Practical Witchery: Depression Witchcraft (pt. 3)

 Dear Reader,

It's been rough for a while now over in my neck of the woods. I'm starting to come out of that depressive episode and, boy, is there a mess around here to clean up. Depression can make you neglect things that are important, like self-care. For witches, self-care looks a little different for every witch you meet. One thing that they'll agree on is that regular practice of grounding and centering yourself is important to be on the path to recovery from depression. Now, if you ask 13 witches how to do this, you're going to get 463 answers.

Here's my contribution to that 463 answers.

• Eat or drink something - the act of consuming food and beverages forces one to focus on their body.*
• Sit on the floor or the ground. Then project your energy down through your spine and pelvis into the surface you are sitting on. Allow it to be absorbed and dissipate.
• Take a shower or a bath - this is like the first suggestion and works to get you back to a 'mundane' headspace.*
• Hold a rock or put your hands into dirt. Then project your energy through your arms, out your hands and into the stone or dirt. If you're using a stone, after projecting your energy into the stone, set it on the ground and wait for the energy to dissipate.
• Wash your hands or place your hands in running water
• Hold an ice-cube, for a more intense sensation to focus on place the ice cube in your mouth
• Note five elements of your environment that you see. Repeat the process with your other senses
• Practice the Square Breathing technique: Inhale to a slow count of four, hold your breath to a slow count of four, exhale to a slow count of four. Repeat as necessary.

You may notice that some of my suggestions are classic techniques used to help people with PTSD and other dissociative disorders to refocus on their present situation. These techniques work for people with depression and are struggling to focus. They are also highly effective for helping you let go unwanted energy.

*For people who are bodily dysphoric, these exercises are difficult and I recommend choosing one of the other exercises. Remember, this is supposed to be a gentle exercise to ground unwanted energy and focus you on the present moment.

Addendum: Bodily dysphoria happens for many reasons and to many people. If you are struggling with it, you are not alone. Be gentle with yourself and your body, it is your home on this plane and as special as you are. (And yes you are special and deserve to be happy, healthy, and well.)

Elemental Lesson Series.

 Air Elementals

Fire Elementals

Water Elementals

Earth Elementals

Practical Witchery: Working with Earth Elementals

 Dear Reader,

Earth Elementals are surprisingly easy to work with. They are not, generally, as mercurial in temperament as Fire Elementals or Air Elementals. And they tend to be more orderly and less prone to rapid changes than Water Elementals. For many 'baby' witches, Earth Elementals are where they begin serious study of Elemental magic because of how accessible they are.

Show in the picture to the right is my big chunk of Rose Quartz. It is both a stone that I use to charge other ones for different purposes and a place where an Earth Elemental ally of mine likes to reside. In folk lore, Earth Elementals can be described variously as dwarves, gnomes, or any other spiritual entity that resides within the earth. They are associated with stability, prosperity, endurance, and wisdom. 

The cardinal direction that Earth Elementals are associated with is North in most European-centric magical traditions. Earth Elementals hold sway over the forms of magic and divination involving the use of stones and dirt. You should call on their assistance when engaging in any form of magic that uses these elements for extra emphasis upon your spell craft. Earth Elementals are associated with the magical 'weapon' of the paten (the plate upon which the ritual meal of cakes/bread and ale is served during a rite) and the symbol of the pentacle in the direct orientation (along with the High Ones, for the pentacle in this orientation is an indication of spirt/mind over matter).

To establish a good relationship with Earth Elementals, consider things like a houseplant that is dedicated to them. Earth Elementals are deeply entwined with the flora and fauna of a region. Regular care and maintenance of said plant acts as regular offerings of good will to the Earth Elementals in your region. This is even more the case if you happen to be lucky enough to have an outdoor garden where you can really get your hands into the local dirt and build that spiritual imprint with them.

You can also collect stones and ask that an Earth Elemental for an alliance and that they reside within the stone. Giving offerings then resembles giving offerings to other spiritual beings. Something that is specially set aside and placed on an altar for a time until your intuition (or common sense) tells you it is time to properly dispose of it. A unique method of giving offerings to Earth Elementals outdoors is to build a cairn in your garden area and pour the liquid offering over the stones. It is a good idea to put it in a spot where there is good drainage and it will not disturb the plants. Wine, for example, is not good for hostas and you don't want that offering to kill off the nearby plants. Cairns make a good place for Earth Elemental allies to take up residence and assist in the magical protection of property and one's home.

Practical Witchery: Water Elementals

 Dear Reader,

Mermaids, mermen, undines, and sea-serpents are all known aspects of Water Elementals. Like all Elementals, these spiritual beings can appear to us in a wide range of forms that we might best comprehend them. Some make the mistake of thinking that Water Elementals are the most peaceable and serene of the Elementals. While they do not have the aggressiveness of Fire Elementals, they possess all the fury of the ocean in a storm and should be regarded with caution, even when their bearing is kindly.

Water Elementals hold sway, quite obviously, over bodies of water. They also are known to have influence over matters of the spirit, emotions, and all things psychic. They have a special affinity for lunar magic, given the close relationship between the Moon and all bodies of water on Earth. Water Elementals are fickle and can change their demeanor rapidly. When approached with disrespect, Water Elementals tend to cause mischief because of their refusal to forget a slight.

Water Elementals are associated with the magical weapon of the chalice and, by logical extension, the cauldron. They will accept offerings of candles because as the flame warms the wax it turns to liquid, which they hold influence over. They will also accept offerings of water or other liquids. Wine is a popular offering, specifically white wine. Partly because it is an offering that requires some expenditure on the giver's part and partly because there is a historic precedent of wine being given in offering because it was the only potable substance aside from pure spring water. White wine is popular because it visually resembles water compared to red wine.

Reading for the young Witch

From Here

People who are new to witchcraft often are intimidated by the vast body of literature available to them. They see the virtual sea of texts and despair of finding the right source. Or, worse yet, they pick a work that is not written to their skill level and become frustrated.

It is important to consider what one's goals are in practicing witchcraft. While some witches are religious, like myself, there are those who distinctly are not. Their secular witchcraft is no less valid then my religious practice. Indeed, it often has ties to the older roots of witchcraft that we will miss in contemporary readings.

For witches who are seeking to build a religious practice, it is important to start with the foundational materials. These teach where the concepts so popular in modern witchcraft originate. They also give the reader a grasp as to how these ideas can be worked with for maximum effect. For secular witches, the religious aspect of the information tends to be secondary to their interests, but it can be equally useful. Many of the earlier books on witchcraft included a great deal of information as to how the mechanics of the magical arts worked.

I highly recommend the following books on the basis of solid content on magical theory and theological considerations.

Title: The Spiral Dance  
Author: Starhawk

The Spiral Dance is one of the foundational books of American witchcraft. Starhawk very concisely and directly details the mythic history¹of witchcraft under the guise of Faery Wicca. She presents a very pro-LGBT vision of Wicca. Her treatment of the genders is a bit dated (as of the 10th anniversary version, which I have on my shelf) but when taken in the context of the era that produced the work, it is exemplary.

Her rituals are very easy to comprehend and enact. Her detailed instructions on magical theory are quite accessible to the neophyte witch. The exercises that she presents are truly exemplary and I have found great success in using them with students in the past.

Title: Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft  
Author: Raymond Buckland

Buckland's Complete Book of Witchcraft is a meaty text that covers virtually any aspect of Wicca you could think of. It shows elements of Gardenerian traditional witchcraft, which Buckland was trained in, and of his Seax tradition of witchcraft that he developed upon his arrival in the United States. His treatment of gender divisions is more hetero-normative then that of Starhawk.

There is also distinctly less political overtones in Buckland's work. At the same time, he provides a great deal of information on a broad area of subjects. The information he presents is not entirely all inclusive but it is a good springboard for a student witch to use  in determining what areas of the Craft they wish to study more deeply.

Title: A Witches' Bible
Author: Janet & Stewart Farrar

A Witches' Bible is a very through discussion of Gardenerian witchcraft. Janet and Stewart Farrar studied directly under Gardner (who is considered to be the father of British witchcraft and Wicca at large) like Buckland. Much of the information they present can cross correlate with Buckland's material.

At the same time, their treatment of matters of ritual procedure and the religious aspect of Wicca is far more complete then Buckland's. This is an excellent book for witches who are seeking for a more religious Wiccan experience.


There is the question of what of the witches who are not Wiccan, is there literature out there for them to read. There is of course material for non-Wiccan witches. I am not personally familiar with much of it, however. I can, though, direct you towards materials from other faiths that are useful to witches or any other person who is engaged in spiritual growth.

The writings of various Catholic Christian saints are the first thing that comes to mind. The works of St. Ignatius of Loyola, more specifically his spiritual exercises, can prove quite useful. When viewed as a series of intellectual and spiritual exercises that can be couched in the terms of what ever faith one follows, these simple and direct activities can help one harness significant mental and spiritual strength within themselves.

The works of St. Therese of Lisieux provides powerful instruction in spiritual growth. Her Little Way is exceptionally useful to both Christians and non-Christians alike. Her autobiography clearly illustrates how she implemented this practice and the influence it had upon her spiritual life.

The writings of the Protestant mystic Dame Julian of Norwich is both luminous in its spirituality and provides the reader with a strikingly clear path to developing a relationship with the divine. Her emphasis upon the maternal nature of the Divine and the loving relationship that can be established is one that is a refreshing contrast to the more patriarchal writings of the period.

Additionally, the work of the ever present age old author, anonymous, titled the Cloud of Unknowing can prove an extremely powerful tool in developing one's spiritual relationship with the divine. This text must be read within the cultural context of the era that produced it. Unlike the writings of St. Therese of Lisieux and Dame Julian of Norwich, the Cloud of Unknowing is much more difficult to translate to modern thought. Like the Zen koans, however, the Cloud of Unknowing can help one to experience the Divine by way of a juxtaposition of concepts.

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1. I speak of the mythic history of Witchcraft because the history presented by Starhawk and various others is based in what evidence we have but can not be conclusively proven. As time has passed, the theories that had given rise to Starhawk's version of early history were called into question and I can not, with any academic integrity, state that this is a purely accurate factual portrayal of past events. Just because it is mythic, however, does not mean it is false.

Witchcraft 101: What is a Witch?

Dear Reader,

Say the word 'witch' and it brings to mind any number of images. While the images have improved some as witchcraft is becoming more tolerated in public, they tend to remain negative in many respects. The stereotype of the witch is an older, ill tempered woman with a cabinet of questionable items and prone to cursing people for fun. A newer stereotype is that of a younger woman decked out in at least ten pounds of silver jewelry and gemstones, bohemian-chic clothing style, a house full of plants, and no less than forty two tarot decks. Both come with the requisite cat familiar, spooky looking broom, and more jars than you can shake a stick at.

Those of you who know me off-line are probably laughing because of the two stereotypes. I'll be honest, my familiar is a feisty little blue betta fish, my jar collection is slightly less prolific than this time last year, and I only curse people who have earned the honor. Cursing is work, honestly. And it is easier to just flip the annoying people off and walk away than go through the work of cursing or I'd be cursing all the time. And I haven't hit forty two tarot decks, yet.

So, what exactly is a witch? Some would say that all witches are Wiccans. Whelp, that's not exactly accurate. Almost all Wiccans identify as witches, however. A witch is a person who is engaged in the manipulation of the world on a level commonly known as spiritual / metaphysical. There are countless methods for how to do this. Witches have been found from all spiritual traditions.

There is one thing about witches that you need to remember. It is a bit dangerous to be one. I'm not talking about how a certain deity will strike one down for it. Witches have, historically, existed at the margins of society. They turned to witchcraft as a means to improve their lot because there weren't many other options, historically speaking and in various parts around the world. To be a witch today is still a dangerous thing in many parts of the world and they do not claim the title as proudly as people may here in the United States where it is relatively safe to do so.

Can you be a witch and not be one of the marginalized people of the world? Yes. There are people who do so every day. You may know one right now but they don't call themselves a witch. Because the word is still heavily loaded with negative concepts and the claiming of the title is still dangerous in even the United States. There are witches who have had burning crosses planted on their front yard because they were public about their faith or practices. There are witches who have been harassed and psychologically tortured because they were public about it. There are also many who have suffered such things because they were suspected of it.

It happens every day. Speak to any witch who is public about their craft and you'll get horror stories of harassment from every single one who is willing to talk about it. The harassment gets worse the smaller the community, by the way, because the witches are pushed farther to the margins because we don't fit in very well.

Generally, witches are like everyone else when it comes to temperment and moral compass. It may be expressed differently, but they tend to abide by social norms and rule of law. We're people just like you. We just happen to have a different skill set, different circumstances, and, increasingly often, a different faith.

Divination: Runes - Lesson 1 : Intro

Image from Wikipedia

Anyone who has a familiarity with Tolkien's work will immediately recognize runic, as this was what he based the dwarven alphabet off of. Anyone who has encountered anything connected with Germanic paganism is going to recognize runes because they are very prevalent. (Which makes sense because this was the alphabet used by these people, with regional variations. Many of which were lost during the era of Christian conversion, sadly, when the written records were destroyed.) A little bit of digging, even the student of the English language is going to find runes. Indeed, they are still present in the English language after going through some transformations over the millennia.

The runes are more than just a system of letters. Or should I say, they are a system of letters that harkens back to the eras before literacy was common and letters carried a sense of magical weight behind them in addition to the common understandings. Some of this is remembered in things like individual runes being associated with specific deities (such as Kenaz/Cen being associated with Loki and Ing being associated with Freyr). The runes have a stronger attachment to magic than their descendant alphabets. Some would say that it is because they are 'pure' iconography from the ancient era. Others would argue that it is because they don't have the modern indifference attached to them as is with the letters of the English alphabet, for example.

It is my opinion that these arguments are helpful but they do not fully encompass the depth of the strength of runes as a magical system. In the next few divination articles, I am going to do my best to detail the history of runes as a magical system and a method of divination. I am also going to give a simple guide to how to use them. I will not discuss bind runes in great detail here, because this is a very specialized form of rune magic that really should be covered on its own. I will also try to present some information on how different regions used runes historically and the influence they had on modern language. This is a very big topic, so please forgive me if I gloss over some details, but my focus is going to show how runes are still very present in modern day languages even though their appearance has changed.

It is my hope that this series of nine posts help make runes a little less intimidating and provide a good starting point to grow as a person who performs divination. It may happen that the techniques of divination that I present are different from how others do this. There is a very good reason for this. My approach to reading the runes is intuitive and based in what I have learned over the years in rather undirected study. I will do my best to present information on how others perform divination using runes, but I apologize in advance for any errors that are in my work. I invite any who are experienced in this specialized system of divination to please contact me when you see any errors in my posts so that I can correct the material accordingly.

Herbs, Treasures, & Tools.

Initially, I started out with this wild idea that I was going to write weekly posts about herbalism. I then realized I did not know quite enough to do so and the end result was my basically sharing what I was finding via research as soon as I found it. This lead to some poor posts and I stepped back to reconsider the whole matter. After a great deal of thought, I have come to a few conclusions.

First, I am going to start posting again about herbs and plants. Those posts will talk about things ranging from the basics on how to keep your plants alive to what the folklore surrounding the plants is. I will also have stuff talking about what bit of familial knowledge that was passed down to me by my relatives. Some of it is going to sound a little odd, but it actually does seem to work. I am also going to be posting my notes as I am engaged in my attempt again to grow something of a container garden this year.

Secondly, the posts about herbs and plants are not going to be the only topic that comes up at this time of the week. I am going to begin a series of posts talking about magical tools. I sort of started with that post I did a little while back regarding sickles. The next one is going to be addressing wands. There will be a short video to accompany these posts. The video is going to be featured on the main site. The text discussion (with some pictures to illustrate my points) will be available on the main site and the mirror site.

The third new element that is going to come into play here is something that I am not entirely sure how often it will show up. I am going to start posting about items that I find truly wonderful and special. I will be posting a picture of my treasure. I will also be posting a little bit of the story about how the object came into my possession and what I love about it. Some of this is going to be jewelry that I inherited, random stuff that my kids have made, and items that if you just saw them sitting on a shelf you would have no idea why they mattered to me.

I look forward to sharing this adventure with you. I hope that you have a lovely day and that something delightful happens to find you at just the right time to make you smile when you need it.

♥

Cartomancy & Tarot Posts & Lessons

Here is a collection of all of my posts on cartomancy and tarot. Some of these posts hit more than one category. They are 'filed' however under this primary category. Please, read and enjoy. Let me know if the links are not working properly. Thank you!

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Tarot: Use for Spiritual Growth. - Tarot as a tool for spiritual development and personal growth.

Tarot: Use for Magical Work. - Tarot as a tool for spellcraft and related magical exercise.

Cartomancy: Playing Cards. - How to use a standard deck of playing cards for divination.

Cartomancy: Tarot Spreads. - An overview of tarot decks

Cartomancy: Tarot Spreads (Part I). - A tarot spread that I use with some success.

Cartomancy: Tarot Spreads (Part II). - Another tarot spread that I use.

Cartomancy: Tarot Spreads (Part III). - A tarot spread that I developed.

Cartomancy: Tarot Spreads (Part IV). - Another tarot spread that I use fairly frequently.

An interview and resources.

Last night, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by RevKess and Kalisara of Pagan Musings Podcast. It was a truly delightful experience. They're wonderful personable and very professional. I highly recommend their program. There is quite a bit of variety in what they produce and they include tastefully relevant music selections as well.

In the course of our discussion, I mentioned that there are on-line resources for one to educate themselves about Filianism. The links I will provide here focus upon orthodox Filianism. I practice heterodox Filianism.

The Gospel of Our Mother God is available via Amazon. This is the scriptures of the faith. There is a digital variation of the Gospel that includes apocryphal texts, such as The Crystal Tablet. You can locate it here. This site was assembled by Reverend Sara Morrigan.

A Chapel of Our Mother God is the web presence of orthodox Filianism. In addition to A Chapel of Our Mother God, there is the writings of the Aristasian community, much of which links back to A Chapel of Our Mother God. The Daughters of Shining Harmony is related to the Aristasian community. Their writings are here and contain links back to A Chapel of Our Mother God.

Moving in to what I suppose one could declare 'reformed' Filianism, you have bloggers such as Rose Mayflower who discuss Filianism that is inclusive of persons of all genders. Orthodox Filianism focuses strictly upon women and all language is based on a feminine perspective. Reformed Filianism opens the body of worship up to include men. The Chapel of Our Mother God is a very well written resource that notes they offer support and information for all Filianists (alternately termed Filyani in the plura, Filyana in the singular). Still, they hold a more orthodox position then others in their writing.

Then there is myself, a heterodox Filianist who practices what could be described as 'blended' Filianism where I revere other gods alongside Dea. The wonderful thing about Filianism, as I mentioned last night, is that Dea reveals herself to the world as we may understand her. For an orthodox Filianist, the plurality of gods in this world are different ways that Dea is perceived. Some perceptions are closer to their truth then others. Hence the syncretism that happens in the iconography of Filianism in orthodox, reformed, and heterodox Filianism.

Additional writings.

Here are links to work that I've published under my pen name Argent Aisling.

Wicca 101

• Your First Book of Shadows
• Spiritual Self-Defense (part 1)
• Spiritual Self-Defense (part 2)
• Spiritual Self-Defense (part 3)
• Spiritual Self-Defense (part 4)
• Herbalism (part 1)
• Herbalism (part 2)

Greeting and an Introduction.

Hello. Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Deborah, also known as Cydira, Argent Asling, and Brythwen Sinclair. As you may have gathered from the title of this blog, I am a practicing witch. To be more specific, I am a practicing Wiccan of a family tradition that goes back several generations. I am blessed with psychic ability and I have a knack for divination. Amongst the pagans I socialize with, I'm known as a seer and a Sybil.

It has taken me over fifteen years to sit down and write this. Scattered bits and pieces of my work can be found on websites such as MysticWicks and a few Yahoo groups. (I have another blog (here) that is focused more upon theological inquiries and general ramblings on the matter of life as a witch. Feel free to take a peek.) It has only been recently that I laid aside my fears and begun acting in full accord with the deepest urgings of my soul, including writing this.

Today marks the end of the second full week of my wearing a head covering in public. It is only fitting that I begin this project at the beginning of my wearing a veil or headscarf (which I'll explain in a bit). It is also quite appropriate that I have begun this project in close correspondence with Imbolc. For Imbolc has become something of a time for modern Wiccans to rededicate themselves to the Craft and to initiate others.

One may ask why I cover my hair, especially when some of the most famous liturgical texts of modern Wicca exhort us to be naked in our rites as a sign of our freedom. I cover my hair when in public not out of shame or some sense of modesty. Rather, as a sign of my obedience to my goddess. She has said to me that I am to veil myself as an outward sign to others that I am her chosen daughter and priestess.

Only family and a chosen few, those whom I know respect and love me, shall be permitted to see my tresses. When in the ritual circle, I will wear my hair free and unbound as a sign of my power. In keeping my hair hidden, I protect my power and ward off the envious eye of others, along with their potential ill wishes. Months ago, I had very long hair. It was almost unmanageably long. Acting upon a combination of spiritual prompting and old fashioned frustration with my hair, I had eighteen inches cut off.

Since then, the pull to veil myself has grown even stronger. I could no longer deny the urge when I read of another pagan who veils herself. It was an article that told me I truly could give myself permission to do this with out fear of scorn. Seeing another's success can be extremely empowering.

The last two weeks have been a learning process. The first thing I learned is that I do not own enough basic kerchiefs to use a clean one everyday. A bit of fabric manipulation is required or the purchase of more. I'm honestly not sure which is the better option. I also learned that I do so love the look of how Jewish women and Muslim women veil themselves. Thirdly, I learned that it is quite challenging to research European veiling traditions. And, finally, while I do enjoy the appearance of a wimple and veil, it is far too complicated for anything but a special occasion.

An enormous amount of the literature available discussing veils and head coverings in the Western world (after weeding out the strictly wedding oriented articles) focus heavily on modesty. As I mentioned earlier, it is not modesty that has me covering my hair. It is a direct word from my goddess. While others may get tattoos or piercings, I do not have that luxury. My skin can not take the ink for various medical reasons and piercings would be problematic because of my metal allergies.

Thus, I am directed to veil and dress in a certain manner. When I have the means, I will transition away from wearing slacks most of the time to wearing skirts and dresses. Why? Because I am exhorted to embrace my femininity and those garments help put me in touch with it. When I was young, I went for a period of time dressing in this manner (sans veil/head covering). I felt empowered in my female nature.

It was unfortunate that others verbally attacked me for this and drove me away from this genuine expression of my soul. I have learned a great deal in the two decades since then. Stargazer taught me something important for the time that she was in my life. If you don't love who you are, then you are being somebody else. Stargazer was an incredible woman who I am proud to say was like a sister to me and my best friend. I think if she saw me today with my bit of head covering and how at peace it makes me, she'd say that I was a great fool for denying myself for so long. And follow up with a laugh and say "Silly Deb."

It is that kind of warmth and loving support that I am hoping to cultivate through my writing here for other young Witches and Seekers. Many of us come to Witchcraft after a great deal of searching. It is possible to find it austere and imposing. At the same time, there is an incredible depth of unconditional love that is available to any who wish to engage in a relationship with the Lady, the great goddess of Wicca. It is my hope to help guide you in building that relationship by way of modeling my own road to wisdom. (Of which I have many a mile left to walk.)