The next “C” subject is “Charging”

After cleansing your materials, whatever they may be, you may then charge them. Charging simply means to impart your personal energy and your intent or goal of your spell to the physical components you will be using for that spell. It is rather like charging your batteries. For me personally, I usually feel the need to charge myself every year at the ocean. I will go in the month of September to Hampton Beach in NH and walk the beach bare foot and feel the waves rushing over my feet. I feel the waves rush back out taking the sand with it from underneath me, like an undulating dance between me, the Earth, the sky, the air and the water. I breathe in the air through my nose and exhale from my mouth, so as to take in the good and out with the bad. I will either do this early in the morning, or just at dusk, depending on my mood. I would ask the elements to strengthen me. In return for their blessing, I try very hard to live green, I try to be a little kinder to others, be they animal, man etc. Once I feel that strength flowing through me, I will step away from the ocean and just walk around taking in the sights.

As to charging other materials, I have read that there are a few ways you could charge items. I know that when I made my ritual rain water a couple of years ago, the instructions I followed directed me to leave my rain water that I had collected, strained and jarred outside until the full moon. In another book, the same one that I used for last week’s topic, you can charge your items by holding them in your hands, clearing your mind, and focusing your energy into the object. After you feel that you have sent enough energy to that object, put it down and withdraw from it. Or, if you have a specific task for your object, instead of clearing your mind, visualize what you’d like your spell’s desired goal to be. Then once you feel you have sufficiently charged your item, put it down and walk away from it.

The one very important thing to remember is this: one must also give back if favors are asked for. It is all a matter of reciprocation. It is up to the individual to decide what to give in return for favors granted.

Blessed Be, Gentle Readers

Cleansing

As I study and research more for the Pagan Blog Project, the more I become focused. I chose the topic “Cleansing”.  My research is from the book “The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells” by Judika Illes. One should cleanse their tools and items that they would use prior to rituals and spell castings to remove any residual spiritual energy. This is especially important when using tools and items for the first time, as you don’t know who may have handled them before you. According to Judika Illes, it is not necessary to cleanse certain items, such as candles and botanicals, because they do not retain the spiritual energies. Silver and Iron also do not require cleansing as they do not retain spiritual energies. (Curious. I will have to read more about that).

Also important is cleansing the ritual area and yourself. I like to be thorough. I would include my living space. Actually, I feel a presence in my apartment, and have ever since moving here in October of 2011. My dogs and cat have sensed this as well. Just last night as I was reading up on my chosen topic, my older dog Duke woke up from a sound sleep and walked over to me and pressed his entire body up against my leg and sat down facing the living room door. He was quivering a little. Since I do live in a small apartment, the best method for me to cleanse is with a technique called Asperging.  Asperging means to sprinkle an area with a liquid, usually with a botanical asperging tool. The most commonly used liquid is sea salt dissolved in rainwater. I would like to go the ocean and gather some in a jar. I read in the encyclopedia that it would be more powerful, especially if it was mixed with other ingredients.

Bindings vs. Banishings

I was doing some research on binding for personal reasons prior to the PBP. I initially intended to bind this person to prevent them from further harassment of myself and my daughter, especially after my mother had passed away. So in researching this topic, I have found that there are several ways to bind a person. You could bind someone whom you have a strong attraction for, but, I would not want to do that. I want someone to love me for me, not because of a spell. Then there are spells to bind/prevent another person from harming or harassing you or someone close to you. But, from what I have read and my own perceptions, even then that person is bound to you is some way. Not so sure I’d want that either. I truly want this person out of our lives and to stop their verbal harassment. So I looked at banishing. Banishing is the removal of someone or something that is harmful in yours or your loved ones life. But, in both instances, one must ALWAYS think about what you are going to do before you do it. What are the consequences should I do this? What is doubly difficult is the fact that I am now in an apartment and really no access to a lot of privacy. This is a lesson in patience.

I am really sorry that these have been so limited in details right now. I am still mourning my mother. And on top of everything, this person that has been harassing myself and my daughter has compounded the stress.

Blessings to you gentle readers.

B is for Beltane!

I chose to do my “B” theme on Beltane. Beltane is very special to me, as my beautiful daughter Alicia was born on this day going on 30 years ago. I also call her my “May Day” baby, as I had to have her via Cesarean section. She was so ready to burst out into the world, and I did not dilate fast enough for her!

Beltane is my favorite because it is the beginning of the summer season. The days are already getting longer and everything is starting to bloom and awaken in the Sun’s rays. For me, it will be a time of renewal this year. I will be reveling in the glory that is the beginning of Summer.

In reading the various articles online about Beltane, there is a common theme: Fertility. I can interpret it to mean fertility of the Earth, of humanity, the animals who we share the world with. It could also mean the fertility of the imagination; becoming creative in our individuality.

What I found very interesting was the 9 sacred woods. Many of the articles had some differences of opinion as to the sacred woods. I came to conclude that the most important of the woods are these: Birch, Rowan (Mountain Ash), Ash, Alder, Willow, Hawthorne, Oak, Elder and Holly. I have seen other woods included; Apple, Blackthorn, Grape Vine, Cedar, Yew and Hemlock. Using these woods in a bonfire or balefire is said to have purifying powers. People used to drive the cattle or other animals between two balefires to protect their animals from disease, and believed in the healing properties of such fires. One could also use the fire to purify ones ritual tools and other items.

Gathering the dew from the flowers, grass and trees is said to have wonderful properties for ones complexion. I am looking forward to that!!!

I myself cannot wait until Beltane. I am sensing that there will something big in store for me, and this will be my first major celebration. 

Altars Part 2

To continue with my altar theme; I went to a local Pagan/Wiccan shop to purchase a cauldron and to find a stone to include in my mother’s amulet, which I found among her personal effects. The gentleman said that the rose quartz would be perfect, so I looked over the quartz and was drawn to a slightly heart-shaped one. I put these on the counter and looked around the shop and saw their ancestor wall/altar. It was then that I realized that I NEED to have this. Standing at this altar, even though it was not mine, gave me great comfort. I also have in my mind’s eye a seasonal altar. Right now however, my life is in a state of upheaval. I am sorry if this was too short. I cannot seem to concentrate.

What the altar means for me.

So, I decided to start with the Altar as my first writing. Let me first say that I am a solitary witch, although I have attended Open Moon ceremonies with the local coven here. I found them exhilarating.

I had an altar set up on the property my ex-husband and I owned. It was actually a round ornate cast iron grate which I had found on the property. I set it up on a tree stump beneath the trees in the far right corner of the property. I usually would meditate and pray at night, as I was unsure how my neighbors would react. It doubled as a wonderful plant stand during the spring and summer months. It was a comfortable area, one that I had to myself for 6 years, until last year when I was selling the house per the divorce decree. There had been a rash of robberies in my area. They were stealing mostly scrap metal to sell. I was unable to mow my lawn and the grass was tall, hiding the tree stump, but my altar top was taken anyway, which led me to believe that it was someone who knew it was there. I was devastated. I performed my first ritual on that altar. Thinking about it now, it still angers me.

Now that I am in a very small apartment, (which I still haven’t fully organized and unpacked yet) I am trying to figure out where I wanted to set up a new altar. Do I set it up in my kitchen, which is the first room you see when you walk in from the outside? Do I set it up in the living room, which is off of the kitchen? The bedroom? 

As I began my research, I discovered that I had some of the needed elements and tools, and lacked others. I started reading more, and now I think I have a definite idea of what I want (need?) for my altar space. I am very pleased to learn that all altars are not the same. 

For instance, they can be a shrine of sorts for ancestors. I have decided that I want to have a couple types of altars, one of them being a shrine. 

Sadly, at this writing, my mother is in the hospital and is not expected to live. It is her wish that she not be treated aggressively. So, at this time I am going to end this writing and continue the same subject for next week.

The first day of the year.

Happy New Year! I am very excited to be a part of a very special project! I will be learning about a lot of different aspects of being Pagan, and learning how to be a better person and be in tune with Nature. I am going to have a grand time!