Spiritual Mindfullness

It is not sufficient to say you are a “witch” or to practice magick. You must also live as a witch.

Do not look for excuses for why you cannot follow the path. Accept responsibility for your failures as well as your successes.

Celebrate the phases of the Moon and the changing of seasons. Do so not because it is part of a ritual calendar, but rather because these acts keep you in tune with Nature and Spirit.

Honor Spirit or the Goddess, but recognize that the spirits of all entities in the Universe are equal.

All life is sacred; all acts are ritual. Your actions should reflect your own divinity and that of all beings.

Achieving balance with the Earth is essential for a magickal life.

Responsibility toward the environment and the Earth’s inhabitants should be evident in the activities of your daily life.

Do not take more from the Earth than you need to live. We are mere visitors here; the Earth is eternal.

Wealth and fame are not necessary ingredients for a magickal life.

Know that the joy of life is a gift. Know it as a cat knows it, in his bones and blood.

Power is a sacred gift and must be used wisely and with humility. Pride in ones power will ultimately cause failure.

Power should never be used to prove your ability or in any form of competition with others.

Power should be used to create happiness, not sorrow.

Be certain of your intentions when performing any act of magick. Magick is neither good nor evil, positive nor negative. The intentions of the magician determine the path it will take.

Act always with honor and accept responsibility for your actions. It is honorable to protect your loved ones, but be willing to accept the consequences of your actions with honor as well.

Words are sacred, use them wisely.

There is honor in truth.

Your word is sacred. Others must know that they can depend on you absolutely.

Learn to forgive yourself and others.

Knowledge is the foundation of the Craft. Never believe that you know enough.

Teach those who truly wish to learn, but take care that you do not teach those who only wish to serve themselves or harm others.

Teach the Craft with pride, but not to enhance your own pride.

Recognize that even the least knowledgeable of students may offer you lessons you need.

Live your life in a way that is above reproach to the rest of the world. In doing so, you will bring honor to all witches.

Do not be drawn into the feelings of hate and anger expressed by others.

Be able to look into a mirror and be truly unafraid.

Black Rose

By Phoenix McFarland

From the treetop nests of apes to high-rise condos of modern humans, one thing remains true. We harbor strong feelings about the places we call home. Home has been called “the place you hang your hat” and “the place where they have to let you in,” but home is more than that. Our homes become extensions of ourselves, a repository of our memories and our dreams.

To many Pagans, home is also a place of worship. Anthropology tells us that the Goddess was evident in the earliest homes, which often included a niche in the wall bearing a statue of the Goddess, conceivably to bless the home and its inhabitants. This was the first known house magic. As the first Gaia figures evolved into specific deities involved with the home, we saw Goddesses such as Hestia occupying the household altars. Modern Catholics with crucifixes above their beds and statues of Mary guarding their front doors are only a step away from the ancient Pagans and their Gaia figures.

Giving your home a magical name is one way of using magic to protect your house. It was a much more romantic and creative system than today’s dehumanizing addresses. Naming one’s home is still a practice so common in England as to be considered conformative. In North America, however, it is still rare enough to be considered a refreshing idea.

My husband and I have named every home we have lived in. First we got to know the house, its quirks and graces. Then we found the perfect name. Finally we hung a carved wooden sign with the new name on it near the front door. When we moved out we left the sign because it belonged to the house, not to us. We were delighted to see that long after we moved out, each new tenant retained the name and the house name signs still swing overhead, welcoming friends.

While the thought of naming one’s house is quaint and creative, what practical purpose does it serve? Many. In searching out magical names for our homes, we look inward and explore our own expectations of what we hope this living situation will afford. That helps to fine-tune goals, and sometimes acts as a catalyst for better communication between dwelling partners. Mostly, in assigning a house a magical name, we can combine that act with protection and blessing rituals to draw good fortune into the lives of its inhabitants.

How To Pick A House Name

You can use the following criteria in naming your home:

Descriptions of the house: House of Seven Gables, Red Gate Cottage, The White House

Location of the house: Bay View House, Gothamview

Distinctive vegetation growing near the house: Holly House, Fir Manor, Cedar Cottage

Fantastic elements connected with the house: Elfin Estate, Avalon, The Hobbit Hole

Mythological aspects: Valhalla Hall, Diana’s Den

What the house is used for: Covenstead Corner

When you decide to give a magical name to your home, try looking at the house through fresh eyes. Ask yourself some questions:

What did the house look like when it was new?
What will it look like when it’s old, if it’s new?
What sorts of people have lived in it?
When you first saw the house, what made you decide to live there?
What is your favorite spot in the house?

Those questions help determine what the house is like now. Next, ask questions to determine what you’d like the house to become:

What role do you want the house to play? (sanctuary, power base, lover’s getaway, family nest, animal’s den, covenstead, hobby place, office, springboard to a nicer place, retirement home, nursery, etc.)

What element do you want to improve to become the most noticeable about the property?

What do you want to attract into your home?

What/Who do you want to repel from its doors?

What do you want to convey to others in the name?

If this is a temporary house, what sort of permanent dwelling do you want to attract into your lives?

This last list is the most important in formulating the basis of a house blessing ritual. Getting these goals and expectations clearly in focus helps you to achieve a clear direction in your house magic. Each person can have a hand in name choosing, perhaps in carving or painting a sign for the front door as part of the ritual. Anointing it with oils or passing it through the elements as you weave a protective spell around it, will make it a talisman that hangs outside your front door attracting and/or warding off energy. You can do this as part of your house cleansing ritual. Cleanse it first, physically and spiritually, ridding it of all past negative energies. Then do the house naming as part of the protection spell that seals it from future negativity. I usually paint a little pentagram on each of the house’s windows with clear nail polish during this ritual. The nail polish is mostly invisible except when the light is right, then a crystalline-looking pentagram emerges to shine in the Sun before becoming invisible again. Very good ju-ju. At the end of the ritual, hang the house name sign near the front door. Then you will have more than a charming sign that greets all who come to your door. You’ll greet them with magic!

Source:

Phoenix McFarland, “Magickal House Names”, c. 1999.

Adapted from Peace to All Beings, by Judy Carman (Lantern Books, 2003).
What a beautiful concept: to spread loving peace with every step. The Native American teacher, Oh Shinnah, says that city sidewalks contain many fragments of crystals, and that these crystals pick up the frame of mind, heart, and spirit with which we walk on them and then transmit them to others. If we keep this in mind, Simple Giving becomes an even more powerful practice.

Simple Solution:
Find out how to do this simple walking prayer.
As you pass people, animals, trees, or any beings, silently send out love from your heart. Be aware that the Great Spirit is continually pouring Unconditional Love through you to everyone you see and through everyone else as well. However, it’s up to us to take that vibratory energy and willingly project it out to others. Watch your thoughts, let judgments go, and just feel love, serenity, and joy radiating out to all who come near you.

It is easier to be in this giving vibratory state when you are silent. Once you begin to communicate verbally with others, it becomes more difficult. But the silent giving exercise helps us all to develop the ability so that we can use it when we are talking as well.

~ I Am A Witch ~ Questionnaire
Matron Goddess: n/a

Patron God: n/a

Other Gods and Goddesses I work with: n/a

Animal Totems: Siberian Huskey, deer ~ these are the only animals that tend to randomly appearto me during meditation

Herbs and Flowers I feel drawn to: all

Stones I feel drawn to: n/a

My Metal Of Choice: Silver. Because it’s pretty.

Trees that I feel drawn to: Bradford Pear. Maple. Bonsai.

Astro stats: Libra.

Favorite Sabbat: May Day

Favorite Esbat: The October one

Favorite Season: Spring/Summer

Favorite Element: Air.

Mythic Creatures I feel drawn to: Fae

Spells that come easy to me are: Love

Types of divinations/wytchy services you do: Tarot.

Favorite Ritual Tool:
Candles & incense!!

Type of Wytchcraft you practice:
Eclectic!!!

Sacred space is perhaps something that few of us actually feel we have the area to accommodate. We think in terms of a room or corner of a room that, once cleansed, would feel perfect for our spiritual work. However, sacred space is a “must have” for any who consider meditation or spiritual work a part of daily life.

Life is busy, home space is full or in short supply. So what do you do? Here are a few unique types of temples, all workable and all designed for efficient use of the space you have. Construct your temple, cleanse it and use the power it will draw. Temples have a psychological effect as well as energizing our soul. We let the mundane world drift into the background as we reconnect with the power within us. Feed your soul. Give your soul the space it needs to grow within you. Compliment your spiritual self by setting up a sacred spot.

- The Corner Temple – usually constructed in the corner of a room, using a triangular shelf set up for efficient space. The main shelf should be roomy enough to accommodate a bowl of some kind or chalice, a small container of salt and perhaps an incense burner and pair of candles. Make absolutely sure the candles have plenty of room above them for fire safety. Use a smaller shelf, mounted much further up, for storage of magical temple items that you don’t need to display on the main temple altar, such as a bell, censor or herb/parchment/ink storage.

- The Kitchen Temple – often if we try, we can make space in a kitchen, on shelves, cabinets, microwave stands or windowsills. Placement of candles, little pots of herbs, a cheer water container and perhaps a small bouquet of fresh flowers can help convert a tired old spot into a vibrant area of light and peace. Kitchens naturally lend themselves to cheery and nature-based design. Make sure to incorporate herbs of your choice, wheat as an earth representation and water or tea. – The Temple Bath – nothing is such a treat as a long hot bath with all of the surrounding atmospheric enhancements. To sink into the water element, immerse yourself in the heat, inhale the lavender aromatherapy candle and let your mind and soul relax entirely. Work out something with the space around the tub itself. With a little ingenuity you can do wonders with odd places. Incorporate hanging shelves and use the three-tiered wire basket to place your sacred items.

- The Window Temple – one space often overlooked is the windowsill. Along with the sill, you get light, both sunlight and (usually at a specific time of year) moonlight. If you are lucky enough to have four-inch sills or more, you can place an altar nicely there. Hang packets of herbs or stones from the window frames, use a long narrow container to do a crystal garden and grow a plant or two in that window. These lend the earth element as well as fresh oxygen for maximum space cleansing. If you really want to fancy it up, use stained glass or other semi-transparent hanging decorations for your window. Prisms are wonderful and draw light in through magical angles, creating rainbows in your home.

As you can see, temple space is not hard to achieve once you put your mind to it. Using oddly shaped shelves, crates, nooks and crannies, you can create a place of tranquility and escape for your head, your heart and your soul.

Eluned Bridhe

“Attempting to blend Christianity with Wicca and/or Paganism is problematic at best. While there are a host of Pagan items and symbols that have migrated into Christianity over the centuries, To truly blend Christianity with Wicca, or, well, any Pagan path in a true fashion is extremely difficult due to the theological incompatibilities involved.”

Read on…

Reflections/Affirmations
A healthy mix of psychology & spirituality.
Creativity & energy as tools for visualization, and thus physical manifestation ~ similar to prayer, by sending out wishes and/or affirmations to the universe/supreme being ~ Faith
Positive thinking, and thus positive reinforcement ~ dealing with stress leads to enlightenment
Law of attraction ~ like attracts like, dislike attracts dislike
Mother Theresa refused to go to Anti-War rallies, but would go to a Pro-Peace rally any time
“What you resist, persists” ~ Carl Jung
“Whether you think you can, or you can’t, you are right” ~Ford
Choices
Self healing ~ the body & mind are designed to heal themselves…if you let them
Fighting will, strength

Sarcasm & lack of faith will get you nowhere

I found the documentary, The Secret, online for free!!!!

“One thing in my profile that has raised more questions than any other is this particular “dislike”:

“People who say Wicca was invented 50 years ago by Gardner (or Crowley)…”

Many are confused and mystified by the statement.  After all, the idea that “Gardner made it all up” has been repeated so often that (far too) many accept it as established fact.  While arguments in this direction may be persuasive, it is far from a done deal.”

Read on…

*I really enjoyed reading this essay *

Wow!… I don’t know how I am just realizing this, buuut… there are an absolutely ridiculous (& seemingly endless!!) number of Wiccan/Pagan websites & “classes” on the web. *sigh* Is it really necessary?? I can understand pagan shops; that has some appeal to it ~ people put work into these crafts & want to share them with the community, but… why so many classes?? Granted, they each may have unique perspectives & information to offer, but… how can something that isn’t really (in my opinion) concrete be taught in such a way?? Even the websites… what’s the effin’ point?! Soooo much redundant information, it makes my head spin!! One thing I do enjoy about peoples’ websites, though, is craft suggestions. Not that I find the time to work on the dozens of craft ideas I have already, but… ya know! I actually thought about making my own type of “school” AND website at one point, but I’m too lazy for all that work *lol*. That’s what I’ve got this here blog for

Anyways… There are some projects that I’ve been meaning to work on, as well as a couple of things I’ve been wanting to blog here about. Will I do it right now?! No! Again, I’m too lazy *blushes*. Soon, though, soon… Here’s a teaser, in the meantime I’ve been wanting to write a story for a year or two now about an “Oasis”, which isn’t really an oasis (or is it?!), but that’s what I’ll call it. It was inspired by the movie “The Beach” (the happy parts, lol). I don’t really have much of a storyline, & I haven’t been able to come up with one since I thought of the idea, but I want to just start somewhere in the details of the story & run from there. The main thing I’ve been interested in recently is the pagan part of this community that’s in my head. I want to start writing about imaginary rituals & whatnots, but I don’t even have any definite characters thought up, either hehe. Like I said, I’m just gonna start typing one day, & run with it as far as I can. (I have a fairly good imagination ~ NIKE – An Urban Exploration Adventure.) I also have some leftover Solstice crafts to work on: ATC, SoL page, seashell charm, doll, maybe a poem… (I will share when I get around to completing these projects ) Things I want to blog about: religion in myworkplace & tea. I remembered last night while watching a Sicily-based murder mystery on Dateline how badly I wanted & still want to learn to speak and/or read Italian; I think it’s my favorite language, with French a close second, & my friend’s adopted parents are from Italy & they speak broken English so I’d be better able to communicate with them hehe. I also intend to do some research on Asian culture, as well as Buddhism, both which have strong appeal to me. So, yeah…I have a loooot of things I want to do, & I can never pick where to start, especially since most crafts take up a considerable amount of time (my crocheted blankets, for example…GEEZ!)

Well, it’s 4 in the morning, so pardon my rambling.

“Buddhists have a saying that life is a mirror; it merely reflects your state of mind”
“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – Buddha

*This article is directed towards kitchen altars, but it has helpful information for any altar!!

A kitchen altar makes a vital, visual connection between you and your cooking activities and the Goddess. If the oven and stove, as modern equivalents of the hearth-fire, are the heart of the house, this altar will be the soul. Every time you see it, you will be reminded that what you do as a kitchen witch is vitally important. It will remind you that your kitchen is a sacred place. It will help you to remember that your ability to nourish yourself and your loved ones connects you with the Great Mother, the nurturer, the spirit of loving and compassionate care.

The kitchen altar is meant to be a joyous and playful expression of your wild spirit: creating it is great fun! Whenever we consciously allow our inner self to come out and play, a deep satisfaction results from feeding our spirits and nurturing our souls. Here, then, are some guidelines to get you started.

KITCHEN GODDESSES

It is very ancient and powerful magick to have a goddess figure in your home. Some of the earliest human artifacts ever discovered include many domestic goddess statues. When we create an altar and house a goddess there, we are making a satisfying link with our earliest ancestors. As kitchen witches, we choose to honor the spirit of our homes and the Goddess who is the source of all nourishment and life. A good first step in creating your altar is choosing the goddess you wish to honor with it. Once you have selected a kitchen goddess you can explore different ideas for Honoring Your Kitchen Goddess.

PLACEMENT

Your kitchen altar can be almost anywhere in the room–on a countertop, on top of a cupboard or the fridge, on the table. Perhaps the range hood, a window shelf, or a shelf on the wall would work well for you. You’ll just want to be sure that it won’t get bumped or broken in the midst of your cooking activities (but if it gets a little spattered with cooking juices, consider it a libation or blessing upon your sacred space!). Find a spot near the stove or oven, if possible. Many kitchen goddesses are pretty hot and fiery, and they love to be right where the action is (not only can they take the proverbial heat in the kitchen, they thrive on it).

If space is an issue for you, consider an arrangement of framed photographs or making a collage on poster-board to serve as a vertical altar on the wall.

Another idea, inspired from the Hindu faith, is to dedicate one of your kitchen cupboards as an altar space. The doors to the cupboard altar are opened while cooking to allow the kitchen goddess to guide the cooking and ensure a healthy, spiritual meal, and also so that a cyclic flow of Divine Energy can make its way around the room.

The first step is to choose which cupboard you will dedicate as your altar. Cupboard space is usually of short supply in most kitchens and some re-arranging of cupboard contents may be at hand. It is recommended that you use a cupboard with two doors and one that is at eye level. This way, the Divine Presence is closer to you, and easy to access. When both doors are open, it directs the energy outward and around the room. Make sure the cupboard you choose is easily accessible; if you choose the cupboard above the refrigerator, it makes your altar virtually inaccessible and easily forgotten.

On the back of the cupboard, you could place a picture of your kitchen goddess, a pentacle, or what ever reminds you of Divine Energy. You might like to hang a special cloth, picture, or create a collage as a backdrop to your altar. This would also be an appropriate place to hang a lunar or Goddess-themed calendar. Charge the object in whatever way feels best for you. With this charged picture, statuette, or pentacle, Divine Energy will have its direct pathway into your kitchen.

The next step would be the altar cloth. This might be an old scarf from a local thrift shop, a fabric remnant from a local sewing store, or a colorful paper or cloth napkin. You could also make your own altar cloths. Acquiring a collection of different colors and patterns allows you to change your altar according to the season, your moods, or any particular magickal goal or focus you are working on at a given time. It will also make it easier to clean your altar periodically.

If you feel like doing a little minor renovation, you could hollow out a niche in a wall to house your altar. Or you can improvise a setting for your altar with a special box–ransack the attic or check out yard sales to find the perfect one. Your altar can be set inside or on top of it. Or you could take a trip to the nearest craft shop; they often sell lovely wild-looking twiggy birdhouses that make terrific kitchen altars.

The shape of your altar, as well as the decorations you choose for it, will depend in large measure not only on your taste, but on the taste of your kitchen goddess ( a primitive terracotta bird-headed goddess would probably feel more at home in one of the aforementioned nests than in a columned and frescoed temple). If you decide on an actual historical goddess to be the patron of your kitchen, you may want to read up on her to find out what she’d like; make sure your tastes are compatible.

HONOURING WHO YOU ARE

One of the most important functions of your kitchen altar is to remind you of your intimate connection with the Goddess and the earth. It also celebrates the unique gifts and talents that you bring to the kitchen–and to the world–as a human representative of nurturing Goddess energy. What small objects could you include on the altar to express who you are? A painter might do a small still-life oil painting of her favorite foods for her altar, while an avid needle worker could make a cross-stitch background hanging for hers. An attorney may choose a small metal scale, symbol of justice, to dangle from the hand of her kitchen goddess, Athena, and a potter might like to throw a tiny spiral-painted pot to rest at her kitchen goddess’s feet. Writers could make books from paper, lace, or corn husks to place on their altars; a teacher might place a piece of chalk in her Hestia’s hand; and a marathon runner may include a tiny pair of running shoes from Barbie’s wardrobe.

If you have a special love for any particular animal, you can find or make a small representation of the animal to share the altar space with your kitchen goddess. Collectors may want to find a spot for an item from their button or stamp collections. Find ways to share your talents and enthusiasms via the altar.

DECORATION

While the choices for altar decoration are virtually limitless, here are a few basics to get you started.

Books: This would be the perfect place to house your own Kitchen Witch’s Book of Shadows, a favorite cookbook or recipe collection, as well as any food novels that you might be reading.

Candles: Candles become a visible reminder of the hearth-flame. Small tealights in aluminum cups work very well, and they are often burnt just for the amount of time it takes to plan, prepare, cook, and eat a meal. Or you could use votives (many of them have food-related fragrances: apple cinnamon, honeydew, pumpkin spice, vanilla) or regular pillars or taper candles. The simple act of lighting your altar candle before you start your meal preparation can make a profound difference in the way you feel about cooking. Just be sure not to leave it burning unattended.

Food: Our distant ancestors left bits of their meals at the feet of the hearth goddess. It can be soul-satisfying to for us to do this, as well. Perishable items will need to be removed and replaced regularly…take the offerings outside and bury them in the earth or in your compost pile. Or you can stick to dried items that won’t spoil such as seeds, dried herbs, nuts, or Native American corn.

Incense and Burner: Most of us don’t burn incense before we begin preparing a meal because we don’t want to mask all those wonderful cooking aromas; however, lighting a stick of incense can be part of your cleaning routine and is also a satisfying way to bring closure to a meal.

Natural Objects: When we include something from nature on the altar, especially something that is relatively unchanging like a special rock or crystal, we are reminded of how ancient the planet it, and how brief has been the span of human life upon it. It’s good to root our altars in the ancientness of Earth. Pinecones, gourds, geodes, sheaves of wheat, or a bundle of pussy-willows or twigs are all possibilities.

Plants: Depending upon the placement of your altar, it might be an appropriate spot for a plant such as rosemary, aloe vera, or basil.

Reminders of Loved Ones: It can be a special act of love to include small photos or mementos for each family member or friend whom we’ll be feeding. When we bring visible reminders of our tenderness into the kitchen, it helps us to cook with a joyous, open heart. Perhaps you have a special reminder of your ancestors, such as a teacup that belonged to your grandmother, that you would like to give a place of honor to on your altar to celebrate your ancestors.

Seasonal Reminders: You can add items to your altar throughout the year to honor the changing seasons: seeds for late summer; a small squash or wheat sheaves for harvest time; evergreen sprigs for midwinter; sprouts for early spring. What season is it now? Pay real attention when you explore farmer’s markets, or take a walk outdoors and notice what the green things are doing. The world is filled with incredible bounty and richness, and the altar is a perfect place to celebrate this truth, as well as our connection to the cycles of the earth.

Utensils: It can be fun to honor the utensils with which we cook. Dollhouses often yield beautiful miniature utensils that fit well on kitchen altars, or you can make them yourself out of various materials. Small wooden cooking spoons are a favorite, or you may prefer a miniature greenhouse, a tiny mortar and pestle, or a teensy food processor. A small cauldron could symbolize your magickal workings and the ever-flowing abundance of the Goddess as she provides nourishment for you and you family. Periodically you might also like to place your everyday utensils on the altar for charging. For example, if you have a special wooden spoon that you use to cast circles in your kitchen, you might like to place it on your altar every full moon and ask your kitchen goddess to bless and re-consecrate it.

CONSECRATION

An important part of creating your altar is taking a few moments to bless or consecrate it. How you do this is up to you. You could simply take a deep breath, close your eyes, open them again, look all around your kitchen, and exhale. You could say a few words: “This kitchen is now a sacred space,” or “May the food that is cooked in this sacred kitchen feed us deeply.” You might choose to do something more elaborate like sprinkling the altar with salt and water, smudging it with incense or a smudge stick, or reading a passage from a poem or other work that has meaning to you. The important thing is for you to find your own way to acknowledge that a sacred space has now been created for you in the kitchen.

Sources

Cait Johnson, Cooking Like a Goddess

Ashling Kelly, Sage Woman Magazine #52

Kecia Lloyd, A Kitchen Witch’s Altar

From Eluned Bridhe’s Blog