Shiann Creations Halloween Raffle

My very good friend, +Shiann Raven Moon, is raffling off some of her store products - www.ShiannCreations.co.uk

Tickets:

£1 per strip

Draw:

31^st October, 2014

Please contact Shiann on facebook to buy tickets:
https://www.facebook.com/ShiannRavenMoon?fref=ts

Book of Shadows - Extending the Inspiration

Some of you may remember seeing the inspiration page I created for my Book of Shadows – link here: Book of Shadows - Inspirational Page. Now, no part of my Book of Shadows is one page and so the Inspiration section of my magickal tome will now include the blog posts from my Inspirational People series and it has started with +Shiann Raven Moon 

Wittering On 04/01/2014 - Sabbat Haul

Well, after 5 days in Yorkshire with +Shiann Raven Moon and +Tiger ShadowRaine  and her family, I am home now looking over my sabbat gifts (I say sabbat rather than Imbolc because Shiann has given me my gifts for the whole wheel.. It's been so much fun to catch up and share Imbolc celebrations but I am looking forward to my own bed tonight.

Well I should get started as this is a haul post, so off we go...

The books - as a witch, I am obsessed with books and so is Shiann - knowledge, wisdom, insight, instruction, correspondence, all gifts of the written word. Usually I buy the books for Shiann but we seem to have swapped roles for this go round on the wheel. The books pictured are those that I have received during this visit:

1. Sabbats, by Edain McCoy is a book that I have wanted forever, or at least since it was written. I celebrate the Sabbats as if my life depended on it and so I cannot wait to get my nose into this book.
2. Fragrant Magic, by Cassandra Eason. This author is a favourite of mine and I have several other books of hers; aromatherapy and scent magic is something I look forward to delving deeper into - after much more research and that is starting with this book.
3. Candleburning Rituals, by Raymond Buckland. The legend that is Raymond Buckland has had a special place on my bookcase for a long time, but now that special place is increasing and so will my candle orders.
4. Magical Aromatherapy, by the one and only Scott Cunningham. Hands down, Scott Cunningham is one of my all time favourite witchy-authors - insightful, wise and wordy - another Cunningham book in the collection - yay!

This section of the haul is for what has been brought or given from personal stock.

• The goblet belonged to Shiann and as I took a liking to it,, it was added to my gift bag.
• The runes are sodalite, which is one my favourite stones (one of the very few connections I feel to the colour blue is via sodalite).
• The incense are 'White Jasmine' and 'Love Angel'
• 2 Red Cords - one is plaited, one is not. These were gifted as I mentioned in conversation that I love knot magick.
• Spell candles  - blue and pink. So pretty.
• Dill - Home-dried and always very useful.
• Obsidian Mirror - love it, love it, love it. Scrying is my life
• Ribbons - pale green, white and brown; I will use these as part of my Beltane Pole for my altar.

The items of Section 3 of the haul are those which have been made for me (Shiann is so crafty):

• Starting with the wand as it was completely hand-made for me from a Birch twig. It's beautifully slim and spindly and has inspired me to write a Birch wand post - maybe by the weekend. The charm on the end is a sword, and shield with a red eye which was a gift from me to Shiann - which has been regifted back to me as she wasn't drawn to it.
• The two small round things on the left are Massage Lotion Bars - made with Lavender and Chamomile and will soon be available from Shiann's online store: Shiann Creations.
• The CD is a compilation of spiritual chants
• The health pillow is Lavender and Chamomile, made for me when I had a very bad flu a few months ago.
• The God's eyes were made for me because I asked for them - so pretty!
• The packet on the right of the image is a hand-made smudge stick of sage and bay. Should be very fragrant.
• Finally, on this section, what everything is laying on - the altar cloth - specifically made for Imbolc, decorated with daisies, with the dimensions of my altar in mind. Beautiful!

Now, I've saved these items for last because they were completely unexpected.

1. The charm bracelet has two charms on it - the sun and the moon - this means I can take a representation of the God & Goddess with me wherever I am.
2. The Book of Shadows is a 2-ring binder, hand decorated with green velvet on the front, purple velvet on the back, and a front page cover relating to my blog inside - made with coffee paper to energise me when I open it. Certainly need the energy tonight - lol

Much love, light and blessings to +Shiann Raven Moon for my beautiful and plentiful gifts. x)O(x

Imbolc Celebrations (Part 3)

All spells mentioned here were cast & performed ‘in circle’. The circle used was by +Laura Daligan found on her youTube video 'Casting a Circle'.

The Brighid Prayer (a wish spell)

This was taken from Celebrating Wiccan Spirituality, by Lady Sabrina (see below for a link to purchase it on Amazon).
Amazon.co.uk 
Amazon.com

You need:   A red candle and a wish planned

Practice:      Light the candle as you make you wish

Recitation:   My Lady Brighid, Goddess of Fire

                Bless my intentions and grant my desire

                Through Summer’s sunshine and Winter’s snow

You kindle the spark that make hearts glow

O Gracious Goddess I now ask thee

To grant me power, love and purity.

Banishing Winter (to banish things from your life as Winter is left behind)

Method 1 of this ritual was taken from Ultimate Book of Shadows by Silver Raven Wolf; Method 2 was an adaptation of the original which we felt was more us.

You need:   Paper snowflakes & a Cauldron or fireproof dish

Method 1:    (Standard) Write on each snowflake a single thing you would like to banish from your life. Burn each snowflake, symbolising winter being left behind and visualise the unwanted ‘thing’ fading from your life as the paper snowflakes melt to ash.

Method 2:   (The Element Method) Have 4 snowflakes ready but do not write on them. Light 4 ‘element’ candles and consider something relating to each element that you would like to banish from your life (e.g. for the element of fire, banish the lack of control in your temper).Say out loud what the snowflake represents for you and then set it alight via that element candle. Do this for each element.

Evergreen Luck

This spell is taken from The Craft, by Dorothy Morrison

You need:   5/6 leaves of evergreens (preferably kept from Yule celebrations)

                Cauldron of fireproof dish

Method:     Take holly/ivy leaves individually and burn into cauldron one leaf per verse of the recitation below:

Recitation:   Water immortal, element of time

Always nourishing ever divine

In your ceaseless flow I ask

Bring luck this year to every task

Earth immortal, element green

Always growing, always seen

Solid, steady, in endless ascent

Bring luck to every life event

Fire immortal, element of heat

Always glowing, never complete

Shining embers, burning bright

Bring luck to any battle I fight

Air immortal, element hidden

Always flying but never ridden

Breath of life that won’t expire

Bring luck in fuelling my desire

Spirit immortal, element vernal

Forces converge on luck eternal

Bring your power and bring your might

To bless this burning evergreen rite

This recitation is adapted from my Element Chant

Now, Shiann and I shared this ritual so I burned a leaf for the Earth & Air verses, Shiann burned them for Fire & Water and we both did a leaf for Spirit (hence the requirement of 6 leaves but if you are doing it alone, only 5 are required)

Vision Quest (impromptu) - 

with +Shiann Raven Moon 

A wind-down meditation after the evenings spell work proved to be extremely interesting. Shiann and I chose to meditate and try to connect to each other but we both ended up scrying on the living room candle of the Room Candle ritual. Many visions came to both of us and some did match each others – I actually ‘stole’ one from Shiann as when a peacock feather appeared to me, it left her vision. Also amongst my visitations were many wings around the candle which morphed from one winged being, to another… this included: dragon, bat, angel, butterfly and owl (the owl wings accompanied Shiann’s vision of owl eyes around the candle).

Salem (Shiann’s cat – passed away 2011) visiting at sitting on her lap, stretching out and having a play. Very fidgety.

A weasel playing with Salem – there was only a very quick view of the weasel and it was shown to me as a shadow but I know a weasel when I see one – lol!

Large panther on Shiann’s lap – when I say large, I mean huge – it’s head was resting on her lap and filled it completely; sitting on the floor as she sat on the sofa opposite me, the beautiful black panther was very content in it’s state of relaxation.

See Part 1 - God & Goddess Tree Walk & Part 2 - Recipe & Feasting

Imbolc Celebrations (Part 2)

I feel and +Shiann Raven Moon agrees with me, that as a general rule, ritual requires a cakes and ale segment at the end of workings. Our Imbolc celebrations are no exception and for this reason we made Lemon & Vanilla cupcakes to enjoy at the end of our workings:

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 110 grams Self raising flour

• 110 grams butter
• 110 grams soft brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tbsp baking powder
• 2 caps vanilla essence

Method:

1.          Preheat oven to 180°.

2.         Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl.

3.         In another bowl, cream together the butter and sugar.

4.        Add eggs into the butter/sugar mix and stir until combined.

5.         Add and stir in vanilla essence.

6.         Fold in the flour and stir until thick and creamy.

7.         Pour into cupcake cases, in baking trays.

8.         Bake for 22 - 25 minutes.

9.         Allow to cool and then inject with lemon curd.

10.       Enjoy the yumminess!!!

The ‘ale’ part of cakes and ale was a beautiful sparkling red wine: Lambrusco Rosso.

The bright yellow of lemon is a promise of bright, warm days to come filled with daffodils. The subtle vanilla is the gentle passage of winter fading into the past as it makes way for spring.

Imbolc Feast

Our Imbolc feast came via the local curry house – the spiciness and colours representing the future warmth and bright colours. Spices in general have a strong significance at Imbolc as the heat from them is so symbolic of the time of year.

See Part 1 - The God & Goddess Tree Walk & Part 3 - Evening Spells & Rituals

Imbolc Celebrations (Part 1)

The Imbolc-y day of +Shiann Raven Moon & +AcanthaRayne OakMoon 

The wheel of the year has turned once more toward the light, preparing for the warmer months as the Sun God ascends in strength and shines his blessings on the warming earth. The Imbolc celebrations have begun with a nice long walk into the woods to give thanks to the Goddess for the new life springing up all around us, trees are beginning to bud and though we were ankle deep in mud, the sign of her presence was all around.

As an offering, in honour of the Goddess:

We took honeyed spring water, infused with sage to sprinkle on the new growth of the woods and the sprouting buds. Whilst watering the abundance of new life, we gave thanks to the Goddess for her spirit.

The God is growing is strength, not quite mature yet but certainly showing signs of growth as the heat of the sun whispers away the chilly air. As he grows in maturity, so will the sun grow in strength and warmth as the season passes.

To honour the God at Imbolc:

We took a small bottle of milk to the woods and poured it at the roots of several trees that we’re damaged and healing or seemed to struggling to survive. As we poured the milk, we incited:

                Lord of the Wild Wood, God of all

                Growing stronger, standing tall

                Accept our offering made this hour

                To strengthen you up to full power

As we stopped at many trees and even hugged a few, we felt for the spirits of the trees and silently gave thanks for their beauty and bounty, and for them allowing us to visit with them and enjoy the birth of their new buds

See Part 2 - Recipe & Feasting & Part 3 - Evening Spells & Rituals

Imbolc Plans

As the wheel turns towards the spring, Imbolc has arrived and we banish winter’s frosty fingers by bringing in the light and warmth of the vernal approach. Snowdrops are beginning to bloom, showing the promise of the earth and Mother Nature to increase her display of bounty as the light returns. So, to mark the Sabbat of newness and increment, a festoon of frolicking festivities will ensue tomorrow. I am sharing Imbolc this year with +Shiann Raven Moon  and we have several things planned:

·       Offering to the God – with milk

Purpose: To aid the God in his ascent to manhood

·       Brighid Prayer – with red candle (Celebrating Wiccan Spirituality, by Lady Sabrina)

Purpose: Wish spell with Brighid in mind

·       Home Cleansing (Shiann’s home) – with a sage smudge

Purpose: to banish negative energy and unwanted influences

·       Water Winter Walk – with bottle of spring/rain/moon water

Purpose: to assist Mother Nature as she renews life into the warmer months

·       Banishing Winter – with paper snowflakes & cauldron

Purpose: To banish situations/habits/negativities from your life and them fall away with Winter

·       Evergreen Luck Rite – evergreens & cauldron

Purpose: To bring luck to the coming year

To be posted at a later date

New Witchy Books #1

Spells & Charms

 by Nicola de Pulford

 Informative, Light, Natural & Easy to follow. 

ISBN: 1-899434-64-X

No spell book can ever quite give the satisfaction of a successful spell that you've written yourself but this comes quite close. Beautifully written and the photography is excellent. This was one of my very first spell books which I gave away a long time ago to someone who needed it more than I did at the time. However, I missed it and found a bargain on amazon so my witchy bookshelf feels so much more 'right' with it sitting in there. A similar to feeling to when Robbie Williams went back to Take That.

 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Witchcraft & Practical Magic

by Susan Greenwood and Raje Airey

Fact-packed, Full of History, Correspondence, Ideas and more. A real 'go-to' reference book for all things witchy.

ISBN- 13: 978-0-7548-1680-5

ISBN- 10: 0-7548-1680-X

This was not a book I found in a library or a book store, it was somewhat of a recommendation from a member of my Wiccan facebook group: Wicca UK. I've had it about a week now and still haven't got through it; there are so many wonderful references and histories I can barely put it down.

Everyday Moon Magic

by Dorothy Morrison

Inspiring, Crafts, Rituals, Spells, Astrology and much enchantment of the written word.

ISBN: 978-0-7387-0249-0

I have only recently become a fan of this author, via a recommendation from +Shiann Raven Moon. This book is jam-packed full of invocations, blessings, rituals, spells, circle castings and much more... all lunar related (of course). The rhyming of it is very 'me' too. Anyone who has read my poetry knows I love my rhyming.

The rest of this range of books include Everyday Magic and Everyday Sun Magic (all 3 are available from amazon). 

Blessed Be 

x)O(x

Shiann Raven Moon is Vlogging

Shiann RavenMoon

Shiann is my very best friend, extremely inspirational (see my Inspirational People #1 post on my blog) and has recently started a ‘Year and a Day’ intensive study course of all things Wicca. The video I post below is her update of how it’s all going at the end of Week 1. Well worth watching as it may inspire you, as it has inspired me, to crack on with broadening the mind and making way for lots of extra knowledge

Inspirational People #1 - Shiann Raven Moon

Shiann Raven Moon

+Shiann Raven Moon 

This beautiful woman is my best friend; not only because we have similar interests and follow a pagan path but because of whom she is: warm-hearted, generous of spirit, supportive, helpful… the list of qualities is truly endless. Her friendship is a blessing; I cherish it and thank the Goddess for her daily. So much so that I wrote this for her:

A waterfall cascading

Elemental flow parading

An English rose in bloom

Earthly elemental plume

Lightest whispering breeze

Breath of elemental ease

Flame and ember burning

Fiery elemental learning

All elements combine

Making you divine

And the spirit you posses

Deserves nothing less

Though this poem is a little abstract, I like to think its message is quite clear: that friends like Shiann are very hard to find and deserve to be held on to and enjoyed so…

Read her blog:

http://shiannravenmoon.blogspot.co.uk/ 

Watch her videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ShiannCreations/videos 

And be thankful that some people truly have a heart of gold.