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Spellcheck....Fail

For any practitioner of witchcraft, there occasionally will come those moments when we realize it's called a "practice" for a reason. Ah, those moments that none of us like to talk about. We planned our spell perfectly, gathered our ingredients, wrote our incantation out; it looked as if all was just how we wanted it. Our spell is cast and we walk away.

Depending on the situation, and even on the methodology of our casting, we sometimes begin to see the effects right away.  Those gratifying times when the world around us begins to change, as our workings begin to manifest into reality.  Other times there is that slow, gradual change that takes place.  Or way may never even see the actual effects of the spell.  That protection charm that was crafted for a dear friend...you may never know just how helpful that it truly was.  Perhaps the only evidence you see is in your divinations.
Still there are those other times when we look back and just have to accept that our spell didn't work....simply put.  Why does this happen?  Have we gone from being a "good" witch to a "bad" witch.  (Pun absolutely intended).

I have read others opinions that you should allow at least a full moon cycle before coming to the conclusion that a spell didn't work.  Now obviously this cannot always be the case.  But for general purposes, I feel this is a great rule of thumb.  Sometimes a spell just needs time to "cook" so to speak.  If we enlisted the help of any allies, they may need to time do the working that they were sent out to do.  And while it's not always easy to just walk away and "forget" about a working, it doesn't help matters if we are pacing the floors, worrying about when our answer will come.  There is a reason that witches don't discuss spells that they have recently cast.  Doubts and negative thoughts, whether from others or within ourselves can hinder a spell.

So I have done everything by the book.
I have waited a moon cycle.
I still see no results.
Now the question is why?  Why didn't it work?  Do I just not have the skills?  Did the cloves I added counteract the lavender?  Do I really even know what I'm doing?  Is this even real?  Am I really a witch?  Do I just have an overactive imagination?  Hello?  Is anyone listening?  Is this thing on?  (cricket...cricket)
These are all thoughts that some of us may have from time to time....I know I have.  But we don't like to talk about that.  We don't want to let anyone in on the secret that we are still learning.  We want to keep that image....that I Am A Powerful Witch, Don't Fuck With Me image.  Pride.

The truth is, maybe there isn't one single reason it doesn't always work.  Does that mean we aren't on the right path.  Hell no!  But it is a walking, living practice.  If it doesn't work the first time, try something different.  A tried and true method that always works for me, may not be right for you.  And that is OKAY!  While some may frequently use the aid of a fetch, another may not be entirely comfortable with that and focus more on candle magick.  On the flipside, I say it's also okay to step out of our comfort zones every once in a while.  We are all learning, and if you want to live a magickal life that is something to get used to.  A lifetime of learning, changing, growing.

Now this blog post isn't really educational, because frankly I don't have all the answers.  This post is more to exhort and encourage others who may have had the same questions raised in their minds.  This is why as a (technically) solitary practitioner, I'm grateful for an online community of friends who walk a similar path.  We learn from each other, and grow with each other.  I am not shy about asking my witchy friends for advice about things.  I also am not opposed to asking another to do a spell for me if I fail.  And I am always more than willing to do the same for those in my online circle.  A reason for this being, sometimes when a need is so great within ourselves, that desperation for something can germinate a seed of doubt in our own minds....hindering the work.  If the witch doing the spell is not directly affected....that doubt can then be removed.

Closing thoughts....don't be afraid to try, try again.  Next time, go a different route.  Ask a friend.  Do something new.  But don't give up.  Don't doubt who you are.  Reflect on your successes!  Reflect on what you know to be true from the depths of who you are!  And as always....Blessed Be!

The Dilemma of Being a Cancer

It's a dangerous thing...Daring to break free from the safety of your shell.
What lies along those sandy shores?
Will those refreshing waters be your ultimate doom?
Or will at last you find what you've been longing for?
Break free!  Break free!
If you don't, you'll never know what could be.
And that is worse than any ill fate that may come your way.

I Caught A Glimpse of You

I caught a glimpse of you
Watching, waiting in anticipation.
For that moment when the fates spin their craft in favor.
Gazing in the night sky, wishing upon whatever star
would patronize my desire.
And I caught a glimpse of you

I caught a glimpse of you
Passing me by like a fleeting moment in time.
Wondering if you saw me too.
Wondering if time would ever let me know something real....something special.
And I caught a glimpse of you

I caught a glimpse of you
All starting with a hello
Putting aside the past, along with all it's fears.
That moment I first tasted of that smile,
That smile that said I'm finally home.
And I caught a glimpse of you

I caught a glimpse of you
Looking in those eyes,
Realizing I see the reflection of my own soul.
Wrapped up in each other,
Bodies entwined with that first moment of passion.
I look into the depth of my own being
And I caught a glimpse of you

A Night of Passion

In heat of passion, there be light,
Like a fire that dances with flame.
But when only ashes remain of the night,
Will you remember my name?

Whispering Trees

Whispering trees have a tale to tell,
Of wisdom from days gone by.
Will you hear their sacred truths,
Or let the old ways die?

Divining the Clouds

On clouds I ponder in skies above,
Where rain does softly wait.
My heart does wonder like a fleeting dove,
As I catch a glimpse of fate.

The Witches Flight

By broom I traverse on this night

Take me to the witches flight

By roads above, and roads below

By crooked path, I shall go

By Ash, and Birch, and Willow three

Witches gate, I conjure thee

Freely I fly, throughout and about

By my will who enters, all else keep out

Hermes candles

I took the day off work today and had the house to myself. So I used this opportunity, which just happened to be on a day of the full moon, to do some crafting....candle crafting that is. I had decided to make what I wanted to call "Hermes candles" as a way to open gates to the Upperworld and Underworld.  Working with herbs that would help connect to spirits and connect to Hermes as a gatekeeper and messenger between the three planes of the world tree. I chose to work with three herbs....Mullein, Wormwood, and Yarrow. 

I began working each individual herb in the mortar and pestle. As I pressed the pestle into the herbs, I asked the spirit of each herb to be present; and to ignite the properties that I needed present for my intentions. I thanked the herb for its help with my workings. 

Once each herb was ground individually, I blended the three together. I believe this is an important step in the enchantment process. As I blended with my hand, I was enchanting the herbs with my intention; speaking my desires to them and believing it to be so. 

Setting the herbs to the side, I prep my containers for the finished product. I chose these nice black cups because they would go nice with the black color of the wax I chose. Plus, they just looked really cool. 

Once the black wax was melted over the stove, I stirred in my herbs. Stirring in a sunwise fashion...still focusing my intention and asking Hermes to bless my working. 

Once I felt the herbs "cooked" long enough and the candles were ready to be poured, I carefully divided the wax into the cups. I removed some of the excess herbs, but let most of the herbs go right into the candles. And then I just watched and waited.  

After the wax hardened, I was pleased with how the candles turned out. The top wasn't really smooth, but it gave it sort of a bubbly, witchy brew look to it. 

I can't wait to use this now and incorporate it into a ritual. But I'm going to wait and use this in the dark moon. Until then, it's going to look great on an altar. I believe I will keep only one. The others may be reserved as birthday gifts for my bewitching friends. 

Until next time...blessed be and happy crafting!

Pick A God. Any God.

Pick up any book or go to any website that talks about different gods, and you may be instantly overwhelmed. Multiple pantheons, with multiple gods and goddesses within those pantheons.  So many personalities, histories, myths and legends. 

When first starting out on a pagan path, one of the first things many seekers feel they need to do is select a patron god and/or goddess. This alone can feel synonymous to visiting the food court of a busy shopping center. A bunch of pushy vendors offering free samples to  win you over. 

So it may seem when researching the vast array of pantheons within various belief systems, pagan or otherwise. (I say this because depending on your definition of paganism, some gods may not fall under that category.)

The question remains...how does one go about choosing which god is right for me?  The short version to this question, in my experience, is that we don't choose. But rather, the gods choose us. Firstly, we must determine our overall view of deity. I personally have a polytheistic view of deity, with the belief that each god or goddess is operating under his or her own personality.  With the understanding that each god(dess) was birthed from a divine source, and are connected to each other in a way that is beyond our finite thinking. I personally do not believe that the gods are simply an archetype or characterization of a thought form. 

If a pantheon speaks to us, do we limit ourselves to one or two gods?  Do we try to learn everything about as many gods as we can?  In my opinion, the answer to both of these questions is no. Those who know me, understand that I have a close relationship with Hestia. However, Hestia has led me to a relationship with a few select others within the greek pantheon. As well as introducing me to a goddess of an African religion. 

I think it's more important to develop a close relationship with a select few gods and goddesses, rather than keeping a different god on the sidelines for every different situation that arises in our lives. 

Understand that I'm only giving my opinion based on my personal experience. 

For me, I've found that Lady Hestia is very powerful in her own rite, and has been faithful to bring comfort, guidance, and a helping hand when needed. She has even been gracious enough to direct me to another deity who would be more beneficial for a particular need. 

Bottom line is this...try to avoid what I will call the "iPhone mentality" when it comes to working with deity. "Oh you're having car trouble?  I've got a god for that."  I would rather have a close relationship with a select few benefactors, rather than choosing my gods from a book based on the need, like picking out shoes from an online catalog. 

On a final note, if you are going to work with a divine source, whether it be a one time thing, or regularly; be respectful, give reverence and make an appropriate offering to give thanks for any help you are given. But then again, that falls under paganism 101. 

Last Night's Altar

The Winds of Change

It has been several months since I have posted anything here, as I have been going through quite a year of transformation. I have seen the results of some of my spells from last year come to fruition in ways that I wasn't expecting. While 2012 was one of the most difficult years of my life, things have completely turned around for me this year.  There is still much transition that I am going through, and I am seeing the full force of the Tower card from the tarot being played out.  Transformation can be a wonderful, yet painful thing.  Just as labor pains come before the blessing of a child, so it can be in our lives for positive changes to take place.
I spent a little over a year in a very toxic, abusive relationship.  Even now, I have a hard time saying that out loud.  Not only did I live with fear, but also with shame.  I was ashamed that I allowed myself to get in this situation.  I was ashamed that as a witch I felt so powerless to get out of it.  Still yet, the ways of the gods are not always like our ways.  I put my trust in their care and looked for changes to come to my home.  I would do spells for cleansing, protection, and peace over my home.  I would pray to my lady Hestia for her blessing over my home.  Still I felt, at the time, that those prayers were going unanswered.  That my spellwork was ineffective and useless.  Why was it that I could work magick for others and was always able to give wise counsel to others.  Yet for myself, it seemed like my life was stuck in a trap.
That, however, was only one phase of my life that I can gladly say has now passed.  I am no longer in that relationship, and my life is being rebuilt.  I have entered a new relationship with someone who is showing me daily what love really means.  Though it may seem too soon to be in another relationship....it happened.  I wasn't expecting to meet someone else so soon, or ever for that matter.  But it happened, and I'm loving every minute of it.  Things are still continually changing for me now.  But I'm learning that when the winds of change begin to blow, embrace it.  Except it.  Learn lifes lessons and grow.  As the saying goes....what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Tarot Deck Consecration

Depending on your view of tarot and your path, it may be beneficial to place your new tarot deck on your altar and dedicate it. Invite your gods and/or any benevolent spirits to connect with you through your deck. Present it and make it available to them as a means of communication.