Long time gone

It has been a long time since I have written, but not due to nothing happening in my wonderfully chaotic life.

But I don't want to dwell on the past, but instead I want to welcome the Spring. I am waiting (not so patiently) for the ground to thaw so that I can start get'n my hand dirty! I am going to plant a magical garden. Earlier this year, I read an amazing book, that I highly recommend if you to want to create a magical garden.

This book doesn't give an indepth look at gardening but it does give some simple instructions to herbs  as well as rituals to do in your garden. I am a fan of Kate, so I enjoyed this book.

A witches alminac would be a good addition to this as to any gardening book. Before that last frost I need to get me a copy.

I hope your garden is green, Blessed Be

G

It's Yule Time

It's Yule time and that means snow, holly and mistle-toe. But do you know what else?

Lesser Sabbat – Winter Solstice, circa Dec 21

Other Names:
Jul (“wheel”, Old Norse), Saturnalia(Rome ~December 17 & 18), Yuletide(Teutonic), Midwinter, Fionn’s Day, Alban huan, Christmas (Christian~December 25), Xmas, Festival of Sol, Solar/Secular/Pagan New Year

Animals/Mythical beings:
yule goat (nordic), reindeer stag, squirrels, yule cat, Sacred White Buffalo, Kallikantzaroi-ugly chaos monsters(greek), trolls, phoenix, yule elf, jule gnome, squirrels, wren/robin

Gemstones:
cat’s eye, ruby, diamond, garnet, bloodstone

Incense/Oils:
bayberry, cedar, ginger, cinnamon, pine, rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, nutmeg, wintergreen, saffron

Colors:
gold, silver, red, green, white

Tools,Symbols, & Decorations:
bayberry candles, evergreens, holly, mistletoe, poinsettia,mistletoe, lights, gifts, Yule log, Yule tree. spinning wheels, wreaths, bells, mother & child images

Goddesses:
Great Mother, Befana (strega), Holda (teutonic), Isis(egyptian), Triple Goddess, Mary(christian), Tonazin(mexican), Lucina(roman), St. Lucy (swedish),Bona Dea (roman), Mother Earth, Eve(Hebrew), Ops(roman Holy Mother), the Snow Queen, Hertha (German), Frey (Norse)

Gods:
Sun Child, Saturn(rome), Cronos (Greek), Horus/Ra(egyptian), Jesus(christian-gnostic), Mithras(persian), Balder(Norse), Santa Claus/Odin(teutonic), Holly King, Sol Invicta, Janus(God of Beginnings), Marduk (Babylonian)Old Man Winter

Essence:
honor, rebirth, transformation, light out of darkness, creative inspiration, the mysteries, new life, regeneration, inner renewal, reflection/introspection

Dynamics/Meaning:
death of the Holly (winter) King; reign of the Oak (summer) King), begin the ordeal of the Green Man, death & rebirth of the Sun God; night of greatest lunar imbalance; sun’s rebirth; shortest day of year

Purpose:
honor the Triple Goddess, welcome the Sun Child

Rituals/Magicks:
personal renewal, world peace, honoring family & friends, Festival of light, meditation

Customs:
lights, gift-exchanging, singing, feasting, resolutions, new fires kindled, strengthening family & friend bonds, generosity, yule log, hanging mistletoe, apple wassailing, burning candles, Yule tree decorating; kissing under mistletoe; needfire at dawn vigil; bell ringing/sleigh-bells; father yule

Foods:
nuts, apple, pear, caraway cakes soaked with cider, pork, orange, hibiscus or ginger tea, roasted turkey, nuts, fruitcake, dried fruit, cookies, eggnog, mulled wine

Herbs:
blessed thistle, evergreen, moss, oak, sage, bay, bayberry, cedar, pine, frankincense, ginger, holly, ivy, juniper, mistletoe, myrrh, pinecones, rosemary, chamomile, cinnamon, valarion, yarrow

Element:
earth

Threshold:
dawn

Get out and enioy this beautiful time of year.

Blessed Be

Grayce

the Snow Moon in all Her Glory!

Tonight is the full moon, and it is amazing!

The Snow Moon

In all Her Glory!

The plane trails made an amazing back drop!

The "star" up in the top right hand side, is actually Jupiter.

Check out this site for some great info on the night sky!

Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos

For more information visit here.

The Snow Moon making her appearance

Today the Moon is a 7% Waxing Crescent. When it is full (approximately November 9th) it is known as the Snow Moon. Also known as the Beaver Moon or Tree Moon.

It is a good time for workings for abundance, prosperity as well as bonding with your loved ones. It is also a time for divination to see what is to come. Remember that Winter is coming, but as with all things, the cold and darkness will not last forever.

In days past, it was of great importance to prepare and store crops and meats for the coming winter. Now with the convenience of super markets this is not as important. But if you had a harvest from your garden, now is a time to store those properly.

Hopefully next year, I will have a great harvest from my newly planted garden.

With or without a garden it is time to prepare for the cold months ahead. Check your house and vehicle for winter safety. Make sure you unhook all water spickets and roll up hoses and store for winter. Also protect trees and scrubs by wrapping them with proper tree wrap. It is also time to replace your filter on your furnace for winter use. If you have exposed pipes in the basement, it might be a good idea to wrap those too, so they don't burst.

As for the car, make sure your tires are in good working order, if not it is a good time to replace them. Also add de-icing windshield washer fluid for those icy mornings and check those wipers, replace if needed. And don't forget to check your antifreeze.

As for ritual, it is a good time to cast a spell for a safe winter for you, your family and your house.

When all this is done, sit back and enjoy the cooler nights and wait for that falling snow.

Blessed Be

Grayce

What is Wicca to me?

I had a very lovely lady ask me what Wicca is. I would like to answer her, from my heart.
*Please remember that there are hundreds of thousands of people out there that are Wiccan and my interpretations are just that, mine. I do not want to offend anyone, so please read with an open heart.

Wicca to me is a a nature based religion. Where I see the Divine light within all things. Every thing in the universe is made of energy; humans, animals, plants and even rocks. We are all part of the One and the One is part of us. I don't worship rocks or animals but I worship the Divine source within all things. I treasure the beauty around me. I admire a beautiful sunset and know that I can find that beauty within myself and all things around me.

As embodiments of the Universe, the Goddess and God dwell everywhere and are within everything. This means that while they are many beautiful and bountiful things, they are also the raging storm, the thundering Earth, and the sweeping fire. They are joyous birth and wasting disease, because all are part of the natural cycle of life.

My patron Goddess, Athena, is the representation of the things that I hold dear. She is Wisdom and Knowledge. The things I long to be. She is Strong, Powerful and a Protector. She allows me to draw the power that is within me to be the best that I can be.

I have not found a personal God yet. But I know that the world is made up of both feminine and masculine energy. I honor the Sun and the Hunter God. For I know that without the Sun we would not have the heat to live and without the Hunter God we would not have food to eat.

-As for the term "Horned God"; he is the God of the Hunt, the masculinity of the world.  Not the "horned god" known to Christan's as the devil, Lucifer or Satan. For that is a Christan deity and since I am not Christian, I do not worship or even deal with that entity. The horns on the Horned God are those of a deer or an elk, representing the hunt and the wild beasts.

As for Jesus, I was raised Christan so I know of the many teachings of Jesus. I believe in him, but not as a Christan does. I do not believe that Jesus is the son of God, that to believe in him is the only way to be saved. Remember what I said above, all is energy and energy can not be destroyed, thus we are all saved. But back to Jesus, I do believe he was a prophet of peace, I believe that he was a man who wanted to teach people to be and do better, to teach love and overall peace. I feel the same way about the Budda.

-As for Witchcraft. There are Wiccans that are witches but not all witches are Wiccans. I know that sounds a bit confusing, but it is true. There are people that perform witchcraft ; "The craft of the Witch; Magic, especially magic utilizing Personal Power in conjunction with energies within stones, herbs, colors and other natural objects. While this may have spiritual overtones, Witchcraft, using this definition, isn‘t a religion" Scott Cunningham.

Now I think I need to do some more defining for you. Magic is simply the manipulation of the energies that surround us. Much like the big secret in the book The Secret.  By the way it really isn't a secret, witches have known and utilized this for millennia. Basically what magic is; is the power of the mind to direct the energies of the universe. Have you ever wanted to talk to someone just to have the phone ring and it is that person. Or maybe you know what someone is going to say before they say it? That's magic. There is no such thing as deja vu, it is simply your mind tapping into the energies around you and you are directing it. (please remember this is my interpretation of it.)



Back to what I was saying there are people that simply use witchcraft for the sole purpose of directing their life to become what they want. **Now, unfortunately there are people out there that use this knowledge for bad or hurtful purposes. But please know there are bad people in every religion in the world. There are wars fought everyday in the name of religion. Please don't judge all based on the rare few!**

As for me, I consider myself Wiccan (now there are people out there that say you can't be Wiccan and solitary at the same time, but like I posted earlier, to each their own. Tolerance people, it's called tolerance.) Anyway. Wicca is the "craft of the wise." It is the nature religions that were practices in Nothern Europe and the Middle east from the time of the ice ages. It is a nature based religion (Pagan), the knowledge of a Goddess and God. Acceptance of reincarnation and the knowledge of Magic.

Now I use the word knowledge instead of belief for a very specific reason. To believe in something, means there is a possibility, no matter how small, that it could be incorrect. To know something is true is a powerful thing. "A belief in God is one thing; the knowledge of a personal relationship with Him or Her is quite another...Belief is no more a part of Magic than it is a part of computer repair." Scott Cunningham.

"Wiccans learn from and revere the gift of nature from divine creation by celebrating the cycles of the sun, moon and seasons. We search within ourselves for the cycles that correspond to those of the natural world and try to live in harmony with the movement of this universal energy. Our teachers are the trees, rivers, lakes, meadows, mountains and animals as well as others who have walked this path before us. This belief creates a reverence and respect for the environment, and all life upon the Earth." The Celtic Connection (an amazing website for more on Wicca).

We also work with and cherish the elements of Nature; Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. We know that to use them properly you can effectively create Magic. In all things there is the spark of the Divine. Each color, scent and type; of crystal, herb, candle, (any tool used in magic) has a specific connection with the Divine. Each has their own property and power. The use a a certain color, scent, type of tool can add energy to a ritual. It is now well known now that color has an effect on mood, and people from doctors (color of patients rooms) to interior designers (color of kitchens) are using this knowledge to enhance peoples lives. Well the fact is color has an effect on alot more than just mood and Witches have known and utilize this knowledge for centuries.

Instead of going to a church to perform rituals, such as praying or performing the rosary as you might do, I perform my rituals in a sacred space that I make in my living room, under a tree, or in a wide open meadow under the stars. My rituals include anything from a dance to a sacred poem. A single candles flame to a huge bonfire. I celebrate the turning of the wheel of the year and the cycles of the Moon. I cherish every living things and tend to all things upon this earth. I am a mother, a friend, a Pagan, a Witch and a Wiccan.

I really hope that this cleared up some uncertainties that you might have had. And sparked your interest in what I and hundreds of other people believe.

Thank you for being open to my way of life. It is refreshing to know that mangled within all the destruction of hurtful words and actions, there are still good souls that are willing to accept me as I am.

If you are interested, I am reading an amazing book right now called The Truth about Witchcraft Today by Scott Cunningham. You might want to pick up a copy just so you can read about what Witchcraft is and what it is not, maybe to ease your mind, that I am not a crazy nut ;)

May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
May your heart be filled with gladness to cheer you.

-an old Irish Blessing

Blessed Be

Grayce

Halloween Party Time

Welcome to the party!! Here is my Fanciful Twist Party Post.

Be unafraid of Shadows dark

And to their whispers

Do Not Hark  

Unfriendly words

You do Not hear  

No worry, trouble
Loss or Fear

No Shadow falls
Upon your Heart

We Stand Together
Though Apart.

We Stand Together
Ever Winning

All our spells
Together Spinning

For Every End
A New Beginning

Wealthy, Healthy,
Happy, Free

If this your Will
So Mote It Be!

(Poem by Maurice of Coventry Greens, 1994)
Pictures by me :)  

May you see what you are ment to see, feel what you are ment to feel and be who you are ment to be.

Blessed Be

Grayce