To Be Silent

Last night was the astrological cross-quarter of Samhain, the ritual honoring the ancestors and the end of life mysteries. Our society shies away from death, so its no surprise that the decline of life isn't talked about so much.

I was fortunate this year. No one died in my family, that I know. Even though my eldest cat is suffering from Chronic Renal Failure, she's stable, if slowly declining.

I have a bit of a cold or crud or seasonal somewhat happening to me, so the ritual I wrote to honor my ancestors was tossed for something less strenuous and simple. Simple is good! :)

I unpacked my ancestor box, which is what you see in the photo here. Photos of my ancestors, trinkets, flowers, shells, stones, and other things that make me think of my beloved dead are stored there and maintained year round. Only at Samhain do I ever unpack the contents. I keep a list of the names of my dead there as well.

I established my space, and sat silently writing the names on parchment. The entire ritual was silent on my part. I sat and considered my photos and their names. I offered them beans and tea, which reflects something of my family ancestry.

All in all, the result was a peaceful and sweet rite.

I can only hope that others' rituals were as meaningful.

It doesn't sound much like what people think of when they're imagining what a Witch does for this time of year. No loud chanting or spellcraft here, no poppets or spells. I do those things, but only when necessary.

I just don't see it as necessary very often. My usual work is more focused on what T. Thorn Coyle calls the Great Work. I want to know myself and be the best me ever. My practice is about growing and knowing peace with myself, good and bad.

I know that not everyone sees their spiritual or magical tradition that way, and I try not to judge too harshly. Yet when I see people embracing their jealousy and thriving in it, when people allow their anger to sweep them up, I find that I can be all too judgmental. Losing yourself in destructive emotions instead of engaging them and discovering why and what is their source seems counter to living a spiritual existence to me.

But I'm not them, and I don't know the background. Some of them, no doubt, look at my simple little ancestor right and wonder where the juice is, why I don't call down the Gods and dance vigorously, why I don't stir the powers up and make them bring me more prosperity or something.

They're not me, and don't understand my life either. :)

And I value those differences. Nature adores diversity, and abhors homogeneity. I need to remember that.

44 Days of Witchery: Day 16

Favorite Witchy Website.

Hmmm... How can I choose just one???

I have to share two, followed by a confession.

My favorite Witchcraft site is from Forest Grove Botanica. There's a lot there that I know with which some will take issue. After all, there's a blog entry on how to use chicken hearts in magic just a bit down the page. But I learn so freaking much about witchery there.

For my simple love of altars and sacred objects, I head over to tumblr and fuckyeahaltars.

The truth is however, that I am doing so much work on my computer lately between doing some coloring work for a publisher and writing... that I don't visit many websites lately, witchy or otherwise. I check my favorite facebook groups - Covenant of Hekate (which is not a fb group but has a presence there), the SFASU Pagan Student Alliance, Hekate's Crossroads and the group of friends back home called cictrclan Shaman.

Of those, Covenant of Hekate is a closed group for Devotees and Torchbearers. For more information on that, check out the following links:
http://hekatecovenant.com/
http://sacredfires.co.uk/the-rite-of-her-sacred-fires/the-covenant-of-hekate
http://sorita.co.uk/ - Sorita is the founder of CoH.

And that's about it. I've been so busy lately that not even Forest Grove has gotten my attention much.

44 Days of Witchery: Day 11

Oils - I do so love to play with herbs and the like, though my magic in the kitchen is with bread and tea. :)

That said I have my fair share of oils I make when I need them. Currently I have some mint stewing for oils to use later.

I even have fake ones that I make for Halloween decorations. :0) If I told you how to make the sun cry or steal a hippogriff's tears, it would rob the fun of the decoration. Suffice to say, the real magic is in the tea stained labels.

Anyone still here?

Life has been super crazy. We'll leave it at that. >.<


In an effort to re-awaken my blog, here are some surveys to answer some questions that folks might have about me:

1) How do you label yourself as a witch? (Pagan, Wiccan, eclectic solitary witch, Gardnerian Wiccan, Asatru?)
Wiccan-influenced Witch
2) Do you believe in or follow any gods, goddesses, entities? If so, which ones?
I believe in a bunch of Gods, but I am devoted to Hekate.
3) Name three simple things that make you feel like a witch.
1. I cast spells.
2. I commune with spirits.
3. I worship my Gods in witchy ways.
4) Are there any aspects of witchcraft in which you excel or have a stronger pull towards (e.g. herbs, candle magic, healing, or animal magic)?
I'm good with animals, tisanes (herbal remedies), cord magick, and I'm told I have talent for healing.
5) What is your stance on curses?
I don't think they're the wise thing to do, but my personal path is a lot about becoming a better person. Curses require a willingness to pay a price I'm not willing to pay. At least, I haven't found a reason to hex yet.
6) How many people (if any) know that you do witchcraft?
A bunch, both online and off. I couldn't give you an exact number though.
7) What age did you start practicing witchcraft?
I discovered witchcraft and started practicing around twelvish. My first sabbat was that Beltaine.
8) Are you pulled closer to the light or darkness of witchcraft?
I don't use those terms. I'm big on balance - don't avoid either. Dynamic balance is the way to go.
9) Name your favorite animal, plant and color to work with in magic.
Animal - Fox, Vulture, Horse.
Plant - Lemon Balm, Oak, Holly.
Color - Depends on what I'm doing, really. Red, Yellow, Orange, White, and Black are pretty common on my devotional altar.
10) Do you have any witchy friends where you live?
Yes.
11) Is your spellwork done formally (all planned out with specific clothes and rituals done before starting) or done on the spur of the moment?
Either. It depends on how large a spell we're talking. Small ones, like finding my keys, are spontaneous. Spells for other purposes require more planning. Holy day rituals are usually sketched out and then the details are spontaneous.
12) Have you made your own tools before? If so, which ones?
My wand, staff, details on my athame, details on my drum, devotional artwork, altar cloths, runes, and ritual jewelry are all mine. My athame itself was commissioned from Lupa (http://www.thegreenwolf.com).
13) What are some talents that you have that don’t pertain to your spiritual self (e.g. singing, dance, artwork)?
There is nothing in my life that isn't spiritual. The mundane is spiritual. Breathing is spiritual.


Generic Pagan Survey
B A S I C S //
Do you have a magickal name? A few. Currently, Neheti, which I gained when I was active with the House of Netjer.
What does it mean? Neheti means "Shelter, or House, or Sycamore Fig" - all of which are intensely synchronistic and amazingly meaningful.
How did you find Wicca/Paganism? I've been connected to a lot of this since I was a kiddo, but I started really discovering my path thanks to mythology and a deep love of libraries.
How long have you been practicing? Ahem.... twenty-ish years.
Solitary or group pratictioner? Solitary with attendance at open rituals. I would join a coven if one of the ones that calls to me were near here.
What is your path? Unique.
Are you out of the broom closet? I'm not a stand on top of the car shouting my beliefs kind of girl, but I don't hide it either.

D E I T Y //
Who is your patron God? Don't have one. I've got a relationship with An Dagda, Amun, Dionysos, and Helios, but they're not patrons.
Who is your patron Goddess? Hekate, Hekate. Hekate. She's everything to me. Since she called me, she has spread out and expanded and changed my world.
What Gods do you worship? I send up the odd conversation to the gods listed above.
What Goddesses do you worship? Hekate first. Bast, and HetHert also get attention, much like the gods.
Do you fear darkly aspected Gods/Goddess, or rather respect them? Fear can be healthy, or it can be crippling. Balance is important though and I have no trouble with looking into the void.
Do you worship the Christian God? Not really.
Do you ever worship animals? Not worship, but sometimes they act as messengers of the Divine. Totems are a whole 'nother bag.
Or plants? Not worship, but again, sometimes they're messengers of the Divine. Again, Totems should be separate.

N A T U R E //
Do you regularly commune with nature? Yes.
Ever walked barefoot in the woods? Yes, when I was little, but the ticks in this area are vicious, so I don't recommend it.
Taken a camping trip just to talk to nature? Yes! I love doing that.
Describe the moment you felt closest to Mother Earth? There isn't any one moment that qualifies - there are a few moments that totally blew my mind however. Those are experiences that cannot be shared in words.
What is your power animal? Fox and Vulture and Grackle and Leopard.
Do you have a familiar? I have a cat that seems to want to be, but no.
Have you ever called upon the powers on an animal in ritual? Yes.
Or a plant? Yes
Do you hug trees? Yes.
Give them gifts? Yes
What is your favorite flower to work with? Roses.
What is your favorite tree to work with? Oak

W H E E L . O F . T H E . Y E A R //
What is your favorite holiday? Samhain and Yule
What if your least favorite holiday? I struggle with the Spring Equinox.
Have you ever held a ritual on a holiday? Yes, both on the astrological date and on the calendar date.
Ever taken a day of work to celebrate a pagan holiday? Not that I recall.
Do you celebrate Yule on the 21 rather than the 25? I celebrate Yule for a bunch of days - just the height is at the Winter Solstice.
Have you ever felt the veil thin? Every year. It is starting soon.
Ever danced the Maypole? No
Know what the Maypole symbolizes? Yes.
How do you usually celebrate the pagan holidays? It depends on what is happening. At the worst I simply take five or ten minutes to contemplate. At the best, there is a camping trip with a full ritual.

D I V I N A T I O N //
Do you use Tarot? Yes
Do you use runes? Not really
Do you use a pendulum? Occasionally
Do you use dowsing rods? No, but I would like to learn.
Do you use astrology? It stumps me.
Any other form of divination? I scry and am learning palmistry.

S P E L L S //
What was the first spell you did? That's really private. Not sharing.
What was the latest? I cast a warding spell on my home while I went on a trip.
Ever done a love spell? Nope.
A job spell? Yes.
A healing spell? Yes.
What was the most powerful spell you’ve ever performed? I don't brag about my spellwork. Sorry.
What deities do you usually call on? If a spell requires a deity's assistance, Hekate.

C R Y P T O Z O O L O G Y //
Do you belive in Vampires? Only psychic vamps.
Werewolves? Not exactly - Lycanthropy exists both as a disease and as a psychological disorder. I have known some people who were extremely animalistic though. Read Lupa's books for more info.
Shapeshifters? In the spiritual realm, yes.
Elves? They're a form of Nature Spirit or Wight.
Fairies? Again, Nature Spirit.
Dragons? Yes, another Spirit.
Nymphs? Nature Spirit.
Sprites? Nature Spirit.
Mermaids? ditto.
Sirens? ditto
Satyrs? ditto
Ever “seen” any of the above? Yes.
Ever talked to any of the above? Yes.
Ever used any of the above in magick? "used" no. Visited, bargained, and communed with some yes.
Do you have one of them as a personal guardian? Yes.

R A N D O M //
Do you see a rabbit, a man or a woman in the moon? Yes. Depends on when you ask me.
Own a cat? Yep.
When you mediate what does your happy place look like? That varies with what I'm working on - it's a large place
Do you work with Chakras? Not often.
Do you believe in past lives? Yes
If so, describe a few briefly: That's pretty private. I don't share that with strangers.
Do you believe in soul mates? Yes, but not like you think.
Do you have a spirit guide? Yes.
Is it always love and light? No, thank all the Gods.

Tomorrow is Huge for me

and it's all about Hekate.

The house is as spotless as I can get it without making it feel sterile, the food prep is almost finished, and my offerings are ready I think.

I have preserved figs, double dipped dark chocolate and white chocolate blackberries and cherries, the fixings for gyros and Greek salad and a lemonade that has watermelon in it. A friend is making homemade real Baklava. Another friend is bringing more food, and I'm making that Southern classic, sun tea (with Moroccan Mint in it).

There are eight people that I know are coming, most of whom celebrated The Rite of Her Sacred Fires a year ago with me. This time, though, my best friends - who couldn't be there last year - will join us.

Last Spring, I was surfing on Facebook and came across a request from Sorita D'Este for Art and Articles for a book on Hekate, and I got a nudge to show her my two paintings of Her.


Hekate v.1 by ~Neheti on deviantART


torchlit hekate by ~Neheti on deviantART

To my eternal joy and gratitude, both were accepted and I became a contributor to one of the most amazing projects: Hekate: Her Sacred Fires. That May, at the Full Moon, the first Rite of Her Sacred Fires joined thousands of followers of Hekate together.

Even then, I knew that this would become an annual thing. The ritual was amazing and pretty private that night.

Tomorrow we do it again, and I am blitzed with joy and pre-party jitters.

If I had the room, I'd have invited everyone I could think of in Texas, and there would be much scarier logistics. :)

Thankfully, my very not interested in any of this husband is amazing and wonderful and happy to help me out with all of this.

Now to go off and brew some non-hallucinatory kykeon for tomorrow.