WELCOME YULE!

The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper

So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.

They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,

And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, reveling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us - Listen!!

All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:

They carol, fest, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.

And so do we, here, now,

This year and every year.

Welcome Yule!!

BOO

MERRY AUTUMN!

Wishing you all an abundant Harvest!

May your pantry shelves be bursting with healthy foods,

your apothecary fully stocked with healing plants and herbs.

FOR TODAY, I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER

Hello & Greetings,

I'm so busy in the gardens and the weeds. The sun shines for days on end. I've come indoors to share something I stumbled across while seeking new books for my new kindle.

This book review just said the right things at the right time and for a moment I felt not so alone in my everyday world.
Read on and see what you think ..... the italics are my own emphasis ....


5.0 out of 5 stars From one Wise Women to Another, April 28, 2011

By C. R. Brackett "zenwired" (NY United States) - See all my reviews

(REAL NAME) This review is from: THE PRIMITIVE WITCH'S HANDBOOK THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR THE PRIMITIVE/COUNTRY WITCH IN A MODERN WORLD... (Kindle Edition)

I applaud the author for her truthfulness, wisdom, and very useful hints, tricks, and recipes. Having over 38 years experience in practical witchcraft, paganism, the occult whatever it is you wish to call it, I have to say she is spot on. I too am a multi-generational wise women, practitioner of the old ways having learned everything via handed down teachings, and not to attack any one group but, my teachings were not created in the 1930's by someone wanting fame and profit. You can all say what you like with regards to her opinions in her book, but unless you have the background and knowledge to back up your position you haven't earned the right. Spouting "witchcraft" dogma is no different than following any other mainstream religion.


Andrea spoke oh to well when she said in her book "We practice with total impunity. If we wanted rules and regulations shoved down our throats or handed some man-made Law of Three, we'd attend conventional Christian church or simply conform and the true Witch does neither. A Witch does what she wants, when she wants and answers to no one...but herself."

Remember this when you are struggling with a spell or ritual because you can't remember the proper colours, ingredients, or words. "A Witch does what she wants, when she wants and answers to no one...but herself."

Another irksome thing she pointed out was the whole stupid initiation degrees and levels we find in paganism today. She says "Anyone who claims there are levels to Witchcraft; in fact that there are levels to anything in following the paths our ancestors did, is spreading misinformation plain and simple. Being on the path of the ancients is not like school...you don't graduate, you don't get a diploma when you have attained status, "all high" and no one, I repeat no one has a right to give classes on how to be anything or how to do anything, if they teach as if they are "divine" and you should follow their lead. There is no such thing as "Do it this way or you're wrong.""

Magic is a life long journey and ANYONE claiming to be mother crone, queen witch or whatever has serious insecurity issues. I have known practitioners with 10 or more years experience that do not have the first clue about what true magic is. Magic is not about love and light and hug everyone elst the goddess will come down and punish you.. Real magic doesn't work that way. All magic is grey and to think otherwise is foolish.

Another point Andrea makes in her book is that magical names are silly.. "False: My name is Lady Tiger Moon of the 5th House of the Flying Corpses. I was given this name by all high Druid Aspar on The Cusp of the New Light in the House of Rogue Standing. Fact: Role playing anyone? Witchcraft is NOT role-playing. Did it myself - role playing games - for about 24 years and loved it, but knew the difference between it and my practicings! The ridiculous and downright silly names people ordain themselves have no place in ancient learning...PERIOD! What is wrong with your real name? Are you ashamed to be who you are? Part of following the path of the elders is to be free... When you give yourself a ridiculous name you are role-playing and fantasy has no place in our world."

Witchcraft isn't a game, it's not Hollywood, It is not a form of escapism. It is a life path chosen to be part of our every day lives. It is a journey not a joke. If your life is that miserable that you have to pretend to be someone else, maybe you need to re-examine how you are living your life and utilising the magic all around you. Creating a magical name for yourself is just another way to self delude instead of becoming fully aware of who you are in reality.

In the end it's your life, your choice, but just remember there are those of us who have not received our teachings from a cookie cutter religious book. I say this with regards to ALL religious books who want you to follow their dogma. There is no right or wrong way. As Andrea says "It's your path...do things your way!"

Moon Rituals for July

Z Budapest talks about Moon folklore and rituals for the month of July.

Grandmother Moon invites us to "look at the moon as the old ally she is."

Renowned feminist witch Zsuzsanna Budapest shows us how to tap into the moon's power for peace, health, and energy. With delightful wit and wisdom, she shares practical and entertaining lunar lore, from ancient moon-based rituals to lunar cycle diet tips.



Budapest reveals how, by acting in harmony with the moon, women can balance everything from their mood and weight to fertility. Here is a spirited illumination of the natural moon cycles that influence our lives.

IAMANJA

Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood, Merlin Stone

Your holy spirit floats

along the cresting waves of water,

as we walk out upon the sands,

night time closing on the longest day of the year,

and join together in small circles

around the sacred boats

that we shall send you,

each whispering our prayers to a flower

that we lay upon the boat,

for Iamanja, Holy Queen Sea.

Flames set to floating campfire logs

flicker on the mounting flowers,

as our boats of prayers are set afloat

upon the edges of your being,

your gently caressing waves

washing about our bared legs,

cleansing away our sadness and our troubles,

bathing away any wrongs that we have done,

and as we watch the sparks of dancing light

dimming in the growing distance,

we know that you are waiting

for the messages we send,

Iamanja, Holy Queen Sea.

Fire reflections in your gently rocking darkness,

light above, so light below,

chanting chorus, keeping time

to the rhythm of your being,

I stand to one side

to watch the others

toss their last flower prayers upon the moving boats,

thinking that you have enough to do

without my adding to your work.

But just before the last boat

floats out too far for change of mind,

I too toss my flower upon the others,

with prayers for your health and long years

and that you may always be

just as we have known you,

Iamanja, Holy Queen Sea

MERRY AND BLESSINGS

Buy the Book, Read It, Pass it Around!

I read this book in my early 30's, wish it would have been around when I was a wee nymph.

AND since I'm posting books that brought inspiration and positive perspective into my life I have to share with you any and all of the books by SARK.

I WALK WITH THE GODDESS

Spring Cleaning

So I have some time alone today and felt inspired to clear out the herb cupboards and unearth my altar. I found my handmade oracle stones burried under dust, bells and incense. I clean them, ask a question and let them loose. Now, to find those instructions I wrote down in one of my journals the day I made them. More digging. How far back ago did I conjure these stones ???? and a journal pops out from the shelf and opens to a page from Sept 2010 ..... and so I share the entry with you .....

Keep your edges Sister !
They're a beautiful part of who you are -
those "lightworkers" have woven a deceptive web
your darkness makes them uncomfortable,
they're grinding and smoothing your edges down.
You've replaced "Witch" with "mystic" so they
can place you on the side of "good" - given
you Angels & Spirit Guides to give you answers
& moved your power to someone outside yourself



 What have you taught them ?

Random Acts of Being

Strange times, these are ......
Out of the stagnation and frustration of mercury retrograde and into the chaos of ever-changing spring.

My silence in blog world usually means I'm processing a heavy load of personal stuff - some good, some confusing, some sad. Stuff put aside that returns for deeper understanding.

My Altar is inaccessible ... sharing a room with my art supplies, laundry, office storage, houseplants, store fixtures, clothing closet .... I dream of an art studio/loft ... I live in a town that has none ..... I dream of a place where women meet, a temple ....

I am again processing the strange abuses I attracted for two years of my life. Stalkers, psychos, mental illness, men who wished to own the light that shined inside of me ... or extinguish it. A dark time on the edge of crazy where you truly understand the separateness that is a woman's reality.

It rains here, and keeps raining. Rains that saturate the ground and then move it from underneath you. Rains that fill the canyons, rivers, streams, dikes and then spill over into fields, barns and homes. The slugs rule the gardens and spring greens. The birds still sing in the trees as if they see the sun beyond the heavy dark clouds. From someone's misfortune the big river brings to my shores great treasures of weathered wood for projects that need doing around the place.

I've been making things with my hands. Changing my relationship with food. Understanding what I won't do for money. Taking care of my needs first.

While I'm grateful for the loved ones in my life, I really need to get away for a little while.

that's enough random thoughts for now,

Embracing all the dark, light and in-between  ....
BB

Thank You, Merlin Stone !

MERLIN STONE

Her books and words made my world a different place.

FEAST OF THE FLAMES

Circle of wimmin, halfway to spring

Quickening hope, earthsoul rising

Candlemas song to waxing light

Bridget's fire burning bright

Cauldron, broom, candle, wine

Apple , Elder, Dogwood, Pine

New witch, old witch, spiral line

Cirle of womyn, circle of time

~ Illa Suzanne

" If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight;

If Candlemas Day be shower and rain, Winter is gone and will not come again."

 

Being Human

LIFE IS SO GOOD RIGHT NOW I'M ALMOST AFRAID TO SAY SO !

I can feel the light returning, the days lengthen. I open the drapes earlier each morning, greeted by pinks, reds, and steely grays. The fog rolls around and clears by noon, the sun's light holds promise of warmth soon.
I feel my muscles tighten in the morning cold and loosen as they warm up with my daily activities.
Flexibility: Physically. Socially. Spiritually. Mentally. Financially. Creatively.
My intuition is running spot-on (when I use it), I feel connected.

I AM A WITCH

A Witch

is one who has power over her own life.

one who makes her own rules

one who refuses to submit to self denial

one who recognizes no authority with a greater esteem than her own,

who is more loyal to herself than to any abstraction.

one who is untamed

one who says "I am a witch" aloud three times

one who transforms energy

one who can be passionate about her ideal/values as they are changing

one who is explosive,

whose intensity is like volcanoes, floods, wind, fire

one who is disorderly, chaotic

one who is ecstatic

one who alters reality

 - from Ripening by Lee Lanning and Vernette Hart

- passage found in Daughters of the Moon Tarot by Ffiona Morgan

- it is not well documented just who drew the tarot card above but it is found in the Daughters of the Moon Tarot Deck

NATURAL WITCH

FOLK MAGIC

for Protection, Health, Fertility

Keep a perfect, unopened PINE CONE in the house for fertility, good health,

 long life, and warding off the Evil Eye.

If it opens and begins to shed it's seed, plant it, and replace it with a new one.