Friday, December 16, 2011

44 Days of Witchery: Day 40-something

Magical Recipe:

All my recipes are magical. Ha!

I don't lightly share my recipes. And I don't draw lines between my mundane and magical recipes. So do I share a recipe for hair oil? or incense? or my infamous pumpkin muffins?


My incense for Hekate:

Make on the night of the Full Moon.

2 parts dried rose petals (I use roses from my beloved husband.)
1 part lemon balm
3 strands of saffron
3 bits of dragon's blood
1 part beeswax
1 part mint
1 part white oak bark
1 part myrrh gum
9 drops of honey

In a mortar and pestle, grind all but the beeswax and honey together. Add the wax, grind again. Lastly, place the honey in the mix and grind carefully.

Allow it to marry until the New Moon before using it.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

44 Days of Witchery 42

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A favorite Nature Spirit:

I'm big on Trees. :)

There's an awesome ancient Oak tree on the campus on my local university. He's huge and his branches are so heavy that they're slowly growing towards the earth.

As a spirit, he's sweet and graceful. And slow, but most Oaks are.

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There's also the Spirit of a spring near here. Legend has it that a Spanish Saint created it to bring water to the people that were there. When we first moved here, I left an offering there to the spirits of the city to introduce myself. It remains a favorite place to commune.


Note: the oak tree in the photo is not the tree in question. That's the Angel Tree in the Carolinas. Sadly the surroundings of the tree on campus don't make for the best photos.

Friday, December 9, 2011

44 Days of Witchery: Day 41


A spell I've cast.

I generally don't share my spells with others so much, since I take the whole "To Keep Silent" thing fairly seriously... but here goes.

A Spell for Confidence

Preparation:
Tools: A Strength Card, a candle, a sheet of paper and pen.
Any awards or other momentos that bring up pride or feelings of accomplishment.

It is extremely important that you take a bath with your favorite scents and soaps, and take the time to fix your hair and clothes. You want to look and feel your best, or as close to it as you can get. Even if you don't feel like it, just do it.

Establish your space according to your tradition.

Charge the candle with your favorite perfume.

Take several deep slow breaths, and find your center. When you are able to speak from your heart, continue.

Talk about what's making you feel like less than you are. Try to get to the bottom of the situation. Don't hide from the feelings or bury them. Follow them and see where they're coming from.

If you need to cry or be angry, roll with it.

Then take up the momentos of your successes, and start writing what you love about yourself and your life. Write your gratitude for the things you have accomplished on the paper, list out your best and brightest moments.

When you can't think of anything more, fold the paper and set it under the candle.

Light the candle, and meditate on the Strength card.


This spell is not a quick fix, but a means of finding one's confidence and a method of understanding the ways that you are undermining yourself. As such, it might take more than one casting before you really feel the changes it can bring about.

And of course, if you hold back, aren't honest with yourself, or otherwise don't fulfill the real work of the spell... well, you get what you put into these sorts of things.

If you think you can't find anything to celebrate or momentos or awards that you've received, look again. Everyone has accomplishments. Even you. If you can't sit back and acknowledge the good things in life then the spell has no real chance of working.

And last disclaimer, if you are depressed or struggling to cope with life, the best thing you can do is to seek out help. Find a good therapist, talk to a support line, and generally get help. You don't have to suffer alone.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

44 Days of Witchery: Day 40

My Altar.

I've developed a habit of photographing my altar as I change it. I have dozens of shrines here and there around the home. The kitchen has Dionysos, Helios and The Green Man. The bathroom hosts one to Bast and Amun. My bedroom and living room has Hekate, Artemis, and Demeter.

Admittedly Hekate's are the largest and most elaborate.

This one is from a ritual I did about three years ago.

Monday, December 5, 2011

44 Days of Witchery: Day 39

Inspirations:

I am inspired by time outside, amidst the trees.
By the beauty of human creativity.
By my loved ones and all that they've survived and accomplished.
By the compassion one can find in the world, if one has eyes to see.



The power of imagination makes us infinite. - John Muir