropriate approaches to spirituality
Pillars of Belief: The Hermetic Principles in Modern Witchcraft
Beyond the Athame: Casting creative magick circles
The Faces of Gods and Goddesses: Understanding the essence of a Deity
Lost Phases of the Moon: Honoring the waning and waxing moons

“Little Witches” Classes and Workshops

Yes, No, Maybe so: An introduction to divination for children (ages 7-11)
You Want a Time Out? Basic meditation for children (ages 4-11)
Who wants Ice Cream? Exploring pantheons and Pagan traditions for children (ages 4-11)
The Wheels on the Bus: Developmentally approaches to understanding the Wheel of the Year (ages 4-11)

Adult Classes and Workshops Details

Magickal Paint and Sip

Massey’s most popular and one of a kind workshop combines art and magick into a relaxed and fun class. Where no artistic or magickal skills needed, everyone is a magickal artist. E. Massey will guide attendees in creating a one of a kind magickal masterpiece. Learning how to incorporate magick and spell work into art with color, herbs, energy, and intention. All painting supplies, canvases, easels, and aprons will be provided. Attendees are to bring beverages or any snacks. Painting subjects and spell work may vary.

Raising Little Witch’s: Developmentally appropriate approaches to spirituality

Parents will learn how to use early childhood education and developmental theories to encourage and foster a child’s spirituality. Explore non-evasive ways to incorporate the fundamentals of Witchcraft and Pagan beliefs into a child’s chosen spirituality. Based on E. Massey’s tentative book, The Little Witch’s Curriculum this workshop takes a new approach to raising spiritually minded children.

Pillars of Belief: The Hermetic Principles in Modern Witchcraft

Discover how the Hermetic philosophies found in The Kybalion can be related to the modern teachings and ideals of today’s Witchcraft. Explore these “universal laws” and why they are the pillars of many belief systems found around the globe. Learn new approaches to incorporating these ancient teachings into today’s spiritual world through activities found in E. Massey’s book, “The Modern Witch’s Curriculum”.

Beyond the Athame: Casting creative magick circles

Based on E. Massey’s first book, “Casting Creative Magickal Circles”, attendees will learn and discuss the history, ways, and alternatives to casting the magick circle. Books will be available to purchase and sign.

The Faces of Gods and Goddesses: Understanding the essence of a Deity

Explore how the Gods and Goddess of the world’s traditions are more than the faces and names we give them. Learn how understanding their essence can break down the confines of how we view our own spirituality. Attendees discover how indigenous teachings and the Hermetic philosophies can reshape the modern spiritual concepts of Deities.

Lost Phases of the Moon: Honoring the waning and waxing moons

Learn how to honor and harness the power of the often-forgotten moon phases. From rituals to tarot spreads this class will give you the tools you need to utilize the waning and waxing moons. Based on E. Massey’s book “The Modern Witch’s Curriculum” you will explore new ways to expand your magickal calendar.

“Little Witches” Classes and Workshops

Yes, No, Maybe so: An introduction to divination for children (ages 7-11)

In this workshop for parents and their children, participants will learn various easy and fun divination methods and ways to foster a child’s intuition.

You Want a Time Out? Basic meditation for children (ages 4-11)

Parents and children will gain a better understanding of age-appropriate meditation techniques. Children will learn basic meditation teachings and explore creative visualization.

Who wants Ice Cream? Exploring pantheons and Pagan traditions for children (ages 4-11)

Introduction to the many pantheons and traditions found in Paganism and modern Witchcraft. Parents will be given the tools to allow children to grow spiritually on their own path. Children will enjoy building an ice cream sundae while exploring different pantheons and the many choices of traditions.

The Wheels on the Bus: Developmentally approaches to understanding the Wheel of the Year (ages 4-11)

Parents will learn how to find teachable moments and celebrate the seasons that create a bond between family and nature. Explore the wheel of the year in a non-evasive way for children to understand the eight seasonal holidays found in Witchcraft, wicca and other earth-based traditions. Children will begin a Wheel of the year project to work on throughout the year on their own.

Don’t forget to check out E. Massey’s new Online store The Hierophant

opening October 31st 2018

Children and Samhain

Posted on October 20, 2018 by E.Massey

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

The Halloween season for children and adults alike is a very sensory time of year. With costume parades, haunted hay rides, the thrill of wearing big comfy sweat shirts, the scuffing of feet on the way to school or work, the smell of autumn fires and my favorite the pumpkin spice coffee and treats popping up everywhere: all these things mean autumn and activate our senses in amazing ways. This time of year not only activates our muggle senses but our spiritual ones as well. We all know that this time of the year the veil becomes thinner, and it seems to be thinning earlier and earlier every year. I really believe this is due to ourselves, the Witch and non Witch collectively putting out it into the universe. With the department stores putting out decorations and supplies as early as Labor Day and with more and more emphasis on parties, costumes, and decorations growing each year we are bringing the underworld ever more closer. If you haven’t noticed, this holiday has become enormously popular, and even other related holidays, such as Mexico’s Dios de la Muerte (“The Day of the Dead”) are receiving more notice too. Television networks are showing horror films and Halloween sitcoms all month-long. All this unintentional intent is being put out in to the universe causing us to open the gates earlier for our beloved dead and wandering spirits to cross. If we are as adults experiencing this hyper-activity of spirits and spiritual occurrences, than children are definitely as well.

Since Samhain is the time when our ancestors may find it easiest to visit us, you can have your children ask for dreams about people they know who have passed on. If you think this will frighten your child, by all means don’t do it. But if your child has fond memories of a grandparent or other relative who has died, you can have them ask to be visited in their dreams. Tell them that their relative loves them very much and would like to see them and maybe give them advice. Suggest that they can tell their relative about any accomplishments or big events that have happened recently. As they lie in bed to fall asleep, help them say aloud that they would like to dream about a certain person. Have them focus on their memories of that person as they fall asleep.

If this is something that you or your child is uncomfortable with, there are many ways to celebrate the season. Remember that children often will not fully understand how you view this time of year especially when there is so much going on around them. I have found it best to separate the concepts of Halloween and Samhain. Although they are tied together in history and practice for children Halloween is Halloween; let them dress up and trick-or-treat. However, after they’ve collected all their candy, be sure that they leave a few pieces for the ancestors, as an offering.

Holding a family ritual is another great way for children to understand the spiritual aspects of the holiday. Keep it simple by doing the prep work ahead of time. You might want to create rituals about whatever you and your children might want to lett go of, be that a loved one, warm days, or a beloved summer shirt.

If your family doesn’t have an altar for Samhain, set one up before you begin. Better yet, let the kids help you put things on it. Feel free to raid your Halloween decorations for ghosts, Witches, skulls, and bats. Have fun with it.

One thing I have done in the past for a family Samhain ritual was to create a strand of dried apple slices to decorate an altar. We included a slice for all of our family or friends who have past. This became a great opportunity to talk about offerings.

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Other seasonal activities that can provide “teachable moments:

Make a besom, or Witch’s broom.

Make resolutions, write them on a small piece of paper and bury them. This is similar to New Year’s resolutions; as for many Samhain is seen as the Witches New Year.

Have a family dinner setting a chair and meal for the dead, a less complex dumb supper.

Pumpkin carving is a traditional good activity to do on Samhain with children, as carved gourds originated with our Celtic ancestors.

Samhain is a great time to spend time with our loved ones who are still alive, too. Visiting your elderly relatives is an especially good way to celebrate, as they can probably tell you all sorts of fun stories about their childhood and what their parents and grandparents were like. If you don’t have any family close by, consider visiting a nursing home, perhaps in costume. Most nursing home residents love seeing children, and would probably get a kick out of seeing their Halloween costumes.

Make a Witches’ cord as an expression of what you hope to manifest in the year ahead.

Introduce different forms of divination. Samhain is seen as the beginning of the Pagan year; divination was usually done to see the future of the coming year. One practice that was always done in my family was to give the gift of tarot. I received my first deck on Samhain 30 years ago.

The point is don’t just create seasonal memories but lay the foundation for spiritual growth as well. Happy Samhain!!

Don’t forget to check out The Hierophant – Opening This Samhain.

E. Massey

Artist, Author, Teacher, and Tarot Reader

Tag Archives: wicca