Reflecting on... Crystals

It has been a long time sit I sat to think about the vast level of diversity in all of my tools and so I am doing that today… starting with crystals; vibrational, energetic and magickal, the gifts of the planet enhance our spiritual experience in subtle and profound ways. My personal relationship with crystals was not strong when I began my journey into witchcraft but I discovered Samantha Valens on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/user/SamisSpirit/videos) and her enthusiasm was infectious. From then on, crystals were a part of my practice as much as I was. I keep them on window sills, in my bra, in my handbag, at work, and more traditionally, in jewellery.

So, here I have listed the myriad of ways I have used crystals in my practice over the years and I am taking this opportunity to thank Samantha too for that boost of inspiration.

·        Décor

I’ll start simply with home décor; a rose quartz in your home will promote a loving environment; obsidian or black tourmaline at your threshold will deter unwanted visitors (including spiders, I’ve found); citrine sitting on my desk, inspires me to write. So even if you do not practice energy work, crystals are pretty and can still assist you in living harmoniously.

·        Baths

I shall be posting soon about ritual bathing and crystals play a large part in that practice for me but just having them in the bathroom can be soothing.

                                    i.        Bath Meditation is a very relaxing practice for me… I like to keep a piece of Aquamarine on the side of my bath tub gaze into it and drift to the ocean when I have a soak.

                                  ii.        Direct Infusion: Many crystals can be placed in the water itself which will infuse the water and so envelop your whole body with its energy. I like this method to cleanse my aura and use seven black crystals.

not all crystals are water-safe so please do your research when choosing them for this purpose.

                                iii.        Pre-made Infusion: You can find recipes in books and online for infusions combining botanicals and crystals which make up approximately a litre of something magickal which can then be added to bath water.

·        Spell Bags

I love how making a spell bag makes me feel so very in touch with my inner-witch. Something about the collection of ingredients and the binding them all together to create something which actually affects the energetic levels speaks to me in a way that very few other magicks do. Crystals are an excellent source of power for spell bags because many of them are their own power source, capable of sustaining their own power without assistance from us mere mortals. They can be charged before and after they’re put in the bag; they can be combined with botanicals, petitions, personal items for a more potent spell; if you consider every crystal as a personality, and you are equipping your spell with that personality by adding a certain crystal, then crystals can achieve anything in a spell bag.

·        Crystal-infused Oils

Oils are as much an essential (pardon the pun) part of the craft as crystals and have wonderful properties all of their own but if you wish to combine these properties with those of your crystals, for powerful ends, then a crystal-infused oil is a great way to go for later annointments, etc. The very talented Tequila (Lady GraveDancer) has a great video on her channel for Amethyst Oil which I highly recommend - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_7CXj7WkeU&t=995s and her Rose Quartz Oil is pretty special too - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZPHxcz7Ong.

·        Crystal Grids

Do you remember sitting in math class thinking… “I’m never gonna use any of this”; well, if that class was Geometry then you may have been mistaken in your thinking. A crystal grid is the placement of crystals in a geometric pattern designed to concentrate energy in a specific direction toward your intention. Using several crystals (perhaps incorporating Numerology) and/or using different types of crystals can generate quite a wallop toward your goal.

·        God & Goddess Representation

This is something I have done for a very long time… I have a large piece of rough sunstone on my altar which is representative of God-energy. I purchased it very inexpensively from a garden store where it was being sold as pond/rockery decoration – I knew better. It has now been sitting on my altar for approximately seven years and whenever I touch it, I feel the masculine energies of the Universe emanating from it – gooooorgeous!

Many deities have crystals that are sacred to them and so they can be used as offerings too or as decoration for an altar dedicated to that specific deity. On the flip side of that idea is that certain crystals will help you connect to deity too. If you do not have a matron/patron deity but are drawn to, for example, garnet, meditate with that garnet and you may be surprised by who you find.

·        Casting Circles

Oh, the art of casting circles is a beautiful and magickal working all of its own; to weave a place where enchantment dwells, to open a door and experience divinity… this sacred practice can also be enhanced by incorporating crystals; whether they line your physical barrier or you use them to cast with, the delicate resonance crystals have with magick and divinity will strengthen the connection you experience whilst in a crystal circle.

·        Healing

The term crystal-healing is somewhat common place these days as the effect crystals have on the physical body and emotional aura have been well-researched and scientifically proven. This process can be done in any ways but I have two favourites:

                                    i.            The first is how crystals can cleanse the chakra system. Placing crystals of corresponding vibration and colour on the chakra points will resonate with that chakra and help to shatter any blockages.

                                  ii.            The second is crystal massage – I have experienced this with a rather bulbous quartz (polished, obviously) and it was incredibly relaxing for the body whilst reaching my astral self too; my astral body melded around and into the crystal as it moved, my vibration echoed through it, and echoed back through me. Truly amazing.

·        Spell Work

Many of the things I have already listed are or can be a part of spell work but there are other means of incorporating crystals into your magick:

                                i.            Meditation Aid. This has been partially covered in connecting with deities but holding a crystal for meditation can strengthen your sight, determine what you see, set the tone of the meditation and help you interpret what you see.

                              ii.            Visualisation Aid. Similar to meditation, visualisation is enhanced and strengthened by crystals and as visualisation is a key component in a lot of spell work, having your abilities in its application made more potent can only lead to more fruitful ends. For example, I have a large piece of yellow calcite which resonates so intensely with my solar plexus chakra that I only have to look at it and my chakra burst open to greet it; the reason I add this little anecdote here is that even after 20 years of studying and practicing spirituality I still struggle with chakra visualisation but not with this crystal because from seeing that one chakra bursting open, the others will follow suit. Thankfully, no messy clean-up!

                            iii.            Motivational Aid. In this instance, for me, a crystal is a spell all by itself… if, for example, I want to feel  very sexually confident; I want to really open my base chakra and feel that energy radiate from me, pulsate through me, this can be achieved with a crystal. I raise my energy in circle and hold a bloodstone between my hands, I visualise myself as a siren, a vixen, a proud, confident, sexual woman and channel that energy into the crystal, saying a few words to seal the charge of the crystal and set the intention that this crystal will always give me this feeling.

It works for other examples too – a sodalite would work well as a communication spell, so would a lapis lazuli for a means to dominate an argument, such as for a lawyer in court.

There are other ways to use crystals in spells but if I told you all of mine then you lose the fun and wisdom of others experiences and your own experimentation. Happy charging!

·        Fine-tuning Intuition

This could be one of the most delicate, precise and awing abilities that crystals have. Far from just fine-tuning intuition, a crystal is like a sound board in a movie-editing studio. Very few card-readers will spread their cards with a crystal or two on their table because these innumerably faceted, sparkling gems of earth energy are beacons of divinity and guidance. Intuition isn’t limited to divination though, it is your inner voice, your conscience, your nature and a crystal is a key to unlock the door that keeps the mind unenlightened. I believe in something I’ve never heard of before, a soul crystal; this is the idea that one type of crystal, be it agate, amazonite, quartz, tourmaline, lepidolite, etc. resonates in complete harmony with your soul; when you hold it, it feel like a reset button, like freedom, the wisdom and power and wild energy of the Universe explodes in your very consciousness and you can see the way ahead. I don’t claim to have had this happen exactly but I believe in it wholly because crystals are the children of earth and earth is a daughter of the Universe, that is an impressive family tree and I trust in can be completely tapped into. Crystals help our intuition because they echo that connection into our consciousness and all we have to do... is listen!

Favourite Workings - Blessed Be My Tools

Blessed Be My Tools

A Blessing by Dorothy Morrison

You will need:

·       Sandalwood incense

·       White candle

·       Small dish of water

·       Salt

·       Full Moon

To Do List:

1.    Get everything ready and lit.

2.    Pass tool through incense smoke and chant:

With scented Air so light and free

I give you breath now. Blessed Be!

3.    Pass tool above or quickly through candle flame and chant:

With Fire that dances wild and free

I give you passion. Blessed Be!

4.    Lightly sprinkle tool with water and chat:

With Water so pure, I give to thee

The blood of life now. Blessed Be!

5.    Sprinkle tool with a bit of salt and chant:

With the salt of the Earth, I give to thee

Roots in magic. Blessed Be!

6.    Gently caress tool to your heart and chant:

I am yours and you are mine

From now until the end of time

I give you life now willingly

As I will, so mote it be!

My Personal Practice - Healing for a Friend

Just a quick little post…

The wonder-witch who is Joey Morris has been suffering with migraines lately and as a friend this just doesn’t stand with me so… “to the altar!”

This was a wordless spell as the intention in my mind was perfectly strong enough and as much as I love my wordy spells, time seemed of the essence, instead of focusing on rhymes and chants.

 The photograph is a focal point, the candle is for the speed of fire magick, sprinkled with himalayan rock salt for deep cleansing and lavender for peace of mind. The crystals on the right are bloodstone, to draw the power of women; an amethyst/quartz point because I put amethyst with everything and it is an energiser; finally a rough piece of carnelian for strength. On the left side is a black stone (not a precious stone or something crystalline) to drawn anything negative from the recipient.

To cast this spell, I spent time raising my energy and imbued that through my hands while I was setting the spell up. I may say a few words when the spell ends but for now, the candle burns on my altar… sending strength and healing to my friend.

Post Script

Looking at the image… there is an orb on the image of Joey. Love it when that happens and I get footage of spirits/guides carrying out my spell. :D

Blessed be x

Wittering on... 12/01/17

Merry meet, readers…

A brand new category for my blog will be starting soon and I’m very excited about it. As you know I’ve been absent from my blog a lot over the last 12 months (it’s probably closer to two years) but in order to spark that inspiration once more I am diversifying my content a little and have chosen to incorporate interviews with other witches… these will be posted without a schedule but as often as possible.

In the summer, I will be undertaking Reiki training. I very much look forward to this as a new step on my path and a more structured path to self-healing. Reiki is a method of healing which hails from the East and as there is nowhere near enough Eastern philosophy in my practice, I am excited to incorporate this special gift into my energy.

Upcoming posts…

·       The Apothecary: Heartsease and Basil

·       Rune Magicks: Kenaz

·       Ritual Bathing

·       Drawing Down the Moon Ritual

·       Magickal Associations of Mondays

As always with my posts, I can’t guarantee when they will be brought to you but hopefully over the next few months all of these articles will be with you.

Many blessings

Book of Shadows - 2017 Intentions Page

Once again, I must apologise for my delay in posting; inspiration has been lacking a lot this year and I think that is partially due to the lack of direction and  intention. With that in mind I have created an Intention Page to be added to my Book of Shadows for 2017. This is something I plan to do each year from now on and I am very pleased with what I have set as goals for the coming year. As always, your comments are welcome as are your own personal takes on this idea.

Many blessings x)O(x

Deck Creation - The Joey Morris Oracle (Daughter of the Morrigan)

It is with great satisfaction and a little pride that I can bring news (and pictures) of another oracle deck reaching fruition. The bulk of this deck was created in late Spring but as I descended into the last few cards I felt a need to step back for a while… Morrigan is an intense and great energy to work with and I was overwhelmed by her presence and contribution to this deck. As Autumn rolled in, arguably a very prominent time of year for this Celtic Goddess, I felt the ‘call to arms’ once more and so armed with great inspiration by one of the most awing deities I’ve ever experienced, off I went and in 3 days the deck was done. So here we are and I present you with…

The Cosmic Calling of a Shadow Wolf

Whilst all animals sacred to Morrigan and foxes are also sacred to Joey… I feel she connects most profoundly to wolves and as I scouted around Google for images I knew what I was looking for… the wolf had to be a silhouette because this is an astral wolf and to the everyday world, the astral is in shadow and I felt the need to mirror that. The second thing I knew was a must is that this silhouetted wold must be howling; whilst most would assume that as in popularised supernatural fictions the wolf would be howling at the moon, I disagreed; Joey is connected to the whole cosmos and the moon just didn’t feel enough for her wolf. This background I chose to set the wolf against was edited in photoshop to give a slightly orangy hue because orange is a colour which automatically brings Samhain to mind and Samhain is a thinning of veils… bringing what lays beyond the veils closer as does a wolf call. This brought to mind an eternal cycle of the wolf calling to the cosmos and the cosmos answering.

The Triads

I incorporated three sets of triadic cards into the deck:

«     Maidenhood, Motherhood, Cronehood

The Morrigan is well known as a Triple Goddess but using cards just stating Maiden, Mother and Crone didn’t seem to incorporate that Morrigan owns these states of being and shifts between them to exist and experience divinity in each aspect. For example, ‘Maidenhood’ is the sphere of youth… all the desires that will forge ones future. Creating a card for each stage of divine life brings forth the drives of each sphere and opens each to interpretation.

«     Anu, Macha, Badb

This triad is based on the names given to the most well-known aspects of Morrigan in her Triple Goddess form as Maiden, Mother & Crone. These aspects were given individual cards because Joey specifically relates to their essences and each has attributes which can be applied to a given situation that is being questioned in a reading.

«     Of Blood and Bone, Mistress of Death, Warrior

These cards relate whole-heartedly to the most common image of Morrigan – She is a Goddess of Death, She is a Warrior and She is often associated with blood and bone. While I know that limiting Morrigan to these stereotypes is narrow-minded, a deck devoted to Her which doesn’t include them would seem incomplete.

On further examination of the completed cards, I found other triad sets:

«     Starry Night, Orion Dreams, Cosmic Alliance

It may seem obvious but all three of these cards are related to universal/cosmic energy… Starry Night relates to Joey’s store, or at least the inspiration behind it; Orion Dreams is an interpretation on a connection to Orion that I’ve heard Joey talk about in some of her videos and in private chats.

«     Path, Disillusionment, Wisdom

This triad has more subtle connections – there are many things in this universe which will lead someone into the Craft and these cards are some of the most common – the search for wisdom of the unknown and unseen; feeling you are on a path which must be followed; recognising how when illusions are shattered, what remains must be truth.

I am overjoyed that in creating these cards there were patterns that were unintentional because that is the essence of divination and the beauty of synchronicity. Finding interpretations that were not expected but never the less are undeniably a part of something more magickal and divine than what can be perceived in the human experience is a large part of why I’m making these cards. It is now, when I am armed with this synchronicity, which I accredit fully to Morrigan for providing, I can look deeper.

Totem Cards

The animals sacred to Morrigan, at least those found via legend and mythology, are Raven, Wolf, Eel, Horse and Heifer… these kindred spirits of Morrigan have been singled out in cards because of what they bring to her presence and though each bring a myriad of messages and resources, so does their energy as a collective… these animals are all powerful and highly symbolic; that is, from what I can gather, a dedication to the Morrigan and her own power.

My Favourites

I think I love this card so much because it is so very open to interpretation; ‘Path’ is a word so commonly used in Pagan circles, communities and dialogues that I feel it gets overlooked and certainly taken for granted. I put this card in the deck to help refocus on the journey being taken… in magick, in life, in spirituality. A twilight forest scene seemed appropriate for Joey because trees are home for her; the pathway through the trees is a little ‘on the nose’ in terms of symbolism but I hope it will be an enjoyable card to be pulled in Joey’s personal readings.

I've put the Path card above these choices because it was showcased in the triads but here are some of my other favourites and a little about how each came about:

i)      Shape Shifting is the second card I am choosing and as a matter of insight it is the first card I created and I instantly knew it was the card I should begin the deck with. Having been a subscriber of Joey’s channel for some time I am familiar with and understand her annoyance that Morrigan gets categorised as only a Goddess of Death and War; Her other aspects get overlooked in many accounts of her associations and powers. Shape shifting is one of Morrigan’s most fascinating aspects and whether the card is interpreted as a power of the Goddess or something more personal, it is a reminder that just one label is never enough to successfully describe the sum of a person or deity.

ii)   This is possibly a controversial card and I did consider not including it but Joey posted this photograph of herself before I had even started to make oracle cards and in the photograph I saw Morrigan looking at me through Joey’s eyes. That was it for me… I had to play on photoshop and create Morrigan within the image. I made several versions and this was my favourite before I’d even thought of the deck. So, when the deck was conceived and I had focused the ideas down to aspects of Morrigan, I knew exactly the image to use to see Morrigan in her daughters.

iii) Ah, the yumminess that is foxes. It was so difficult to make a choice for the wording on the fox card; I toyed with Trickster, Eyes in the Aether, Twilight Temptation, etc but nothing seemed to capture the energy of fox I was trying to portray and when I chose Awareness, it felt to fit like the last piece of the jigsaw. Anyone who watches Joey’s channel knows how she cherishes the presence of foxy energies and so this felt like a very important card but the reason it makes one of my personal favourites is the combination of the outline silhouette and the orange/white energy background which gives the impression of a shifting awareness.

Well, there we have it… the whole deck is 44 cards and I have featured about half of those here. Joey, herself has showcased the cards in a video on her YouTube channel, link below…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_cP3UYPrDw

There is another deck in the works – watch this space!!!

Wittering on... 16/10/16 - Autumn Excitement, Oracle News & Apologies

Autumnal Excitement…

Oh, how the darkness plays with my mind and makes my imagination hop on the broomstick and fly into the shadows of Autumn. With the veil thinning and the nights lengthening, I can smell the decay of leaves, I can sense the shift in season, the drop in temperature and how I adore it and jump for joy. Dark clouds and rainstorms, leaf piles to plough through, dancing leaves that abandon the branches and float to their brothers and sisters on chilled breezes. In case you can’t guess, this is my favourite time of year… so magickal, so mystical and completely sublime.

At this most divine time, descending deeply into the dark, cold months of autumn and winter, I am drawn to the pale light of the moons rays as she plays hide and seek, slipping behind drifting clouds before blessing us with her delicate silvery light. It is with these thoughts in mind, as I sit quietly by candlelight in my garden watching the October full moon that I decide to re-write my ritual for Drawing Down the Moon. A powerful and beautiful rite to invoke the Goddess directly into the soul and share Her light. Link to my write up of the full rite will be here soon…

Oracle Card News

With the aforementioned descent into darkening days, I have been recalled to the ‘Daughter of the Morrigan’ oracle deck I am creating for +Joey Morris. The majority of the deck is ready to print but I have only a few more cards to make; the images will be posted here soon and full deck review will be posted separately with intended patterns and favourite cards to be showcased.

Apologies

I know that sadly, I do not post as much as I used to and I do intend to remedy that to some extent but much of my inspiration is currently taken up with deck creations and on top of work commitments and personal practice, the time to create posts is not as readily available as I would like. Note to self – must make more time – lol!

Wittering on - Mandi's Pagan Podcast Interview

Well, hello there my lovely witterites (yes I have coined a word for my followers – lol!)

This is only a mini-post to share something which is very exciting but also slightly cringe-inducing for me as the sound of my own voice makes me want to magickally remove my vocal chords…

My very sweet and very dear friend, +Mandi See, has ‘interviewed’ me for her Pagan Podcast on SoundCloud to talk all about this blog… how and why I started it; where my inspiration comes from; why I prefer to blog than vlog and a few quick fire questions toward the end to keep me on my toes (or should that be my broomstick?):

https://soundcloud.com/mandi-see/mandis-pagan-podcast-talks-to-fran-lawrence-witchy-witterings-blog?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook

or

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHOz8cxW94U&list=PL20xwt7bm8U0_O0w-Z1wBCCllyeJZ5cFL&index=4

So, please enjoy and I’ll be back soon with more witterings.

Apple Blossom Wand Blessing (with Quert)

Harvest the branch for an apple wand under the earliest, sliver-of-light crescent of a new moon between May and October, always asking for permission from the deva of the tree.

Leave the bark natural or strip away and anoint with oils… as a wand with a loving energy, rose would make a beautiful compliment to the this type of wand; much like, adding a rose quartz to the tip of an apple wand.

1.         Cast your circle in a manner consistent with the intention of your blessing… apple is generally associated with love and so petals are pretty; maybe an astral fire for passion, but with Quert’s element association being water, perhaps a flow of astral waters permeated with blossoms.

2.        Anoint the Quert votive with it’s oil and place it in West area of your altar and light it

3.        Anoint the wand with the oil too – centre to base, centre to tip, reciting these words whilst holding it:

Oh blessed oil, of crafting hands

Dance on this wand like a wave on the sands

It’s power strengthened, imbued with your light

Bring love to it’s core so its magick shines bright

4.    Place the wand on your altar with the tip almost touching the candle and so facing West. Surround it with the crystals so they form pentacle points around the wand and the top point of the pentacle being a crystal between the wand and votive.

5.    Visualise a pentacle of water connecting these points before seeing the wand draw in that energy… allowing the branch to be charged by it.

6.      Now, focusing on the wand, the crystals, the pentacle, the light of the candle and the scent of the oil, raise your energy until it harmonises with the vibration of the items before you. I like to manifest this energy is the heart chakra and then visualise it emanating from the chakra into the wand.

7.        Lastly, the blessing salts are sprinkled over the wand with the incantation:

Blessed be, oh, wand of emotions

Filled with love and romantic notions

Open hearts, relieve confusion

Heal hurts, dispel illusion

Bring to light the love I see

As I do will,, so mote it be

8. Your wand is now charged by Quert infused candlelight, oil and blessing salts; also, the energy of aventurine (a higher heart chakra crystal) and rose quartz (a lower heart chakra crystal) and will work in alignment with loving magicks. Thank the energies which you invoked and close your circle 

Wittering on... 23/08/16 - Prepping for Autumn Altar

I know, I know… I’ve been lazy with posting again. The ideas are there but unfortunately the time to put stunning posts which combine magickal delicacy, exciting prose and memorable rhymes together is not. However, as I’ve been exceedingly witchy today and actually cast spells… not to mention changed up my altar ready to welcome Autumn, I thought I’d share…

The spell I cast twice; for two different people and I will consider sharing it at a later date with some slight adjustments from my personal version as it was a spell for cash flow and I know many of us are struggling at the moment.

That is all for now. Blessed be x)O(x