Inspirational People #3 - Sami Valenzuela

Sami Valenzuela

I admire this stunningly unique spirit for her individuality, her courage, her determination and her grace under fire. She has a beautiful energy and a directness that she splendidly employs to make her youTube videos extremely informative and amusing; a complete pleasure to watch.

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

A self-confessed ‘Crystalist’; a phrase that she has coined herself (I believe) to depict a woman who is driven, encouraged and empowered by her love and belief in the essence of gem/crystal energies. Not only this but her entrepreneurial skills have led her to create an entire business from this love of the earth’s most sparkling bounty. Her website and store: On the Rocks Crystals (run from her home in Texas, USA) always her appears her pride and joy and she has many devoted customers.

http://www.ontherockscrystals.com/

She has inspired me personally to practice ‘shadow-work’, a term in paganism and some Wiccan paths which I interpret as ‘dealing with’ the negative aspects of your own personality in a way that is both productive and beneficial. .I am finding it very beneficial and so I give thanks to Sami for this.

Her personal hardships as well as her own blend of humour, knowledge, wit and caffeine have made her a charismatic and dedicated human being who I feel privileged to ‘know’.

http://acantharayne.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/sweet-shadow.html

Inspirational People #2 - Laura Daligan

Laura Daligan

The essence and energy of this incredibly, natural (except for the hair) and magickal woman is unlike anything I’ve ever known. She is beautiful, intelligent, spiritual and so very expressive in her love of fairies, magick and trees that she inspired me to start not only hugging trees but talking to them (and singing too). A self-confessed tree-hugger herself, the youTube videos she posts regarding the trees of the Celtic calendar are not only informative and easy to understand but entertaining.

Laura is also an artist of the most striking calibre. When I look at the subjects in her paintings, I can almost see them glowing with her energy. She pours everything into her art and although I’ve never seen one outside of a youTube video, it is so obvious that it is a great passion of hers.

Also included on her channel (Witchcraft Diaries) are videos on about twenty totem animals; information on seasonal celebrations (Sabbats); and more basic videos too on circle casting, wand making, faery visitations… and much more.

Well worth a look at her channel because her enthusiasm for magick of the natural world is infectious and completely inspiring.

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

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.

)O( New Year Blessings )O(

I lit this candle on my altar for all my friends. May it’s magic reach your heart, mind and soul, touching each with blessings of prosperity, happiness and health throughout 2014.

I am Witch

1.  My belief in a higher power is not limited to a single deity. Nor, is it always dependant on any deity. Sometimes, it is stripped back to the core belief that I respect, trust and acknowledge Universal energy and power. As I do not conform to any one religion in this belief, I draw from many traditions, cultures and beliefs in my practice of worship, magick and ritual.

2. The cycle of the moon is very important to me; when she is full, Lady Luna is a beacon of goodness (a light in the dark, if you will); as the milky orb wanes, her magick strengthens the art of diminishing negative energy; when she is Dark, it is time to put magickal work aside and rest; as her thin sliver returns and she is New the time has come to begin again with new projects and endeavours; from there she waxes and the time has come for magickal work to bring gain; until she is once again Full and ready to be the strongest force of positive energy in the sky.

3. I live in alignment with the seasons; therefore, I celebrate the change from light to dark to light again, from warm to cold to warm again. I rejoice in the rain, I roll in the snow, I bathe in the sun and I howl at the moon. I do conform to the witches Sabbats as the most structured way of celebrating the cycles of nature but I find enjoyment in nature every day.

4. I am a tree-hugger: a hug is an embracing way to express a love of trees and to give thanks to the spirit of that tree for not only providing beauty, shade from the sun, cover from the rain, but also the oxygen we need to breathe. It is not a silly thing to do but a genuine gift of love and respect for the oldest and grandest life force on the plant.

5. I accept the elements: earth, air, fire and water, as the foundation and key components of magickal practice and trust that they are the cornerstones of my work.

6. All living things have a life force; a spirit, essence or energy which is to be respected and treasured. This is not limited to people and animals; it also includes the elements, trees, plants, rocks, mountains, crystals, anything made by the natural world. To honour this life force is to believe it a blessing to the world.

7. I trust that life (or existence) is eternal, and when the physical body dies, the spiritual body does not. I believe in reincarnation and that when there are lessons that still must be learned, you are reborn to learn them. I also believe that when all lessons are learned, there is ascension of the soul to the ‘afterlife’.

8. The magick I practice is channelled, created and/or generated for others. The only workings I do for myself are those that honour deities and ‘unseen’ energies – the fae, for example, and those for a life of balance.

My January Celebrations

I like to celebrate something every opportunity I can and so I have listed here all of the God/Goddess Days, Feasts, and general festive practices that I respect, honour and celebrate in the month of January. This also includes the end and start of a Celtic Tree Month, although I am not elaborating on this too much because my very good friend Shiann Raven Moon will be posting detailed information on each tree over the coming months.. This is by no means a complete list of the myriad of deities, historical events, beings and myths that could be incorporated into daily celebrations because there are far too many. This is simply a list of who and what I give thanks to and for throughout the year (later months to be posted in time).

1^st

·        New Years Day

The first day of the year based on the Julian and Gregorian calendars.

·        Tewa Turtle Dance

The celebration of a creation myth detailing when Sky Father embraced Earth Mother and all life was created.

·        Gamelia Festival

It is a wedding festival; consisting of a month of marriages; celebrated in Athens. Therefore honoured by Athena and so during this time I honour her in return.

·        World Peace Day

This is a day set aside to meditate for peace to be brought to the world.

2^nd/3^rd

·        Inanna’s Day

Inannna is the Sumerian Goddess of Love, War and Fertility; daughter of Anu; the 2^nd and sometimes 3^rd of January are celebrated in honour of Inanna because it is believed that this is when she was born.

3^rd

·        Thesmophoria

Greek in origin, the festival was based on secret women-only rituals related to marriage customs. It is commemorated on the third of the year because this is when Kore (Persephone’s maiden aspect) was taken to the Underworld by Hades.

5^th

·        Kore’s Day

Kore is the name of maiden aspect of the Greek Goddess Persephone (Queen of the Underworld and daughter to Zeus and Demeter). The word ‘Kore’ itself means ‘maiden’.

6^th

·        Feast of Kore/Epiphany of Persephone

Celebrated at midnight on the 5^th and continues into 6^th January.

7^th

·        Day of Sekhmet

This is a festival of intoxication; Egyptians would dance and play music to soothe the wildness of the Goddess..

·        Feast of Aphrodite

To honour peace and compassion the feast held on this day is in Aphrodite’s name.

21^st

·        Start of Celtic Month – Rowan (Luis)

This Celtic month named by the tree Rowan runs until 17^th February is associated with the Celtic Goddess Brighid and indicates a good time of year for initiations or self-dedications.

·        Sun enters Aquarius

The start of the Aquarian astrology sign.

23^rd

·        Day of Hathor

Egyptian Goddess of Love, Beauty, Motherhood, Healing, Music, Dance and Joy. Celebrated by wearing obsidian and/or blue lace agate as they are both associated with Hathor. A symbolic reference to cows is also appropriate so I put cattle pictures on my altar on this day.

27^th

·        Day of Ishtar

Babylonian/Assyrian Goddess of fertility, love, war & sex counterpart of Inanna. She has the title of ‘Queen of Heaven’. Symbolised by the Morning Star, the planet Venus and the star Sirius; also eight and sixteen pointed stars and lions. Celebrate and honour by using these symbols and/or invoking her for a working relating to her specialities.

31^st

·        Festival of Hecate

Hecate is the Crone aspect of a Greek Triple-Goddess archetype; generally considered a moon Goddess, given her association with Dark Moon. Renewed later as Artemis/Persephone, and later coming to fruition as Selene/Demeter. I indulge in her Festival by invoking her and meditating on her wisdom and drawing down dark moon energy.

·        Imbolc Eve

Imbolc is the first spring festival, the true embracing of light returning to the world and so the eve of this celebration is much like the last day of darkness.

Baby Drew

Written for a dear friend with a relative who lost a child. No words can express the sadness felt by all those who know the loss of a child but knowing that the child is in a warm loving place, with the angels, can bring comfort in time.

Your smiles were stolen from our eyes,

Your laughter lost by loved ones cries.

First words not spoken to give joy,

First steps not walked of this boy.

But you were given wings, dear Drew,

And now the angels fly with you.

So though we cannot watch you play,

In our hearts you’ll always stay.

The Wiccan Rede

I must say that this is by no means my own rhyming handiwork. Several versions have been published. For a fuller understanding of its history, please visit: Wikipedia - Wiccan Rede. Some people may wonder why I posted it, as it is not my original work... well, I posted it because it is an incredible piece of writing which I am proud to say I live by.

Bide within the Law you must,

In perfect Love and perfect Trust.

Live you must and let to live,

Fairly take and fairly give.

For tread the Circle thrice about,

To keep unwelcome spirits out.

To bind the spell well every time,

Let the spell be said in rhyme.

Light of eye and soft of touch,

Speak you little, listen much.

Honour the Old Ones in deed and name,

Let love and light be our guides again.

Deosil go by the waxing moon,

Chanting out the joyful tune.

Widdershins go when the moon doth wane,

And the werewolf howls by the dread wolfsbane.

When the Lady's moon is new,

Kiss the hand to Her times two.

When the moon rides at Her peak,

Then your heart's desire seek.

Heed the North winds mighty gale,

Lock the door and trim the sail.

When the Wind blows from the East,

Expect the new and set the feast.

When the wind comes from the South,

Love will kiss you on the mouth.

When the wind whispers from the West,

All hearts will find peace and rest.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go,

Burn them fast and burn them slow.

Birch into the fire goes,

To represent what the Lady knows.

Oak in the forest towers with might,

In the fire, brings the God's insight.

Rowan is a tree of power,

Causing life and magick to flower.

Willows at the waterside stand,

Ready to help us to the Summerland.

Hawthorn is burned to purify,

And to draw faerie to your eye.

Hazel the tree of wisdom and learning,

Adds its strength to the bright fire burning.

White are the flowers of Apple tree,

That brings us fruits of fertility.

Grapes grow upon the vine,

Giving us both joy and wine.

Fir does mark the evergreen,

To represent immortality seen.

Elder is the Lady's tree,

Burn it not or cursed you'll be.

Four times the Major Sabbats mark,

In the light and in the dark.

As the old year starts to wane,

The new begins, it's now Samhain.

When the time for Imbolc shows

Watch for flowers through the snows.

When the wheel begins to turn,

Soon the Beltane fires will burn.

As the wheel turns to Lammas,

Night power is brought to magick rite.

Four times the Minor Sabbats fall,

Use the Sun to mark them all.

When the wheel has turned to Yule,

Light the log the Horned One rules.

In the spring, when night equals day,

Time for Ostara to come our way.

When the Sun has reached it's height,

Time for Oak and Holly to fight.

Harvesting comes to one and all,

When the Autumn Equinox does fall.

Heed the flower, bush, and tree,

By the Lady blessed you'll be.

Where the rippling waters go,

Cast a stone, the truth you'll know.

When you have and hold a need,

Hearken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend,

Or be counted as his friend.

Merry Meet and Merry Part,

Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Laws you should,

Three times bad and three times good.

When misfortune is enow,

Wear the star upon your brow.

Be true in love this you must do,

Unless your love is false to you.

These Eight words the Rede fulfil:

"An Ye Harm None, Do What Ye Will”

Reflecting on... The Waning Crescent

7 - 10½ days after the Full Moon

The waning crescent moon is a beautiful sight. The slim left-sided arc indicates the decreasing light of Lady Lunar as she shines over the earth. It is a time of deep intuition and divination.

The magic I undertake when the moon is in this phase generally relates to banishment & binding, releasing, reducing & reversing; anything that involves ‘taking away’ or ‘removing’. This could be applied to a variety of workings: reducing debt and breaking bad habits are popular practices when the moon is waning, but also diminishing heartache and ending bad relationships. It is the removal moon phase.

My personal choice of magick during this particular waning crescent is the banishment of a romantic problem. I rarely use magick to dabble in affairs of the heart but as this is only to remove obstacles, and not to influence a future romantic situation, I feel justified in it as a use of my energy.

From a Wiccan perspective, the Goddess is in her Crone aspect during this time; the wisdom she offers is what I find such an incentive to better myself. Therefore, the inspiration for clearing out the old energy I no longer need; breaking bad habits, banishing aches and pains, curing addictions and other such spiritual releases.

Imbolc Approaching...

As the Wheel of the Year turns into the light, darkness slowly recedes and I hear the sound of birdsong strengthen each morning as I stir from sleep to enjoy the day. It seems wrong that as we head into January, frost is not biting the nose and fingertips. Though melodious rain patter has been heard against the windowpanes, it doesn't quite have the magic touch that frost does. Waking up to see the world blanketed with a chilly air and a sparkling coat creates an excitement in me that I barely find in other parts of the year. For this reason I have chosen to recreate it today:

I cannot make it snow; I don’t have that kind of power, but I can decorate my altar with white velvet to give the appearance of a snowfall over my sacred space; I can make snowflakes out of paper to decorate my window and bring that winter chill indoors; finally I can decorate my altar and myself in glittery adornments, just to add some sparkle. This is my plan for Imbolc decorations over the next few weeks. Photographs will be posted with progress.

Now, as Imbolc is on its way, which is the first of the ‘Spring Sabbats’, I will also be keeping eye on my snowdrops (galanthus) in hope that they bloom for my festivities. I like to assign a special flower to each Sabbat at for me, snowdrops are the flower of Imbolc so even though I will be visiting a friend this Imbolc, my altar will be decorated with snowflakes and I will take some for my friend’s altar too.