Practical witchery: Grounding 2/3

Dear Reader, 

Last month, I posted the first of this series on how to ground your energy. The first exercise was a sensory based one that can be practiced anywhere at anytime. This week's exercise is one that requires a tool that is easily acquired. In the last exercise, you directed your energy into the earth. This exercise, you direct your energy into a stone which will dissipate the energy passively into the earth.

A common stone that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand is a good tool. There are some stones that lend themselves better to this practice. Hematite is a very popular stone. A lump of sandstone has worked very well for a friend of mine for years. I have a pair of river rocks that I hold in both hands. Either way, a nice sized, comfortably smooth stone is needed.

Like in the first exercise, sit in a comfortable position. Holding the stone(s) in your hand(s), become aware of your breathing and your energy state. Draw your personal energy into your hands and push it into the stones. This can be done by squeezing the stones lightly while envisioning the energy transferring. Continue to do this until you are at a state of calm relaxation, this is your base state of energy levels.

When your stones are filled with energy, place them aside and allow them to rest until you are ready to use them again. For extra quick energy dispersal from the stones, bury them in a fine layer of earth, sand, or salt. Salt, earth, and sand are intimately tied with the earth itself and they disperse energy readily.  Just a small jar of soil can absorb and disperse a great deal of energy. Salt is especially effective.

Conflict between the body, mind, and spirit.

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Dear Reader,

There is a chance you may be familiar with the expression "The spirit is willing but the body is weak." It's a pretty old one that we've inherited from the Christian cultures of Western Europe. Into every spiritual life comes times where our spirits and minds are eager to be about the work of faith but our bodies simply can not do so. We may lack the energy, the time, or the literal physical ability to do what we so deeply desire to. This does not signify failure.

Unlike other faith systems, Filianism recognizes that this conflict happens through no fault of our own and has a place for our worship activities when we are unable to engage them in the most physical of senses. It is within ourselves that we may engage in acts of deep devotion. The temple of the heart is more than a pretty metaphor. It is also a place within our being where we might come to worship Dea. It resolves the conflict between our physical ability to engage in worship and our spiritual ability.

Through meditation, we might enter into the temple of the heart and present ourselves before Dea to worship, adore, and be in her holy presence for a time. The temple of the heart looks different for each person, but within that temple, we may all find ourselves in the presence of Dea.

This solution isn't only the property of Filianism. Through meditation and focused attention, we might find ourselves able to engage and experience the holy presence of other deities. Next week, I will present a simple guided meditation that I learned from my aunts to reach that holy place within where one's spirit may touch the mystical world about us and enter into the presence of the Divine.

Divination: Major Arcana 4 - The Emperor

Dear Reader,

The Emperor this week comes from the Witches Tarot deck from Ellen Cannon Reed and Martin Cannon. The Emperor is the fourth major arcana we encounter. In the Fool's journey, the Emperor represents a figure of importance. They can be dangerous to the person who crosses them, but the Emperor's ruthlessness makes them a powerful ally. 

The presence of the Emperor in a reading may indicate that the querent needs to seek guidance. The direct orientation suggests that the querent should not act yet but assess the situation and judge what is going on. The Emperor in the reversed orientation indicates that the querent can put ideas into action at this time.

For more information, check out my book, The Veiled Witch's Handbook for Psychics.

A cure for the norovirus.

Dear Reader,

We've gone three weeks with the norovirus making the rounds at my house. Just yesterday, my youngest was home sick with it. I think we might be done now since it looks like everybody has had it now. I have been super busy cleaning EVERYTHING. I was sick last week with the stupid bug. As was my eldest child. And the first week of the month, my poor Beloved had it.

I am beginning to think that Aliens had the right idea, take off and nuke the site from orbit to be sure. Fire cures everything, right? If it isn't cured yet, you just apply more fire, obviously.

Divination: Major Arcana 3 - The Empress

Dear Reader,
This week's Major Arcana is the third card, The Empress. The card featured this week comes from The Faery Wicca Tarot from Kisma K. Stepanich and illustrated by Renee Christine Yates. Don't let this card's alternate name confuse you, this is still the Empress if this were a standard tarot deck.

The Empress is a very maternal figure. When this card arrives in a reading, the Empress is generally a benevolent figure. She is speaking of prosperity and abundance when in the direct orientation.

When reversed, the Empress speaks of a need for grounding and stability in ones life.

To learn more about this card, check out the tarot section of my new book: The Veiled Witch's Handbook for Psychics.

Reading for the Intermediate Witch: Earth Magic

Title: Earth Magic: A Wisewoman's Guide To Herbal, Astrological, & Other Folk Wisdom
Author: Claire Nahmad
Publisher: Destiny Books   Date: 1994
ISBN: 0892814241

Don't let the age of this book fool you. Earth Magic is a very well written in depth examination of folk knowledge on a fairly wide array of material. The unique perspective that Ms. Nahmad has upon angelology is interesting because it is informed by the Christian over culture but different from what one maybe familiar with. Ms. Nahmad gives a strong introduction to astrology on the basis of each sign's qualities and meanings. It makes a good jumping off point for deeper study.

Ms. Nahmad does get a bit chatty in her discussion of herbalism in each chapter but manages to maintain an informative perspective. I find her addition of practical knowledge about how to gather materials and store them to be quite in line with what I learned at my own grandmother's knee as a girl. I will confess, however, I was dismayed when she mentioned using essential oils with out a carrier oil. While most people will not be prone to reacting to lavender oil, for example, one must always use a carrier oil with essential oils to prevent a skin reaction. It is even more important to test in a spot like the inside of your forearm if the carrier oil and essential oil mix will cause a reaction. If this happens, wash the oils off immediately with a good quality dish soap (I find Dawn brand works best.) and take an antihistamine if necessary. If you still desire to work with essential oils, use gloves and take all the precautions you would if you were cooking with hot peppers.

Ms. Nahmad organizes her book through the Julian calendar year with each section devoted to topics roughly appropriate for the season and the holidays of that time period. Her writing style is conversational and pleasant. The focus on folk magic is specifically that of a blended Christian folk magic and pagan folk magic. I wouldn't go so far as to say Christo-pagan folk magic because there are distinct differences between the two things presented. It is more of an intermediate ground for persons who are dealing with the two different faith systems at the same time or seeking to make their practices more in line with the over-culture.

Divination: Major Arcana 2 - The High Priestess

Dear Reader,

The High Priestess card today comes from The Witches Tarot from Ellen Cannon Reed and Martin Reed. The High Priestess is the same as the Papess in other decks. She is a card of mystery and spirituality. 

The High Priestess in the Fool's journey indicates that the Fool is searching for spiritual wisdom and the revelation of mysteries. In a reading, the High Priestess indicates that the querent is trying to find out the deeper meanings of the things before them.  They are advised to approach their goals in smaller steps before taking on greater challenges. In reversed orientation, this card reveals the mysteries are answered and challenges can be dealt with.

For more information about this card, please consult my new book. 

Looking to learn the Psychic Arts?

Dear Reader,

It is with great excitement and joy I announce that my new book is available for purchase. The Veiled Witch's Handbook for Psychics is a general guide book to divination and the psychic arts. It covers a wide range of topics in a very direct manner. My goal was to write the sort of instructional book that I needed when I was starting out as a young witch.

This book is written in a workbook format with exercises at the end of every chapter to allow you to practice your new skills. And like every good workbook, it has an answer key at the end of the book. I encourage you to keep a notebook with your workbook to record the lesson details that are the most meaningful to you and keep track of your own practice work in the different skills presented.

The handbook covers everything from what it means to be psychic to the essential elements of psychic health and hygiene. It also gives an overview of various divination techniques including tarot, runes, and palmistry. I also present additional resources for information that you can locate at your local library or via the internet.

The handbook is available on Amazon.com.

New book forth coming!

Dear Reader,

If you have enjoyed my series of posts about divination, you will love my new book. It is a general guide book to the psychic arts. I set it up in a workbook format. It covers the basics of the following:

• What it means to be psychic
• Tarot
• Palmistry
• Runes
• Mediumship
• Tasseography
• Pendulums
• Psychic health and hygiene

Each chapter has an accompanying set of exercises and each set of worksheets have an answer key at the back of the book. While I designed this book for a single person to use it, it can be used as part of a psychic's entry level class for any esoteric tradition.

It will officially be for sale Friday. I have the final version on hand and will be posting pictures soon.

The title is The Veiled Witch's Handbook for Psychics: A practical guide to divination and the psychic arts. I have published it under my pen name Brythwen Sinclair. It is the first in a short series of guide books that I am working on.

Food poisoning, braces, and life happening.

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Dear Reader,

The last four days have been hectic and frustrating. On one hand, the issues have been mostly small. I had a mild bout of food poisoning Monday through Tuesday. Monday my eldest had his orthodontist appointment and got his braces off. That was exciting. Sunday was just chaos because we were all catching up on things that needed to get done around the house after Saturday was spent visiting family. But I haven't had time for blogging. I haven't felt well enough to doll myself up for Instagram pics and I have misplaced my big box holding my tarot collection cleaning in the project room.

I feel like these are all excuses for failing to write here. I'm not at a very good place emotionally speaking. Being sick tends to do that to me. Realizing that for the last few months, I have let this blog languish because I wasn't feeling well was deeply upsetting for me. I know that I need to give myself a break and let myself rest when I am not well.

At the same time, I feel like I should be producing content and material for you. I feel like I should be writing and talking about all of the wonderful witchy things in the world. It's just really hard to find the wonder when you are sick and tired.

Project: Crochet Goddess Poppet

Dear Reader,

To the right is one of my latest creations that isn't charity oriented. I have no idea what to do with this little tiny goddess poppet but I'm sure something will come to me.

The skills you need to make this are basic knitting and basic crochet. I did not use the magic ring to begin this. If you know that technique, go ahead and use it to start. This project is made working in the round.

Round 1: Chain two. Work six single crochet stitches into the first chain. Slip stitch the sixth stitch to the first, Chain one to begin next round.

R2: Single crochet twice into each stitch of the round. You should have 12 stitches. Slip stitch the 12th stitch to the first, chain one to begin next round.

R3: Single crochet twice into the first stitch. Single crochet once into the next stitch. Single crochet twice into the third stitch, single crochet once into the fourth stitch. SC 2x in stitch 5, SC into stitch 6. Repeat around in this pattern. At the end of the round, you should have 18 stitches. Slip stitch the 18th stitch to the first. Chain one to begin next round.

R4 - 9: SC into each stitch. Slip stitch final stitch of the round to the first. Chain one to begin next round.

Pause in your crochet to stuff the doll with fiber.

R10: SC together next two stitches. Proceed around in this fashion. You should have 9 stitches. Do not slip stitch your ends of your round together.

R11: SC together next two stitches, proceed around in this fashion. You should have 5 stitches. Do not slip stitch your ends of your round together.

R12: SC together next two stitches. Proceed around in this fashion. You should have 3 stitches. Do not slip stitch the ends of your round together.

R13: SC together all three stitches. Make a knot, break yarn, and weave in ends. Body is complete.

At your desired distance down from the head (starting at R1), wrap a length of yarn to make the neck of the doll. Tie off and weave in ends.

With a pair of size 3 double ended knitting needles (don't be nervous here!) cast on four stitches. Knit four and slide them to the opposite end of your needle. Knit again. Repeat this process (you're making an I-cord) until your cord measures the length you desire. Knit together two stitches. Knit together two more, slide your cord over. Knit together final two stitches. Slide your cord over again. Knit one more stitch. Pull tight to make your knot. Break yarn and weave in this end. Leave a long tail when you cast on your stitches. Repeat this process to make the other arm.

Once you have your arms made, use the long tails to sew them on to the body. Weave in the ends of the tails. Now pick out a bead you like. Cut a length of yarn and thread it through the 'hand' end of one arm, through your bead, and through the next 'hand'. Tie it together over the bead. Ta-dah! You have your own goddess poppet.

You can ditch the bead and make the arms a wee bit longer to make a doll suitable for small children. When stuffing the doll, add a jingle bell in the middle of the stuffing to make it a little more exciting for the littles.

Happy Beltaine & Blessed feast of Exaultation

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Dear Reader,

Yesterday was a very strange and busy day for me. I put my plants out because I am sure the danger of frost is passed. I did some writing out in the sunshine because it was near 72 deg. F. in the afternoon. I did a bunch of housework.

I tried to find it in me to do something celebratory for Beltaine and the feast of the Exaultation of the Lady. I simply could not do it because it was, sadly, the anniversary of my uncle's murder. It was among the topics that troubled me during the day.

Most years, I am relatively alright with my grief because I have mostly processed it. But, as the evening set in and I realized that I had been feeling a sense of guilt for trying to be happy and celebratory through the day, I realized that I truly wasn't finished grieving.

I sincerely wish you all happiness and joy during this season of growth and delight. I will join you in merriment after I have had a bit of time to reestablish a sense of balance again.

I truly believe that my uncle is at a place of peace and happiness now. Perhaps he has moved onto his next life or perhaps he resides in the paradise of his faith. I still grieve him in my way despite the fact that I didn't know him as well as I wished to have. And I am still deeply angered with the men who killed him. Some people have said that I should be one of the people who approves of capital punishment because of this case.

I don't, however, because it is state sanctioned murder. I can not condone revenge killing when we can not be sure that every case is truly an exact case of justice being served. There are countless people who are on death row and among them is an unknown number of innocent souls. I'd prefer my taxes pay to house and care for all of them than for one innocent soul to be murdered by the state for the sake of justice. Because that isn't justice. That is petty revenge carried out by proxy.