The Witch's Sabbat

SophiaDawn over at 'Wandering A Wise Woman Path' shared this video on her blog and I liked it so much I thought I'd share it here on mine. Enjoy! Oh, and be sure to turn the music off at the bottom of this page before starting the video . . .

Samhain ~ 2011

Do you ever feel like a chicken with it's head cut off? I'm feeling that way lately. I don't know if it's because I feel the need to do some fall cleaning or if it's the myriad of projects I have on the go, or the Samhain/Halloween parties I've committed to. Probably all of the above.

One party that I'm looking forward to is one that my friend Carl and I are hosting on October 29th. My friends have graciously accepted the invitation to partake in Samhain Celebrations with me! We're having a traditional Samhain Feast complete with a roast turkey, Butternut Squash and Apple Casserole, Green Bean Casserole, corn bread . . . okay, I'll stop - I'm making myself hungry.

After dinner we'll revel, share and tell stories and then at midnight we'll be conducting a Samhain Ritual. It's the first time I've shared in ritual with my friends and I'm elated to be sharing it with friends who trust, understand and accept my beliefs. They're a great bunch! I love you guys!

In the Spirit of Samhain, I've posted two rituals to my 'Sabbats and Esbats' page. One is simpler than the other, but both are meaningful and catch the Spirit of this beautiful time of year when the veil is thin and we can connect with our Ancestors and loved ones.

Wishing you all a Blessed Samhain and a Happy New Year!!

Cosmic Lord's Prayer

I was surfing the internet today looking for which crystals to use for Samhain and I came across a beautiful blog entitled 'The Crystal Temple' written by Amie Christine. One of her posts included this lovely prayer . . .

O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos,
focus your light within us - make it useful.
Create your reign of unity now -
through our fiery hearts and willing hands.
Help us love beyond our ideals
and sprout acts of compassion for all creatures.
Animate the earth within us:
we then feel the Wisdom underneath supporting all.
Untangle the knots within so that
we can mend our heart's simple ties to each other.
Don't let surface things delude us,
but free us from what holds us back from our true purpose.
Out of you, the astonishing fire,
returning light and sound to the cosmos.

Amen.

Lords Prayer, from the original Aramaic Translation
by Neil Douglas-Klotz in 'Prayers of the Cosmos'

My Dog ~ Oliver

My dog Oliver is one of those rare dogs who despite outward appearances (he is a Dachshund after all) loves his mommy and would do anything just to be by her side. Being a Dachshund, his legs are short . . . so short in fact that he can't jump on the furniture. For most people that would be a good thing, but for this mommy it means picking him up and placing him next to her on the sofa, or as is most often the case, he lies on the floor as close to her as is doggy possible. Getting up on the bed is a whole other matter, this mommy bought her doggy dog stairs.

And as is so often the case when there's more than one animal in the house, sometimes there is not enough attention paid to one or the other and it takes a turn of events to tip the scales. And so it was with Oliver yesterday. In his usual style he came and danced in front of me to be let out. As he was heading down the step to the great outdoors, he let out a great yelp of pain, tucked in his backside, turned and looked at me with pain in his eyes. It was more than I could bear. I scooped him up and tried to figure out what had happened. Suspecting a back injury, I called the Emergency Vet Clinic, let them know I was coming, settled Oliver in his kennel and headed out.

Two hours and an x-ray later, it was determined that Oliver had slipped a disc. So begins a four to six week recovery with steroids and pain killers. Confinement is the order of the day and he needs to be carried in and out to do his business. No playing either which not only depresses Oliver, but his partner in the playing game, Chloei, and she's not happy about it.

I've sent out the call to my Reiki Healing Circle for healing energies to be sent to Oliver. Thanks to my crystal teacher (for reminding me that I have crystal power), I've placed crystals in his kennel for pain relief and healing. Prayers and healing thoughts are welcomed and appreciated. I know that with this arsenal for him (along with proper veterinary care) Oliver will heal and be back to his old antics. I'll keep you posted.

Dear . . .

I received an email the other day from someone asking questions about Paganism. She was curious and didn't know where to start. Yes, she'd been on the internet, but wasn't sure she could trust the information she was reading as she really didn't have an idea of what to look for. Here are some of my answers that perhaps might help some of you who are curious, but don't know where to begin.

I have been a Pagan for just a little over a year, although I suspect I've been Pagan all my life. When I decided that Paganism was for me, I started to read, read, read, getting my hands on all kinds of books that I thought could lead me along my path. The first book on Paganism I read was simply titled 'Paganism' by Joyce and River Higgenbotham. This is an excellent book and a terrific place to start if you're new in discovering your path. Another book by Joyce and River Higgenbotham is 'Pagan Spirituality'. I recommend both of these books as a starting point and then go out to the book stores in your area (if you have second hand book stores start there as you can find many of the books I suggest and others there for half the cost of new). And don't forget the library too. Find as many books as you can get your hands on and read them. I like to journal as I'm reading, jotting down notes of things that stand out for me, ideas and what not. This is a good basis for your Book of Shadows too, if you chose to have one.

Trying to explain the belief system of a Pagan is like trying to count the clouds in the sky. There are many different paths that lead off of Paganism. Some of them are Wicca (the path that I follow), Druidism, Heathenry/Asatru, Faery Tradition, et cetera. Then off of Wicca there is Eclectic Wicca (the path that I follow), Dianic Wicca, Gardnerian, Alexandrian, et cetera. Once you read about Paganism and understand the foundation of it, then you can decide which path of Paganism you want to follow. The internet is a terrific resource for information, and I think once you understand what Paganism is, you'll have a better idea of which sites are good and which are not.

A good first book on Wicca is called 'Wicca Demystified' by Bryan Lankford. It talks about what Wicca is in the first part of the book and then in the second part of the book there are questions and answers which I found most helpful and insightful. Another good starting book is 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft'. This book is informative and easy to read. Again, if Wicca is a path you're interested in, read, read, read.

The belief system I have as a Wiccan is this: First there is Spirit, the Creator, the Divine. From the Divine the God and Goddess are manifest. From the God and Goddess there are interpretations of them from different pantheons. For example, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Celtic, Hindu, et cetera. One would call upon a certain deity (God or Goddess) depending on what is needed or desired. For instance, if you want to manifest money in a big way, you could call upon 'Lakshmi' the Hindu Goddess of wealth and prosperity. As a Wiccan I also work with the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water.

One thing that most Neo-Pagans have in common is the Wheel of the Year which contains eight Sabbats. The Sabbats are Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh, Mabon, Samhain, Yule. You can search the internet for more information on the Sabbats and one book that I recommend is called 'Sabbats' by Edain McCoy. The altars you've seen on my blog are altars that I have set up for each of the Sabbats. Each Sabbat also has certain things associated with it. Like at Ostara, you'd find eggs, rabbits and such; basically anything to do with fertility. At Lughnasadh (or Lammas) you'd find things associated with the harvest, such as pumpkins, pomegranates, grapes, wheat, bread and such. At the Sabbat, a ritual is performed where one would celebrate and give thanks to the God and Goddess for whatever that particular Sabbat represents. Most people don't mind sharing their altars, but normally you wouldn't see one sharing their celebration ritual as they are very personal and private.

The other thing most Neo-Pagans have in common is celebrating the waxing and waning of the Moon, which are called Esbats. These are basically rituals that are done when the moon is either Full or Dark/New and a time when most work magick. Again, the internet is a great resource for more information in this regard. An Esbat is the time when normally you'd just work with the energy of the Goddess. The Triple Goddess represents the Maiden, Mother and Crone. During the Wheel of the Year she is represented as the Maiden at Imbolc and Ostara, the Mother at Beltane and Litha, and then the Crone at Mabon, Lughnasadh and Samhain. [At Yule she'd again be in her aspect of Mother, having given birth to the God.]

. . . As I said before, read, read, read and do your research. There are some excellent websites about Paganism and Wicca too. Just keep one thing in mind . . . if it doesn't resonate or ring true for you, leave it and move onto something that does. The nice thing about being an Eclectic Wiccan is that I can chose how I practice while still keeping the basic Wiccan tenets and principles.

Merry Meet, Merry Part, until we Merry Meet again!

Funny Friday

In an effort to bring more joy and laughter into my life, and hopefully yours, I'm creating 'Funny Fridays'!

If you have a blog and you'd like to share a joke, a cartoon or a picture, feel free to leave your url in the comment section of this post and we'll all pop over to see your 'Funny Friday' post.

Come on now . . . who couldn't use a laugh at the end of the week?

Here's my contribution for today's 'Funny Friday' . . .

Pagan Pride Day

Last Saturday we attended Pagan Pride Day here where we live. The morning started at 10 a.m. with the opening ceremony. Several people gathered and joined in the circle. It was a moving experience and I enjoyed listening to blessings from people on different paths.

After the circle, we went and checked out the vendors. There were some pretty amazing items to be had, but in the end I purchased a handmade silk scarf with the Cho Ku Rei symbol on it. This scarf has some kind of energy, let me tell you.

As I shared in a previous post, I attended the Heathenry/Asatru workshop, which was informative and interesting. Let's just say that this is not the path for me. It's a little on the harsh side and doesn't fit with my sensitive sensibilities. However, if it's a path you follow, I totally respect that. It's just not for me.

I was going to attend the Green Burial workshop, but at the last moment changed my mind and attended a workshop on divination. I should have attended the Green Burial workshop. I was disappointed and quite honestly didn't take anything away with me. It seems as if this lady was collecting information for a book she's been writing for the last ten years (or was it two?) rather than offering anything valuable to the attendees. Lesson learned, listen to your intuition and attend your planned workshops.

All in all, it was an interesting day. The weather was gorgeous and I met some very nice people and even learned a little something too. A day well spent I'd say!

Book Give-Away Winner!

Thank you to everyone who participated in my 'Earth Psalms' book give-away! I wish that I had a copy for everyone, but alas, I have only one to share.

So, I wrote out everyone's names and placed them in a basket . . .

Had my trusty assistant pull a name . . .

And the winner is - DAKOTA! Woo Hoo! Dakota, if you would email me your mailing information using the email button on my sidebar, I'll get this gorgeous book into the post for you!

Thank you again everyone for participating!

Bless this Day

May this day be blessed with gifts,
lessons, understanding and friends.
May my energy be a gift to all I meet.

Let me be centered, healing and open.
May I face the day with courage,
kindness, insight and compassion.

May my spirit and body, honor this day.

~ Abby Willowroot©1999 ~

Pagan Prayers

I came across a site the other day where someone was asking if Pagans said prayers. I admit I was a little taken aback . . . doesn't everyone with faith pray? Apparently, not everyone thinks so.

Triple Goddess Rosaries

Mother Mary Rosary

Green Tara Mala
(This gorgeous piece was custom made by Jayne at Infinite Spirit)

So, just to set the record straight, this Pagan prays. I pray my Goddess rosaries and my Mary rosary, and I also pray with my mala dedicated to Green Tara. I pray to the God and to the Goddess. I pray in the morning and evening and when there's something in particular I need guidance on or when I need reassurance or peace. There are a multitude of ways to pray and as many prayers to say them.

When I first started out on this path I searched for books that contained Pagan prayers. I found several that spoke to me and I'm always on the lookout for inspiring Pagan prayer books.

A few of the books on my shelf:
Living Wicca - Scott Cunningham
Goddess Bless - Sirona Knight
Be Blessed - Denise Dumars
Dewdrops in the Moonlight - Shanddaramon

The books I've listed here are just a few that I found helpful and inspiring. My most recent purchase is a book called 'Earth Psalms' by Angela Magara. It is a lovely book filled with 150 psalms that warm the heart and feed the soul.

Due to the hurricane in Angela's area (she was part of the disaster recovery team) and then an illness, shipping of my book was delayed. And although it was unnecessary, Angela sent along an extra copy of the book which she has graciously autographed.

I've given it some thought and can't think of anyone I'd rather share this book with than you, my followers. So I'm having a give-away! All you need to do is leave a comment on this post and I'll enter you in the drawing which I'll hold on October 1st. Isn't that a great way to start the month of October?

And if you know of any good Pagan prayer books please don't hesitate to share!

To be or not to be . . . a Crone

I've been doing some thinking lately on becoming a Crone. Fall does that, with the Earth slowly dying making its way into winter and with the God making his descent, it's no wonder. And while I don't feel 50, there are signs that age is creeping in on me. Like the few gray hairs I'm finding, and the lack of energy or strength I used to have (alright I know I need to exercise and lift weights!). But with age also comes wisdom. I know myself pretty well, I'm strong in my beliefs, and I know what I will and won't put up with. I'm still learning though which is a good thing - gotta keep those brain cells guessing!

Some say that a woman enters her Croning years when she hits menopause. Others say when Saturn has returned twice in her natal chart, which for most every woman is at age 56. I'm guessing I'll know when the time is right for me.

And while I'm thinking about impending Cronedom, I also think back to my 'maiden' years, good years, but also painful growing years. I think back to my 'mother' years and the mother I was not to be. Those years seem like a blur now all leading up to this moment. This moment when I'm upon the threshold of becoming a Crone and deciding how I will live the next fifty years. Beautifully, I hope, with grace and dignity, insight, and with much joy and laughter.

And so on thinking about the 'triple' aspect of being a woman, I'm drawn to the Goddess in her triple aspect. The following are excerpts from the book The Witches' Goddess by the Farrars:

"The theme of the Triple Goddess is found in the mythology of all lands... She is Maid, Mother and Crone; Enchantment, Ripeness and Wisdom; the waxing, full, and waning moon.

Behold the Three Formed Goddess;
She who is ever Three - Maid, Mother, and Crone.
Yet she is ever One;
She in all women, and they all in Her.
Look at these Three who are one, with fearless love,
That you too may be whole."

The Farrars suggest envisioning the Maiden, Mother, and Crone as a rainbow in order to hold all three in your awareness at one time.

"Realize that the whole spectrum, with its shifting colors, is the one glowing rainbow. To pursue the analogy further - red/orange for the Mother, yellow/green for the Maid, and blue/indigo/violet for the Crone... Which wavelength predominates for you at any one moment depends on your own tuning. But make the effort to grasp the whole rainbow, and you are face to face with Woman, the manifested feminine principle..."

Wherever you are on your path of womanhood, take some time today to connect with yourself and with the aspect of the Goddess you are currently aligned with. Goddess, it's great to be a woman!

Practical Magic Blog Party

Welcome to the Practical Magic Blog Party here on 'I Heart the Goddess' and hosted by the lovely Anna over at 'Frosted Petunias'. Many thanks to our hostess for bringing us all together to share in our love of a magical movie! And pop over to the 'Practical Magic Blog Party' blog to find your way around all the lovely bloggers out there who are sharing with us today.

One of the many things I took away with me from the movie was the use of candles. They seemed to be in every room in one way or another, bringing their sultry light to the scene. For me candles conjure up magick, mystery, and a sense of wonder and enlightment. They light the darkness and warm our hearts and minds to the possibilities rising from the smoke.

And so my party post is all about candles and the infinite uses they have in our lives, both mundane and magickal.

Candles in the Mundane World

Candles have been in use for thousands of years, yet little is known about their origin. There is no historical record of the first candles, however clay candle holders dating from the 4th century BC have been found in Eygpt. The earliest people credited with developing the "wicked" candle are the ancient Romans, before 3,000 BC. They used rolled papyrus and dipped it repeatedly in melted tallow (cattle or sheep fat) or beeswax.

Early Chinese candles are said to have been molded in paper tubes, using rolled rice paper for the wick, and wax from an indigenous insect that was combined with seeds. In Japan, candles were made of wax extracted from tree nuts, while in India, candle wax was made by boiling the fruit of the cinnamon tree. The first known candle in America dates to the 1st century AD. Native Americans burned oily fish(candlefish) wedged into a forked stick. Early missionaries in the southwestern United States boiled the bark of the Cerio tree and skimmed the wax.

In the middle ages most western cultures relied primarily on candles made from animal fat(tallow). A major improvement came when beeswax candles were introduced in Europe. Unlike animal-based tallow, beeswax burned pure and cleanly, without producing a smoky flame. It also emitted a pleasant, sweet smell rather than the foul, bitter odor of tallow. Beeswax candles were widely used for church ceremonies, but because they were expensive, few individuals other than the wealthy could afford them in their home. Tallow candles were the common household candle for Europeans, and by the 13th century, candlemaking had become a guild craft in England and France. The candlemakers(chandlers) went from house to house making candles from the kitchen fats saved for that purpose, or made and sold their own candles from small candle shops.

In America colonial women discovered that boiling the grayish-green berries of bayberry bushes produced a sweet-smelling wax that burned cleanly. However, extracting the wax from the berries was extremely tedious. As a result, the popularity of bayberry candles soon diminished. The growth of the whaling industry in the late 18th century brought the first major change in candlemaking since the Middle Ages,when spermaceti, a wax obtained by crystallizing sperm whale oil, became available in quantity. Like beeswax, the spermaceti wax did not elict a repugnant odor when burned, and produced a significantly brighter light. It also was harder than either tallow or beeswax, so it wouldn't soften or bend in the summer. A pure spermaceti candle is the measure for candlepower. Candlepower is a common term for describing light output. It is based on a measurement of the light produced by a pure spermaceti candle weighing one sixth of a pound, burning at a rate of 120 grams per hour.

During the 19th century most of the major contemporary candlemaking developements occurred. In the 1820s, French chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul discovered how to extract steric acid from animal fatty acids. This led to the development of stearin wax which was hard, durable and burned cleanly. Stearin candles remain popular in Europe today. In 1834, inventor Joseph Morgan helped to further the modern-day candle industry by developing a machine that allowed for continuous production of molded candles by using a cylinder with a movable piston to eject candles as they solidified. With the introduction of mechanized production, candles became an easily affordable commodity for the masses. Paraffin wax was introduced in the 1850s, after chemists learned how to efficiently separate the naturally-occurring waxy subtance from petroleum and refine it. Odorless and bluish-white in color, paraffin was a boon to candlemaking because it burned cleanly, consistently and was more economical to produce than any other candle fuel.

Candles in Magick

Candle magick is probably one of the simplest forms of magick to perform. All that is needed is a candle and some matches (Witches prefer matches to lighters because sulphur - once known as brimstone - has been believed since the Middle Ages to possess the power of purification). Candle magick can also be seen to be complete within itself as the body of the candle is made up from the elements of Earth and Water. Fire is added by lighting the candle and Spirit is represented by the wick, as the wick is where the potential of the candle lies and will be unfolded with. With the candle lit, the flame of your intent will burn.

Candle magick has been used for centuries for magick and ritual. Candles are lit at the Sabbats and Esbats and is a practice that is used in many different religions, cultures and traditions. Candles invoke the divine, they create a sense of ceremony and they are fascinating to look at. Candles can be purchased anywhere, by anyone, without anyone blinking an eye or suspecting magick and witchcraft!

The flickering flame of a candle can help you to focus on your wishes, making your heart's desire come true. Try using candles the next time you want to make something happen in your life!

Unwittingly, you probably performed your first act of candle magick when you blew out the candles on your birthday cake whilst making a wish. This tradition is based on the three principles of magick; concentration, will power and visualization. You concentrated on the candles, blew them out with all your might and visualized your wish coming true - absolute magick!

Choosing a Candle

1. Choose a plain candle of uniform shape. Having unusual or large candles can be distracting and is therefore not suitable for magickal use.

2. Candles used for magick should always be virgin (unused) at the start of the ritual. Using secondhand candles or other materials in magick can have disastrous results as they might have picked up vibrations from previous use, even if it was just on a dinner table.

3. If at all possible, making your own candles for magickal use will increase the magickal potency of the candle many times. It is very easy to make your own candles. Simply heat the wax until it liquifies and then pour it into a mould which is threaded with a wick. The wax is left to cool after which the mold is removed. Essential oils and colors can be added to the wax for extra effect.

4. Charge your candle before using it in ritual. This can be done by annointing it with oils associated with the ritual or magick you intend on performing or by simply touching it and charging it with your own energy. Whilst charging the candle, visualize the north and south poles - rub the oil into the candle starting at the center and rubbing down towards south; then starting at the center again, rub up towards north.

Below are some charts for astral color, candle color and days of the week correspondences.

Candles in Ritual

In Wicca and related forms of neo-paganism, the candle is frequently used on the altar to represent the presence of the God and Goddess, and in the four corners of a ritual circle to represent the presence of the four elements being Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. When used in this manner, lighting and extinguishing the candle marks the opening and closing of the ritual.

Candle Magick for Mabon

I thought it would be nice to include a Mabon ritual here for those whole celebrate this Sabbatt.

You'll need:
- An unscented candle in a harvest color such as yellow, orange, or brown.
- Your choice of Money Oil or essential oil of cinnamon, orange, or ginger.
- Something to inscribe the candle with such as a pencil, stylus, or athame.
- A pinch of dried basil, sage or dill.

If you normally cast a circle or invoke Deity, do so now. Using the pencil, stylus or athame inscribe your intent upon the candle. For example, if you need money to pay the bills, carve that on the candle. If you just want extra fun money, write that on the candle too. If you're not sure how much you need, you can use symbols of money such as the dollar sign ($) or a runic symbol. In traditional runes, Fehu is the sign of wealth, prosperity and financial gain. And since I'm into runes, I've included the Fehu symbol here.

Once you've completed the inscription, anoint the candle with the Money Oil. If you don't have Money Oil, use another essential oil that brings prosperity; cinnamon, orange or ginger are all good to use. Focus your intent into the candle, drawing abundance to you. Rub a small amount of the dried basil, sage or dill (all herbs connected with money) into the oil. As you do, clearly visualize how you will be using the money that comes your way. Will you use it to pay off debt? Buy a new car? Take a class for personal growth?

Light the candle and meditate on the flame. Continue focusing on your intent and imagine it building, first as a small spark, and then growing into a large ball of light. Maintain this image as long as you can, and then release it into the candle flame. Make sure the candle is in a safe place so as not to be a fire hazard (a bowl of sand is perfect for this) and allow the candle to burn out on its own.

NEVER LEAVE A BURNING CANDLE UNATTENDED!

I hope you enjoyed visiting today and remember to keep the 'magick' lit in your life.