Remember! When things are hard and you’re feeling like giving up, just promise yourself that you are going to wake up, reenergized, refreshed and transformed into the new you. Each day is a chance to spread your wings and take flight and embrace the changes. You are your own and unique version of a butterfly.
I took this picture at the wings of fancy butterfly conservatory near my home.
From my bestest friend in the whole wide world. Happy thoughts for you today!
Anonymous asked: Well I can add myself to out and proud :) actually, if you have the time/inclination, you might consider making a post or series of posts about some of the different paths that all fall under the category Pagan. I'm not suggesting an exhaustive list, but many people, including myself, are quite curious about all the different variations. Anyways, just a thought. You are wonderful to follow and I look forward to your posts! Blog on <3
That brings us up to 7 out and proud.
Thanks so much for the love! That’s a good idea for a blog series. It’ll give me something new to research, since I just consider myself eclectic.
Spell: Mental Clarity
I actually designed this as a type of healing spell for my husband, whose ADD is becoming problematic with his career.
Deities:
- Lord and Lady
- Athena (wisdom)
- Mnemosyne (memory, mother of the Greek muses)
- Quarters
Materials:
- Representation for the four quarters
- Pillar candle for Lord and Lady
- Votive candle for Athena
- Olive oil (about a teaspoon or so) and a shallow dish (big enough to set the votive in)
- A candle for Mnemosyne (I used a blue taper)
- Peppermint oil
- Athame (or tool of your choice - I chose my athame for the “sharpness” aspect)
- Blue cord or string (about 12 inches - wisdom)
- White cord or string (about 12 inches - clarity)
- An unfired bullet (best for it to be fairly large so it is easier to handle, but don’t go crazy - shotgun shells have a lot of plastic and are imprecise. Rifle rounds might be good if you have any.)
- Dried sage (I just used a few leaves, but a smudge bundle works too - does not need to burn long)
- Thin wire
- Wire cutters and needle-nosed pliers (or just the pliers if they have a wire cutter as well - many do)
Work:
- Cleanse and consecrate your space and materials (here is how I do it)
- Cast your circle, beginning in the east (I walked mine thrice)
- Beginning in the east (air = wisdom), call the quarters (I walked the circle with my elements)
- Invoke Lord and Lady (light their candle)
- Dress Athena’s candle with a few drops of olive oil. Pour a little olive oil into your shallow dish and set the candle directly into the oil.
- Invoke Athena - light her candle.
- Dress Mnemosyne’s candle in peppermint oil for focus and clarity (WARNING: peppermint oil can be irritating to the skin, avoid directly touching it - I used a dropper)
- Invoke Mnemosyne - light her candle.
- Clearly and concisely state your purpose (flowery language is not necessary; I said something to the effect of, “I do this work for my husband who is in need of greater mental focus, clarity, and memory, and an increased ability to access his wisdom.”)
- Ask your Helpers to bless and empower the bullet.
- Snip a length of wire about 8-12 inches long. Hold the wire at roughly the middle and wrap it in the groove just at the base of the bullet casing (the flat end, where the firing pin hits) and twist it to secure it. Pull tight. Wrap the wire down the bullet in a crisscross pattern (like you’re lacing up ballet shoes or lace-up sandals). Pull tight when you get to the rounded end, twist once, and go back up the same way. There should be a small loop where you first twisted the wire - feed one end through, and twist them together all the way, snipping off whatever is uneven. Loop that twisted stem you just made back down to the flat end of the bullet and twist it (may need pliers) so now you have a loop you can put the string through.
- Slide both strings through the loop you just made, tying a knot around the wire loop in the middle of the strings. Tie the ends together at the top and trim the ends.
- Carefully light your safe from any of your candles and let the talisman hang in the smoke like a pendulum. You should still be visualizing your intentions through all of this.
- When the sage burns out (or your arms get tired), set the sage aside in a safe container so you don’t burn the place down. Lay the talisman on your altar and ask again for blessings.
- Thank and release Helpers in the reverse order in which you called them (i.e., Mnemosyne, Athena, Lord and Lady, Earth, Water, Fire, Air).
- Open your circle with your chosen tool, and put the energy you collect into the bullet.
- The talisman should go wherever you feel it will do you the most good - like a study or work area.
Alternatively, if a bullet is just not feasible (not everyone is a gun-nut like me) you could use a sharp stone/crystal or small pocket knife. The item should work for you and make you think of precision and sharpness.
Photos from a spell I just completed. Yes, that’s a bullet (.40 caliber Winchester if you were wondering, lol). I made it into a talisman for my husband who is struggling with ADD and needs some sharpness of focus. I’ll post the spell next so that the bullet makes a little more sense. :)
Broom Closet Update
Good morning, lovelies! It’s a rainy Sunday morning here (not complaining - we need it). I’ve been really busy this week so I haven’t been able to do much of anything fun, much less write to you beautiful people. I have some fun planned for later today though. I tend to work better magick in the rain.
So here’s an updated list of where you all stand in regards to the broom closet:
Out online only (and/or to a very select few in person): 7
Really out but quiet (like me): 5 plus me
Out and loud and proud: 6
Thank you for your input, everyone! I am going to save my answer allowance for later in case I think of anything else. Ask me if you have something to add and I’ll publish it later!
Blessed be! :-)
Broom Closet: Where You Stand
Yesterday I asked if you were out of the broom closet or not. No one has sent me an anon answer yet, so so far it seems that all of you are at least out on the internet…
Everywhere but online, 2 of you are in.
Out but quiet: me and one other.
Way out and PROUD: 5. (I am slowly—carefully—working towards this).
Anyone else? Are you out of the broom closet? Do you have any intention of ever coming out, or coming out proud and freely if you’re not yet?
Broom Closet - Are You In or Out?
Okay, my lovelies. Here’s a big one. Are you in or out of the broom closet, or maybe a little of both?
I’m out but I’m quiet, particularly around my in-laws. They are Southern Baptist (like my husband) and since we live with them right now while we get back on our feet financially, I try to keep it hush-hush out of respect for them. They know I’m Pagan (but I don’t think they really know what that means), and I work in the house, but always behind closed doors (if for nothing else that to minimize distractions). I’m not going to get into my past traumas (high school kids are cruel, we’ll just leave it at that), but this is me now. I’m out but I don’t flaunt it. I don’t really see a reason to.
What about you? Are you in, out, or kinda both? If you want to share but are concerned about your anonymity, please feel free to send me an anon-ask! Try to keep the horror stories to a minimum please, as that may be another discussion for another day.
Your Favorite Fictional Witches
This weekend’s discussion was about favorite fictional witches. It was totally not planned to coincide with my plans to take my grandma to the library today. That poor thing has read every book in the house (including The Dresden Files, which totally shocked me. She’s more of a Danielle Steel and Nicholas Sparks kind of lady… should I be concerned that she’s also getting into Stephen King and Jim Butcher?)
So I told you lovelies that my favorite fictional “witch” of all time was Harry Dresden (by Jim Butcher), and my favorite witch movie was Practical Magic. Here’s what you told me you liked:
- Elphaba from the Wizard of Oz
- the Owens Clan
- another vote for Harry and Practical Magic
- Another vote for Elphaba and the aunts from Practical Magic
Who else to you love?
Your Input: Coffee Vs. Tea
So the other day I was feeling a bit under the weather, yet exhausted in the morning and couldn’t decide whether I should have coffee or tea. Coffee eventually won out by virtue of giving me a faster energy buzz than tea. But I asked your your input, and here’s the advice I got:
- coffee now then tea before bed (I like this, best of both worlds!)
- Coffee with cinnamon instead of sugar (smart idea! I’ll try that next time!)
- tea tea tea tea tea (I think she means tea, lol)
- Green or black tea followed by lemon water (Hmm, I get extra detox that way.)
- Jasmine tea (never tried it before, but it sounds good)
- And at least one of you is thinking about my diet… an apple. (Also a good idea. Turned out to be my lunch, actually.)
Thanks for the input! It’s one bag of plain black tea and one bag of lemon-infused black tea this morning, steeped briefly so it isn’t overpowering. Went well with my cranberry and almond oatmeal. :)
Thanks for the advice, my lovelies!
ramblings-of-a-mad-woman asked: Did you know that eating an apple in the morning can provide you with as much energy as a cup of coffee? Go natural and have an apple. =)
I did know this actually! Thanks for reminding me! :)
And just like a caffeine addict my first thought was… coffee is natural… it grows on trees…. haha! ;)
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