King Tapioca

I love tapioca. For those in the know about bubble tea, the best part of that entire beverage are the deliciously chewy pieces of tapioca at the bottom.

Recently I had my birthday lunch at a local Vietnamese restaurant and, of course, had to try the desserts they offered. One of the desserts was a coconut tapioca pudding, with a super-coconutty flavour.
I was instantly impressed and obsessed, so I attempted to make my own.

The result was this:

December Fifteenth

Today is my birthday. I am now 27 years old. Holy shit.

Somehow all the excitement of having a birthday is drowned out by that number.
Hey, it's my birthday! But I'm turning 27.
27 is not exactly one of the "cool" birthdays. In fact, I would say it's the "un-cool" birthday.
Yes, you are another year wiser, a bit more educated, and (perhaps) a little richer- if that is possible these days. But in my case, realistically speaking, 27 is another reminder that I'm an aging female with even more raging hormones and even more problems.
I guess that's the one caveat of my birthdays, each consecutive birthday brings yet another problem into my life.
This year, the problem centers around family issues and more family issues.
How lovely.
Happy birthday to me.

I shouldn't complain so much, though. This birthday has given me a lot to be thankful for.
My friends were absolutely wonderful and gave me a (partial) surprise party. I am happy and grateful to know that there are a few people in the world that care about my happiness and my crappy 27th birthday enough to make it a happy one.

I couldn't ask for more.

Return from the Dark

It has been a very, very long time since I last posted. I wish I didn't have to put a long pause on my blog, but unfortunately a sad event and other difficult times has befallen me and my family.

My grandmother- the loving, green-thumbed, and overall wise-woman she was- passed on from a two-week coma in the hospital during the early part of August.

It's funny, you know.Within the last year and half, two comas occurred within my circle of family and friends, and both fell on big Sabbat days.

The first was on Ostara 2010; a friend passed into a coma and 2 days later passed on.

The second was my grandmother this Lammas. Sad, but true.

It was fitting really, for her to pass on after Lammas, as it the second to last harvest festival in the wheel of the year. As if she wanted to go before Samhain, so I could have her with me for that final time before the winter. Not that she loved winter, in fact, she quite loathed it. My grandmother was one of those people that suffered greatly from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and she really found nothing pleasurable about winter except for the snow making everything look clean.

Since her passing, my family and I have felt the void of her loss. She certainly was the matriarch of the family; the center of attention at every family function and the life of the party.
Like my mother always said, she was the tree that held up all the branches of our family, and her passing has left everything to fall away, like a decayed mansion that once held a happy family.

Now things have changed, and life has become complicated and morose. Those were the reasons I left my blogging for long. For who wants to read about family squabbling and sadness? Not me.

I will slowly come back into my blogging, and perhaps get more into my spiritual road trip, which went slightly on hiatus as well.

It is not easy to celebrate an Esbat when you are too tired to look out the window, or too depressed to feel a spark of Goddess love in your heart.

As the months have passed, however, I feel like I need my spirituality even more than before, and I am seriously going to delve deeply into a search for my innermost soul of being.

That is all I can muster the strength to write at this moment.

Take care, readers, and I will post again soon.

Sacred Lemons

There is nothing more refreshing than a lemon. The citrusy tang of it's juice can add flavor and freshness to almost anything, be it drink, food, or scent. The acidity if lemon juice can even be used to lighten hair, skin, or as a mild antiseptic.

Historically, lemons were venerated as an antidote for poison. The famous Roman emperor Nero drank copious amounts of lemon juice to, supposedly, prevent himself from being poisoned from his food. Placing poison in food was actually quite common in ancient Roman times.

In witchcraft, the lemon is a sacred fruit of the goddess, like the pomegranate and the apple.

Rituals and spells of purification and renewal can benefit from the use of lemon juice or lemon peel, especially in incense blends, offerings to the goddess, a libation, charged moon water, or as part of cakes and ale. A good example of this would be using lemonade as a summertime esbat drink during ritual.

So the next time you smell a lemon, think of the Goddess, and how you can use this sacred fruit to purify yourself, your surroundings, and your spirit.

This is why I don't like Missionaries

I was tuning into my blogger reading list today, and again, the topic of children accused of practicing witchcraft in Africa took center stage.

Witch-hunts and killings have been rampant in certain parts of Africa due to many local evangelists and preachers (some posing to be such) using their power to provoke. This is apparently a tactic used by these evangelists for monetary gains, and not out of a real need for spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ.

According to Christianity Today online, the increasing numbers of accused children, and others, as so-called "witches" are not only stemming from these zealot evangelists, but also from Christian missionaries, who are, to be blunt, just fanning the fire. Aptly named Mr. Robert Priest states in the article that, "Missionaries have commonly responded in two ways... The power of witches to harm others is dismissed as superstition, but this seldom persuades local Christians to abandon the concept; or the reality of witchcraft is endorsed by missionaries not wanting to be "post-Enlightenment rationalists" with a non-biblical skepticism of spiritual warfare."

With that statement as a springboard, I want to discuss (i.e. rant), about missionaries and their practices.

Now, as a lover of anthropology and foreign cultures (its a sort of hobby), I have never liked the concept of people going abroad with the sole purpose of converting others to their religion. Proselytizing, in my humble opinion, is a one-sided conversation no one can pull off.

So, yes, in a word, I abhor missionaries. Note, I do not think missionaries are bad people. Missionaries have, at times, done many an isolated population great favours. They have been the first chroniclers of foreign peoples and lands, and they have saved (literally) many lives, perhaps even brought comfort in the word of God to people in need.

But...and there anyways is one...there is a dark side to having missionaries hanging around. They have brought disease, like small-pox, and in some areas they wiped out the entire indigenous religious practice through their very thorough Christian conversion practices.

Yes, people sometimes need to be shown the way; but I emphasize the word "shown". From what I have experienced, many missionaries tend to "shove" people in that direction, saying God will 'save' them.

People living in poverty, that face starvation, disease, and dying everyday are in need of salvation, but not the kind that God can provide. They need medical care, clean water, love, and respect. God may be able to give them peace in the afterlife, but their daily suffering cannot be soothed over with whatever they are told about God or quoted Bible passages.

If you are a missionary reading this, then I apologize. I don't mean to hurt your feelings, but you really need to get with modernity and tell people like it is. Tell them the scientific facts. Christianity and Science can coexist, but only if we use our brains to make it possible.

Think about it. There are children in Africa at this very moment, being beaten, tortured, burned, killed, or abandoned by their families because they have been accused of "witchcraft". Little children, some only 3 or 4 years old, told that they have killed others through spells, curses, and the evil eye.

Is this not insanity? Is this not injustice? How can a person accuse children of these practices when a child is not even aware of the existence of witchcraft? It is completely and utterly disgusting.

I am not a malicious person, but I hope that these evangelical preachers in Africa suffer all the wrath God has to give, because they deserve all of it and more.

I hope all the missionaries in Africa  can work together and help these suffering children. Save the children with spreading the true message of God. Use the teachings of Jesus to teach adults to love their children, and not listen to accusations that are blatant lies.

Do it for the children.

Readers: If you want to learn more about this awful situation and help out, click on this link:

http://www.confessionsofapagansoccermom.com/2011/06/helping-witches-of-africa.html

Another New(ish) Start

I revamped my blog today.

There were a few reasons for me to do so, but it was mainly because I have been going in many different directions lately.

Guanyin and Buddha always have a place in my heart, but as of now...so many more deities and cultures are tugging (hard!) on my heart strings. So in the spirit of change, and the turning of the year, I took stock of where I am at right now- spiritually speaking.

I think this new found yearning for change has stemmed from my recent readings on Hermeticism and a few books on traditional and European witchcraft by Raven Grimassi.
Europe is, of course, the heartland of the witchcraft tradition, and with Mr. Grimassi being a practitioner of Stregheria himself, my readings have been slightly skewed towards the original practices of witchcraft. Ancient Greece and Italy are historically linked with the first occurrences of the craft. In the days of Homer and Pythagoras, mystery religions dedicated to the Gods thrived; the cult of Mithras and the Hermes Trismegistus were part of the ancient Greek culture, and they influence our modern learnings in Hermeticism and parts of Neo-Pagan practice.

And so in learning more about these traditions, my views of the craft have deepened and my focus is changing.

There are things I will always love through having them as part of my life for so long, like an old, inseparable, friend. They will always be there for me.
But there comes a time when the new must be embraced; there is no other way than moving forward and forging a new turn in the meandering path of my witchy life.

Midsummer has arrived!

This message is a tad belated, but life is moving fast.

I hope everyone had a very fruitful and blessed Litha/Summer Solstice celebration with lots of good cheer and joy!

The Holly King has now won the battle against the Oak King, and the Wheel of the Year is turning towards the wane.

Summer's fruits will soon be jam, and preparations for harvesting and preserving for the winter will be taking place in the months to come.

So get out there and enjoy the full strength of the Lord Sun at his peak, and the beauty of the mysterious Green man of the forests and fields.

Blessed be!

Symbols In Crystal

For the last 3 days I have been in a metaphysical pickle. I did a crystal gazing session the other night and received an image that I do not know how to interpret.

The image was of a boy, maybe 12 or 13 years old, riding a bicycle. He was wearing a red t-shirt and jeans; his hair was a light brown colour, straight, and in a sort of shaggy cut. Longer than the average boys hair, but very neat. His skin was a bit on the light side, but tanned. I did not see his face.

I have no idea how this image relates to me or what it represents in my life. Perhaps I saw the image somewhere and it reappeared in my mind during my gazing because my mind was clear and focused, but I don't know what it means to me.

Using my dream dictionary, I looked up the meaning of a bicycle. Yes, I did not receive this image in a dream, but symbolism is symbolism, is it not?
According to my dictionary, a bicycle is representative of being solitary and doing things by yourself, or pushing yourself to reach goals. These interpretations may be true, but my gut feeling is saying 'no'. When thinking hard about this image, I actually felt as though I knew this boy, although he does not match any boys I've ever known from his outward appearance. That being said, I also did not see his face in the image.

He was a lone, downward-looking boy, riding a bicycle.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see what I can decipher from my next crystal gazing experience.
Do you know what it means?

Sexy Men from Canada

I just finished watching the entire first season of The Borgias.

Cesare Borgia is the sexist character ever. And the actor who plays him comes from Montreal.

Who ever said French Canadian men aren't sexy?

Can't wait till next season!!!

Updates and Crystal Balls

So, I kind of promised to start posting more often and that didn't really happen these past few weeks. The time just flew by in the blink of an eye. I just don't understand how time is moving so fast right now. Perhaps the heat of June and the past rains of May just made my days feel like a foggy exercise, clouded over with tired haze. Yes, I've been really tired for quite a while, and a bit apathetic, too. But despite all that, I am still very much immersed in my craft and my continuous learning.

I recently got into crystallomancy, which is also known as "crystal gazing". I've had only one session so far with my crystal, but so far so good. I do feel, sometimes, that playing with the ball in my hands is more fun than trying to scry with it, as terribly child-like as that sounds. It is a new method of divination for me so I suppose subconsciously I might be trying to create a bond with my crystal by holding it. The subconscious works in wondrous ways.
Now from the many sources I have researched crystallomancy from, there is the standard procedure of naming your crystal ball. So his name is Geoffrey. And, no, I have absolutely no idea why. The name just appeared in my mind, so I just went with it. As I am always interested in meaning and symbolism, especially in names, I looked up the meaning of Geoffrey as a name and it apparently means "God’s peace", or in some sources, such as Wikipedia, "place of peace"…my interest was caught with the latter meaning. A ‘place of peace’ is a very fitting name I think, and I will be using Geoffrey for mediation purposes as well.  

As a constant and seasoned user of the tarot, scrying has been a tad difficult for me to break into. With the Tarot, images are presented in front of you to decipher; in scrying, images either come to you within your mind or actually materialize in front of your eyes within the crystal ball. Scrying takes much more concentration that tarot reading, so a 10 minute session really left me drained. I can usually go for nearly an hour doing a tarot reading! So that's a big change of pace for me. I'm sure with more practice I'll get used to it.

In addition to expending my divination capabilities, I am also beginning to explore the history of witchcraft and modern paganism. I found and bought a few used books on Amazon for my summer 'light' reading (not!), two of them are by Raven Grimassi, whom I am familiar with only by name with the exception of the few short articles written by him in my annual Spell-a-Day Almanac book by Llewellyn. I might give a review of that annual series in another post.

Anyways, I'm very excited to be reading this book because it is more on the academic/historical side of the witchy equation. As much as I love to be engaged in reading about rituals and goddesses, it a nice change of pace to read about the historical aspect of the basis of Witchcraft/Wicca and how it is entwined with Italian paganism, Freemasonry, and religious cults of Greco-Roman antiquity.

When I am done reading I’ll do my best to post a review.

Blessed be and namaste.

Wesak

Today is Wesak, the day of the May full moon.

This day is important to Pagans and Wiccans because, of course, it is the day of the month when we honor our Lady, the Goddess, in esbat ritual. However, this day is also doubly special to me because this day also has its own significance within Buddhism.
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, was born on this day, became enlightened on this day, and passed on into parinirvana on this day. So for Buddhists, Wesak is truly the most auspicious holy day in the yearly cycle. Being a Buddhist and a Pagan/Wiccan (not quite sure which I am yet), puts this day as a big celebration on my calendar.

Today I will honor both the Goddess and the Buddha, though honoring the Buddha is really a much simpler task, by nature. The expensive incense and a nice teacup of fresh rosewater, and a rose candle will be placed on an altar just for him. I would have preferred jasmine but, alas, I don't have jasmine water or any jasmine candles available. Though I think roses are fitting for the Buddha on his birthday/enlightenment/passing day.
As for the Goddess, I may wait until tomorrow night to actually have my esbat. In tribute to the Buddha, tonight will be a contemplative and introspective occasion.

Have a blessed Wesak and May Esbat everyone!
Namaste :)

Doggies and Saints

Okay, I should first explain that I am eclectic in my witchcraft to the extreme, and you'll find out why in a moment.

So a few weeks ago I started watching a certain YouTuber (because, of course, I am addicted to YouTube) that makes videos explaining his path, which is a mixture of Hoodoo, Voodoo and Santeria. His videos are amazingly interesting to me, although I do not think that I would add Hoodoo or Voodoo practices to my own practice. Regardless, I feel fascinated by his videos and their content.
In addition to this, one of my favourite YouTubers is a spiritualist that incorporates some Catholic mysticism into his Wicca practice, and I also love his videos about the Catholic Saints. Being an ex-Catholic school girl myself, I do have an interest in the Saints. One of my matron Goddesses is Brigid, also known as Saint Brigid of Ireland.

Anyways, I had an experience 2 weeks ago with our family dog. He's a sweet little thing, but he began suffering from seizures a few years ago. Two weeks ago he went through a very difficult bout of seizures, having over 6 or 7 in 24 hours, which led to an emergency visit to the veterinarian.
While he was spending the 5 hours it took to go to the vet, get him treatment, and bring him back home calm, I stayed home and, remembering a video about St. Anthony (of Padua) being loved by animals, prayed earnestly to St. Anthony. I had prayed to St. Anthony before, to find things, and he delivered very well! So that is why again I chose St. Anthony. I was very upset at the time (I love all my doggies so much, especially him), and I did cry a little, but I truly believed in the power of St. Anthony. I promised that if he helped our little guy get better and become healthier, I would buy a statue of St. Anthony in thanks and keep it on my altar. That was 2 weeks ago and our little dog has not had a seizure since. We also put him in a calmer environment and changed his diet a bit, but still, he has become 100% better.
And so, this evening, I made my purchase of a St. Anthony icon (gorgeous one, too) for my altar. I cannot wait to put it up on the 'God' side of my altar.

As a few of my other favourite YouTubers have said, the Saints are very powerful and resourceful beings. I have now twice experienced their help in my life, and even though I am not Christian or Catholic, I do believe that Saints, like Jesus Christ, will help anyone that asks for it. Jesus himself was loving and kind to all that sought him out, and even those that didn't, and the Saints, as true followers of Jesus, do exactly the same.

Blessed be!

May Day

Finally! Beltane has come! Whew!

April was such a hectic month, I barely had time to breathe. I'm hoping that May will give me time to relax, but I think as of right now I'm being optimistic.

I was really disappointed that I wasn't able to post more than once in April. I made a promise to myself that I would try to post on this blog more than twice per week, and I kept up nicely through January, February, and March. April totally fell through. But I guess life is like that sometimes.

Things are looking up, though. Lots of rain has brought the sweetest daffodils, tulips, and magnolia blossoms to the neighbourhood, and the local rabbits have finally come out of their winter hiding places to munch on the clover and grass. At least I assume that what they're eating. Nevertheless, they're still really cute!

My Beltane was not the grand celebration I thought it was going to be, but I had my small ritual and it was enough. I felt more introspective this year, so I read out a few passages from Scott Cunningham's Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner (just to mix things up a bit) and did a short meditation. I wish I had a coven to celebrate with, but this did just fine for me.

That's all for now.

Beltane blessings to everyone :)

Rebirth for April

I meant to post this a few weeks ago, but never found the time to do so until now. After waiting an extra two weeks, I finally did my Ostara ritual that I wrote myself (I was so proud). I had been reading through my numerous books on the Wheel of the Year, and decided to try and create a ritual that focused on being reborn with the spring season. The theme of rebirth is a very powerful one for me because I have gone through such a long transitional period the past year.

Last year, when I was moving back into Paganism and Wicca, Ostara was the first Sabbat I officially celebrated. So I wrote this year's ritual to sort of commemorate my coming full circle into the craft. I have now officially done a full year and a day, and I am so happy to be in this new spiritual place. I have moved through many levels of spirituality and I think I am more comfortable with being an eclectic now than I have ever been.

The month of April has quickly gone by this year, but the memories of my year and a day of learning about Pagan and Wiccan traditions will stay with me for years to come. I have been reborn with the spring.

Book Review: Buddha Tarot Companion

It's already been a more than few days since I've posted, and since April is pretty much upon us I wanted to get this book review out as my last post of the month. Unbelievable that it is already April....

So yes, on to The Buddha Tarot Companion by Robert M. Place.

First off, I would like to say that this is the first deck and book set that I have ever purchased from this artist and author. I have pretty high standards when it comes to books on Tarot, and this book totally blew my expectations out of the water. Mr. Place did more than examine and relate the Western concepts of the tarot to Eastern Buddhism, he went a step further and delved more into the roots of the tarot and how the ideologies of Plato and Pythagoras, Gnosticism, Hermeticism, Alchemy, and Tibetan Buddhism correlate with the standard Tarot deck symbolism that we know today and his new deck of the Buddha Tarot.
I am not entirely familiar with Gnostic and Hermetic teaching, but this book really gave me more of an explanation to what they are and has roused my interest into learning more about. As for Plato and Pythagoras, I am more than familiar with The Republic and other Classical Greek works, however Mr. Place also put these teachings in a new light for me as far as they related to the Tarot and its modern symbolism.

I really, really loved reading this book, and for its more than illuminating discourse into Buddhism symbology as well. I do not really practice Tibetan Buddhism, which has a very mystical side to it. I'd probably consider myself more of a Chinese Buddhist, something between the Chan (Zen) schools and Pure Land schools. But I'm just weird like that...

Anyways, in a nutshell, this would be a wonderful book for someone looking to understand the deeper meanings and history behind the Tarot, as well as someone that may want to better understand Tarot and Buddhist mysticism. The bottom line is, if you really love Buddha and the Tarot and have waited your whole life to see the two combined. Get this book and this Tarot deck. I'm more than happy that I did, and I know I learned more than a thing or two from reading this book alone.

Until next time, blessings and namaste.

Tarot Review: The Buddha Tarot

I was only recently blessed with being able to purchase this Tarot deck from Amazon at a very decent price. Having spent many years longing for Asian-themed Tarot decks and not liking any of the ones still available on the market (alas, the Ukiyo-e Tarot!) I was happy to come upon the Buddha Tarot. Being of the Buddhist-Witchy persuasion I could not pass up the golden opportunity to own this deck.

I did read a review of this deck before I took the lead of purchasing it sight unseen, not that I cared really. I got a good feeling from the review, and I was even more pleased after I was able to see the entire deck in my own hands.
The artwork is lovely, crisp lines with bright but not harsh colours, and so much Buddhist symbolism in the cards themselves. I was more than impressed. Robert Place did an excellent job recreating the journey of the Tarot with the story of Siddartha Gautama (whom most of us know as the Buddha) and his own journey to Buddhahood.

The Major Arcana is in the same order as traditional decks, but the cards have been renamed to represent the stages of understanding that led Siddartha to becoming the Buddha.

I love this deck. I'm not sure if I would use it for regular readings; maybe on the odd occasion or for spiritually-oriented spreads this deck might be better than a traditional deck. They give a few examples of spreads with the deck, I may try those out and see how they feel with my reading style.

Isn't tarot fun? I think so.

Stay tuned for the companion book review! Blessed be.

Making Prayers

Like most witches out there, I have a crafty streak. Not crafty as in cunning (though I can be when I want to), but crafty as in I like making stuff. My boyfriend thinks I'm nuts because I could easily drop a couple of hundred dollars at a craft store and spend an entire week just making things. I guess I don't need to mention he is not into making things....but I am.

If I could, I would even trying making clothes, but alas, my sewing technique is horrible.

Over the years I've made soaps, pottery, paintings, knitted items such as hats, scarves, mittens, baby blankets, and even some modelling clay altar items. So I like to make things. It's more a point of liking to work with my hands than a money issue. And I'm sure those of you that do the same amount of crafting know that you end up spending more making your own things than buying them. At least for me it works out that way.

Anyways, there came a time when I felt the need to pray in a Pagan way. I already had my mantras and Buddhist prayers, but I needed something more Pagan as a medium for my prayers. In came the wonderful YouTuber named the Moon Mother, and she really opened me up to using the rosary as a form of prayer.
I had never used a rosary before, but being a Catholic school girl I had seen them and knew what they were.
So I wanted to make my own. And I wanted it wire wrapped because I knew the technique already and had all the tools.

Off to Michael's I went, bought the appropriate supplies, and got started. My first rosary took ages, and it was very, very long, over 30 inches from top to bottom. I didn't really like it, and still had leftover beads, so I made another one. And another. And another.
I made 4 rosaries in one week, and I really liked doing it. So I bought more supplies to make more of them.

I know have made over 20 rosaries, and have yet to sell them. I would love to sell them on Etsy, and Ebay is also an option. I have no idea if a Catholic would buy a rosary from a Pagan, so I'll be keeping hush on that front.

Making those rosaries was the most wonderful experience. Doing each bead, one by one, designing which beads for the 'our father' and the 'hail Mary' beads, took me to a very calm state of mind. It was an active meditation and thoroughly enjoyable.
So yeah, I love making rosaries. My family thinks I'm crazy for making rosaries because I'm originally half Protestant and half Jewish, but I don't care. Rosary-making is fun.

Celebrating with the Hearth Goddesses

One thing I've learned throughout the years is that spring is truly the best time for cleaning. The freshness of the breeze and the warm sun are very good impetus for kick starting the cleaning process.
Open up a few windows, get a nice candle burning, and grab the broom and all-purpose cleaner. Right now we have fresh snow on the ground, but taking the time to bust out the elbow grease and make my space sparkle is still going to happen, snow or no snow.

Before the sweep'n'spray begins, I like to dedicate my cleaning efforts to a hearth Goddess. Anyone will do, but I especially like Hestia, the Grecian Goddess of the hearth and home.
Vesta, her Roman counterpart is good too, though I feel more attached to Hestia just because I feel she is more no-nonsense and gets down to business. None of the fancy stuff, just good hard work, if you get my drift.

I don't really say a prayer for Hestia-  in my mind she's not really conducive to ritualistic efforts. I just light a candle with her named carved into it and go, channeling her energies into my cleaning.
Sometimes I also put some lavender or rosemary essential oils in my oil burner for some fragrance, but it really depends where and how deep of a cleaning I'm doing. For kitchen cleaning its a definite yes, but places like the bedroom and study not so much.

So the next time you clean, I hope you'll trying channeling some Goddess energy into your cleaning. It makes the job so much easier you might not even notice you're having a bit of fun.

So much for out like a lamb...

I usually do not complain about things beyond my control, such as the weather. Yes, I do get a tad bit annoyed on days that I cannot go outside, but this winter has been pretty harsh, which made me not want to leave the house if I'm being totally honest.

Now I wrote in my previous post that Ostara was gloriously bright and sunny. It was. I honestly thought that winter was over.
Wrong! Winter is apparently not over. Since early Monday morning we've had snow. Lots of it. It did rain as well, which I guess was due to the temperature not being cold enough for snow.

Winter is still going. This year in my area March did not "come in like a lion". It came in like a snow monkey. And with the way things are going now, weather-wise, I have no doubt that it will go out like one, too. We did get a week or two of nice weather this March, but temperatures were still quite cold for this time of year.
Oh well, I guess that's what global warming will do.

It doesn't feel like spring is in the air today, and I still haven't done my Ostara ritual. I couldn't do it on Sunday night, so I thought I'd wait for Monday. Monday came with snow, and totally smothered my spring excitement.
I guess I'm just going to have to wait it out, or do with the snow. Sigh.

Happy Ostara Everyone!

Today is an absolutely beautiful day. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and all the plants have gotten shoots and leaves- seemingly overnight.

This Ostara could not honestly have come on a more glorious day. The air is still cool, but that spring freshness is definitely there.

To all my Pagan and non-Pagan friends, I wish you all the best for this spring season. As summer approaches, may your health be good (even if it already is), and may your allergies be few.

Take the opportunity today or sometime this week to walk outside and see the buds of springtime come alive.

Love and blessings!

Claddagh Love

Since yesterday was Saint Patrick's Day, I felt like writing about something related to Ireland, so I've chosen to write about the claddagh.

Named after an Irish fishing village, the claddagh has become a symbol of love and endurance for the Irish people. I am not Irish myself, but I've worn a claddagh ring on almost a daily basis since I was in 12th grade, which is now nearly 8 years ago. Boy, did I ever get older. But anyways, on to the ring.

The design of the ring is what first drew me to inquiring what it was. Noticing rings on the hands of several friends, I later looked up the meaning of the ring and why it was worn. Delighted with what I read about the history and symbolism behind the design, I looked online (as there was nowhere nearby to purchase such a ring) and bought one for myself. From then on a claddagh ring has been a permanent fixture on my right ring finger, and sometimes my left, depending on how I feel.

The symbolism behind this ring really resonated with me because I especially love wearing jewelry that has meaning to me. Personal significance makes jewelry so much more for me, and the claddagh ring was just perfect. It fit with me both emotionally and, in a way, spiritually.
I was in my last year of high school and taking my first journey into Wicca. I felt my life changing drastically, moving up another level of life, and so I wanted to have a token that I could look at to remind me of the steps I would be taking closer to adulthood and my own path.

The claddagh design is two hands holding a crowned heart, meaning love (heart), loyalty (crown), and fidelity (hands). At the time I found that claddagh rings existed, this symbolism really made sense to me as something I was lacking slightly in myself. I didn't have good self-esteem and had issues with my appearance (I still do), so I saw this ring as a message to my inner self about what I needed to bring into my life. I needed more self-love, to be loyal to my own thoughts and views of the world, and fidelity to finding my path in life and my own true self.

Looking back, I still need all those things in my life. My life is still changing and new steps are being taken everyday. My future is still ahead, with new things beginning and old things ending everyday. That is why I am still in love with the claddagh, and why that ring will still be on my fingers until they are wise with age.

I Need To Cheer Up- Let's Talk About Incense

After finishing my last post feeling quite depressed, I needed to lift my spirits. There are enough downers out there for everyone to get their fill and more of doom and gloom. So let's get happy (somewhat) and talk about incense.

I, for one, adore incense in almost all its forms. Except that weird powdered incense they sell in Botanicas. Not so into that.
I adore Japanese incense most of all; therefore, I will not even begin to start thinking about how the tsunami may have ruined the flow of my precious incense supply into the United States. Not going to think about that....no.
Thankfully, my incense drawer is *very* well-stocked, so there's no chance of running out for at least a year. But I certainly be buying more before then.

Anyways....on to the happy stuff

I've mostly tried the main brands that are available in America, such as Nippon Kodo, Shoyeido, and Baieido. I would love to branch out and find more obscure Japanese brands, and there are many places online to find those sought-after niche Japanese incense brands.

My favourite scents so far are: Shoyeido's Nokiba (softly gorgeous with lots of benzoin), Kyo-zakura (cherry blossom), Haku-un, and Mainichi Byakudankoh; nearly all of Nippon Kodo's Morning Star series, especially the lotus and amber fragrances; Baieido's Kobunbokku, an incense called Zuiun, made with aloeswood (which is amazing); Kokando Rangestsu; and finally Rei-ryoko.

I've also tried various American brands, as well as the famous Sai Baba's Nag Champa agarbatti from India. They were alright, highly fragranced and long burning as well. The only unfortunate thing about those types of incense is the overpowering smokiness of the wooden sticks. Japanese incense, being stickless and made from pure incense paste, is superior in that respect. There is no wooden core to burn off and release an unpleasant fragrance. However, Japanese incense, and Chinese incense as well, do not burn for very long periods of time compared with American/Indian incense sticks, and their respective fragrances are not as pungent. That can be a good or a bad thing, depending on how you wish to use your incense. Some prefer incense to sent the entire space, whilst others just wish for a hint of fragrance in the air to stimulate the senses. Which is why Japanese incense is wonderful for meditation. Some companies even make longer sticks that burn for one hour, the usual time of a Zen practitioners meditation session.

Chinese incense is also excellent, and there are a few varieties available online. Chinese sandalwood incenses are, in my opinion, the best smelling. Nothing beads a sandalwood incense coil from China, except the really expensive Japanese Junenko coils (but those are a bit too pricey for me at the moment).
I would love to try Korean incense, so that is on my "to-try" list as well.

Recently, I began a foray into the traditional method of incense burning- resins on a charcoal disk. That was a very interesting experience. It made me understand why that was the method of choice for most Pagans in their ritual practice. Resins, not only smelling very earthy and sensual, give off a lot of smoke, and do put one in a more focused state of mind. Just the act of sprinkling resins and herbs on a piece of burning charcoal feels ancient in itself, so there is a connection in that method with aligning ourselves with those gone before us as practitioners of the "Old Ways".

So that, is all I have to say right now on the matter. There's much more floating around in my head, but I don't have the stamina to get it all down in this post. At least I feel somewhat distracted from my worries at the moment, and I'm now off to look at the many websites I frequent to make note of my future incense purchases.

Love to all, and blessed be!

Paganism and Nuclear Engergy

I have always been against nuclear energy, even before I was Pagan. I felt that there was too much of a risk using such a dangerous substance to give us power. Yes, it is cleaner than petroleum, but look at the damage and devastation it causes when things go wrong. As a child, seeing pictures of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the bombing changed my perception of the human race somewhat. I knew wars had been fought in the past; that humans have died in combat for thousands of years if not more. But seeing pictures of the devastation and ruination of two cities that didn't even have the chance to go into combat, to be able to protect themselves from this force, was horrifying. Nothing can stop the power of unleashed nuclear energy. It destroys everything in it's wake and even afterwards it damages the delicate tissues of life. As a 10 year old I knew that. I knew deep in my heart that nuclear energy usage was wrong.

We are humans, and there is always room for error. Not one of us is perfect all the time, and considering the amount of information that we still do not entirely have about the world, our bodies, the universe- is it right to harness something so powerful that a few bombs created with it here and there could destroy all life on earth? No. There is nothing right about it, and there never will be.

Looking at the last 4 days of chaos happening in Japan, my heart bleeds for the Japanese people. What happened over half a century ago in Hiroshima and Nagasaki was more than enough for Japan and the world. And now, again, there is a threat to human life because of radiation released into the atmosphere. The diligent and immensly brave workers that have been at the plants exposing themselves to radiation to save the rest of the population from harm have my full support and more than my respect. They have my complete admiration and love.

With absolutely no disprespect to these brave people, did we not learn from Chernobyl? From Three-Mile Island? Why are we still doing this to ourselves? These question we need to ask, but to whom do we ask them to?

I hope Japan can heal from this horrible disaster. The power of nature can be both beautiful and horrific at the same time, and this is sadly is one of the more horrific times.

As a Pagan, I see even more the need to get humanity away from nuclear power. Yes, nuclear energy comes from the earth; uranium deposits are found in many places, including my own hometown. But there are so many other powerful forces that are found naturally as well. Air power, Water power, what of these? It is so easy these days to make hydroelectric power, and wind turbines are becoming more and more popular as energy makers. We even have solar power available.

The world is interconnected now more than ever. We cannot prevent global problems as much as we could hundreds of years ago. Isolation, for most of the world's population, is a thing of the past. So we must find healthier alternatives together, 'for the good of all' as we Pagans and Witches tend to say. For the good of all, we must help Japan come back to normalcy. For the good of all, we must band together and find new ways of keeping this lifestyle we have created for ourselves going. For the good of all, we must love each other and learn to agree to disagree.

I will continue to pray as I have and do what I can to help with this disaster. Japan is in my heart, just like it has been for the last 12 years. I spent some time growing up there, you see, and it is a part of me that I cannot separate from. What I know of my soul was formed there in the new experiences I had living in Japan. Being in Japan made me what I am today, and I am grateful for those life-changing experiences. Which is why seeing the carnage there now gives me a feeling of despair and sorrow to the core of my being. So pray with me for the Japanese in this, the hardest of times.

To Japan and everyone else on the planet, blessed be.

A Sad Day Has Come

In honour of the lost lives and damage inflicted by the earthquake and tsunami that suddenly hit Japan yesterday, I have written a prayer to the Bodhisattva Guanyin, or as the Japanese know her, Kannon.

Kannon, mother of compassion, bring the people of Japan comfort and guidance in this time of great need. Through destructive forces they have suffered so many losses, and need to find their way.

As the Bodhisattva of that hears the cries of the world, so shall you hear their sorrow and soothe it.

Help them find safety in the aftermath of this disaster, and lead those that have lost their lives to the higher realms of Buddha's Paradise.

那末观世音菩萨

Shrine to the Gods (and other Spirits)

Since I was already uploading pictures for my Ostara altar, I might as well bring my main altar/shrine out to show you guys.

Here it is in all it's glory....but the photo has been lost!

There are quite a few Buddha statues on there, Chinese-style and Thai-style, as well as Shou Xing (the Chinese deity of Immortality) , and Guanyin (three statues, one framed papercut). The flowers are fake, but I don't think the deities mind. I chose camellias because they fit in with the Asian theme; they look very Japanese.

In the lower left corner you can see the bell I found a few weeks ago at Marshall's, and my chalice comes from there too. $2.99, you can't beat that.

This was the only photo I took of it, but I will take some more tomorrow to give close up views. Everything on this altar looks so much better from close.

See you tomorrow!

Happiness is a burning candle...

On my Ostara altar!

Here are some pics to show you guys my Ostara altar, which was previously the spot where I was doing my tarot and oracle readings. Enjoy!

So this is my Ostara altar as of yesterday morning. It's one of the more simple altars I've made this year, but I love it. The colours are perfect for springtime, and just looking at it makes me happy. The bunny dish is from Michael's craft store, and I'm pretty sure it is made to hold candy, but I might use it to hold tea lights for my Ostara ritual. I love that it's shaped like a pentacle!

And this is that same table, but instead it has been set up for tarot readings. For anyone wondering, that's the Aquarian Tarot deck. I haven't met anyone else that owns the Aquarian Tarot; it seems to be one of the less popular tarot decks out there. But I think the retro illustrations are gorgeous. Plus, it matches the fabric I bought to use for the tablecloth. Not that I buy tarot decks to match my home decor *wink*.

Finally, just a little closeup of my fairy statue. I've had her for so many years- 15 at least. She definitely likes watching over my tarot readings. I really need to get into the fae. They're so cool.
I also keep a little pentacle I made from clay, for protection, and an amethyst point to bring psychic awareness. Can't do a good reading without a piece of amethyst somewhere.

Well, that's all for now folks. Blessed be!

Happy International Women's Day!

To all my female readers, be you mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, godmothers- celebrate your femininity today!

No matter where you live, what you do, or where you are going, women are a universal force in every aspect of life. Life itself comes from us, and we are the ones that bring forth the loving energy and motherly energy of the universe.

Celebrate today by doing something you love, feminine or otherwise. Get your nails done, do some gardening, do a spell for empowerment, give the women in your life hugs, spread love and kindness, go see a car show, watch some baseball....Whatever you love, do it and feel good doing it as a woman!

Blessed be, sisters around the world, and Goddess be with you.

It's Coming

Spring is fast approaching.

The weather today was cool and windy, but otherwise spectacularly sunny. There are a few small patches here and there of snow that will probably be melted by the end of today, and the birds are slowly returning to grace us with their morning chirps.

The sunset last night around 6 pm, so the days are really getting longer now. I'm so excited for spring. There is no better time to go outside and feel the energy of renewal all round you; the sky, the ground, the trees, even the rainy days have a vibration of newness and freshness to them. A washing away of the remnants of winter to bring the clear, bright spring days.

In response to this fresh energy, I have gone and refilled my bird feeders, swept outside the front door, and have set up out my simple Ostara altar. My spring cleaning is coming along nicely, and I want to get some sun catchers for my windows. My bedroom faces South, so I want to make the best of all that sunlight.

This evening, I will sit outside and watch the sunset. A day like this deserves at least that.

Enjoy the sunset wherever you are, too. These simple acts can be the most beautiful ones.

Blessed be.

Needing Some Balance

Okay, so I need to work on balancing my chakras. Badly.

I never think much of chakra work these days, but recently I ran into an issue with some strange dreams I've been having over the past few weeks. Very vivid and disturbing dreams, at that. After doing some extensive research I found a website that referenced a few alternative healing systems and ended up taking little quiz to determine whether my chakras needed balancing.
According to the test my lower chakras were totally under-active, and my third eye was way over-active. I read the information given according to the test results, and I was very surprised. The descriptions related to my test results fit exactly how I've been lately. My third eye is in over-drive and I feel like I'm seeing things everywhere. Between that and the messed up dreams, I am not a happy camper. Plus, I have no stamina at all and cannot get grounded. I tried meditating the other day and just couldn't get in the mood. I haven't had that happen in over two years.

There is definitely a problem here, so chakras, get ready for some balancing.

I've been doing research on stones that correspond the chakras, and I've thought about either making a bracelet or a necklace to wear. I'm start off by carrying some hematite on me as a worry stone. From what I have read, hematite is very good for grounding, so I'm going to keep that near me or the next few days. The jewelry-making can come later.

I also found a few chakra meditation videos on YouTube, so my plan is to use balance the lower chakras individually first, and then do an all-together chakra balancing. Maybe it will work, maybe it won't. I'll just have to try it and see.

Until next time, blessed be.

The Seed Moon

It is said that the month of March is a time to start sowing the seeds of coming harvest. Taking that into consideration, I began to think of all the ways that I could manifest new beginnings into my life this month. What can I do or concentrate my inner power on to create a fresh start in this month of March?

Having spent this past week contemplating things to do, I came up with two answers for myself.

Firstly, I want March to be a fresh start for myself. My life changed this past 12 months, and its still changing....Many good things have come from this new turn in my path, but there are other changes that still need to come. I spend most of my teenage years and early twenties cultivating my mind. Yes, education and study are important to me, but through all those years I neglected the rest of me. And that is the truth.
So I want this March to bring about a season of physical change, because I am in great need of physical change right now. Things are happening to me, health-wise, that I feel I cannot control because of the way I am physically. Bringing about changes in my physical health will give me more control over my body and the ability to treat it better through healthier living.

Secondly, since I began this blog in January I have been a roll of sorts. My journal is still pretty bare, but this blog is flourishing. Two nights ago it finally came to me- why my blog is doing so well while my journal has stayed pretty bare. I realized my impetus for writing comes from others. My blog is being read by other people, and my journal is not. Therein lies the difference! My Book of Shadows is, for me, not a journal. It's more of a reference book really. And that is why I like my blog. I can write things, and other people can read them. I was never one of those people that liked to write down things for their own benefit. I don't even write grocery lists if I don't have to. So I am making this blog my journal as of today. Yay.

So, back to my question of how to do make these things manifest? The journal issue is taken care of and in process. As for the physical cultivation? Well, for a start the weather is getting quite nice. I think it's time to start taking walks. Walking is good. As the ancients said, "A journey of a thousands miles starts with a single step". They knew what they were taking about in those days.

The month of March will be a single step. And so begins a thousand miles.

A word on Laozi and the Tao

I recently got back into reading about Daoism, or Taoism. For my own sake, I will be spelling it 'dao' instead of 'tao' because I hate the Wade-Giles system; it sucks.

So I have read the Dao de Jing many times before, and I got the underlying messages somewhat. It is a difficult philosophical text to understand, especially at the time I was reading. I had not yet visited China, and my understanding of Classical Chinese culture was more rudimentary then, so I didn't really absorb the writings of the Dao as much as I wanted to.
Since the new year began I wanted to get back to my 'roots', so to speak, and so I bought the entire Thomas Cleary anthology of Daoist texts. Four huge volumes of classic Daoist writings that cover topics like the Dao, to Daoist health advice, to the Daoist divination system (and I use that term loosely) the Yi Jing (or I-Ching as many know it). So my bookshelf is well-stocked now until the end of the summer.

I just finished reading the Dao de Jing last week, and I think I'm beginning to get it. The whole micro/macro-cosm of what the Chinese term the 'way'. Daoism really is a way. Perhaps not to live by, because not everyone wants to be a hermit living quietly at the top of a lone mountain with only the trees to keep them company. Or maybe they do?....but that is besides the point. I know that Dao is definitely about balance; not to over- or under- exert in any area of life, or spirit. It is about tactfulness and firm but flexible leadership. That may not make sense, but the Dao is full of contradictions. So is life, I might add.

Anyways, I love reading about classical Chinese philosophies, so I'm thrilled to the gills with my books.

P.S. Thomas Cleary is an amazing author and translator **love**.

Weeds For Health?

I recently discovered that the humongous weeds that grow in my backyard during the summer are not what I thought they were. My first impression was that they were huge stalks of some type of flowering yellow weed, and totally useless. Turns out that these gigantic stalks are actually mullein growing my in backyard naturally. And we thought it was just a huge, useless weed!

Mullein, from my research, is a type of plant that has been used in medicinal herbalism and magickal herbalism for a very long time. Mullein, traditionally, can be used for respiratory ailments (which I myself suffer from), and magickally, it is known to protect against evil spirits. According to witchipedia.com, mullein is ruled by the planet Mercury or Saturn (depending on who's grimoire is being referenced) and is associated with the element of Fire (my element, yay). It is feminine in nature and associated with the God Jupiter. Powdered mullein can also be used in spells and rituals that require the use of graveyard dirt, hence it's other alias, Graveyard Dirt. Interesting, or should I say conflicting, associations, but that's the information I was able to find online.

I'm very impressed that there are many stalks of mullein growing quite healthy in my backyard during the summer months. Harvesting is certainly going to happen this summer. We never spray our lawn with anything, so I think it would be okay to harvest the plants that will be growing outside this summer. I may even try ticturing it, but that's a big maybe. I have just begun getting into herbalism, so if I find any other interesting plants growing outside I will most definitely blog about it!

The Amazing Properties of Coconut Oil

So it's Monday, the day before the beginning of March, and I thought I would blog about something different for a change.

Just like anyone else, I am more than my spiritual path. I love and enjoy doing so many other things; that's why my hobbies are all over the place most of time. However, the one things that stands out among all my hobbies is that I like to make my own natural skincare treatments, like facial cleansers, toners, masks, cleansing oils, facial moisturisers, soaps, shower gel, perfumes...You name it, I've probably tried to make my own natural (or at least more natural) version of it.

In the past year I discovered the amazing moisturising properties of coconut oil. I started off by using it as a deep conditioning treatment for my hair and a cleansing oil. It works pretty well with my hair type (fine, oily, damaged), but after experimenting with olive oil I had better results. I also had better results with olive oil as a cleansing oil for my face. I don't know why, but olive oil just gets the circulation flowing in my face and guck out of my pores like nothing else.
But the one thing coconut oil cannot be beat for: skin moisturising. I use it for my cuticles, hands, elbows, knees, arms, and legs. No body lotion I have ever used comes close to the softening and moisturising capabilities of this oil, and I have used and tried dozens of them over the years. Not to mention the fact that coconut oil absorbs very fast compared to other carrier oils, like sweet almond or olive oil, and feels less greasy on the skin. All pluses in my humble opinion; and I am very opinionated when it comes to the beauty/cosmetic products I use.

If you're going to try coconut oil as a moisturiser, I recommend the cold-pressed virgin variety. Refined versions are okay, but the most benefits come from using non-refined virgin coconut oil. I will say, however, if you're not a fan of the smell of coconut, refined coconut oil may be better. Virgin coconut oil has a very sweet, coconut scent. I think its fantastic and wished the scent lasted longer on my skin, but I know there are some people out there that cannot stand to smell or taste coconut. It just means for virgin coconut oil for me!
*Wink*
I'm just kidding, but I do think that anyone that wants a natural alternative for body or face moisturising should try a small jar. Virgin coconut oil is a bit on the expensive side, but one jar will last you months, if not over a year. Just a small amount of coconut oil will cover quite a bit if skin, so it lasts and lasts. I've been using my current jar for about 5 months and am only about 1/3 way through the jar. Much more economical than a body lotion or cream with tons of unnecessary chemical preservatives and silicones that will only last 2 or 3 months with daily use. Coconut oil naturally has a very long shelf life, and can last ages with proper storage. No preservatives or chemicals needed. And depending on your skin type, coconut oil can even be used as a facial moisturiser. I, myself, have oily, breakout prone skin, and I have used coconut oil as a face moisturiser in a pinch. It absorbs the fastest on just-out-of-the-shower damp skin; just a mist of toner and a tiny dab rubbed in the palm of hands will sink in no problem.

Coconut oil is sold in most grocery stores now, even the cold-pressed kind, so find a jar and try it out. I think most people would not be dissapointed with it as a natural alternative to the body lotions ad creams out there.

Until next time, blessed be, and have a great week.

Spirit Guides

When I first heard the term 'spirit guide' my first thought was to dismiss the idea. This was before I really began to explore my inner-self, as I was plagued with more than enough self-doubt at the time. I felt that even if they did exist in some metaphysical form, there was no way possible that I could have one.
The more I delved into my current practice, the more I wanted to discover my spirit guides. I finally found an excellent video by a wonderful Youtuber named momcalzmesheri (thank you, Cricketsong!), which was a guided meditation designed to help meet one's spirit guide/guides. That meditation finally helped me break through to my guides.

My guide was not exactly what I had expected, but intuitively I knew that spirit guides are not always what we want, they can be what we need at that moment in time, and I needed my spirit guide as they appeared to me at that time. I'm not going to say much about my spirit guide, but I will say that it was an older man, and his name was Emanuel. I'm very interested in the meaning of names, and I looked up the meaning of his name after my meditation that night. I discovered that his name meant,"God is with us". I thought that was a very interesting coincidence.

The entire experience of doing the guided meditation was very transformational. I used that meditation many times in the beginning to see if I could find any other spirit guides, but Emanuel was the only one that really came to me. One time doing this meditation, however, Guanyin appeared to me and gave me a message; I needed that message very badly. I guess Guanyin had come to me as a spirit guide for the period of suffering I was going through. Her appearance made sense to me because she is with me all the time as my matron Goddess. I have so many images of Guanyin in my home and my sacred space; she just permeates my life, so it was only a matter of time that she appeared as a spirit guide.

I love both of my spirit guides, and I feel that they are with me for a purpose. That purpose is not really known to me yet, but in the case of Guanyin, she is here on this earthly plane to guide everyone towards enlightment. As one of the special few that feel a deeper connection to her, and I am thankful for all the experiences she has given me since I first encountered her many years ago in Japan.

Until next time, blessed be and Guanyin be with you.

Last You-Pick Wednesday Post, I Promise

Having the You-Pick Wednesday poll was fun, but I think it ran it's course. Don't worry though, it was fun while it lasted.
There is just not enough traffic here to get the votes in, and to be honest, I think it is a bit too much pressure on you readers out there. It's hard enough to just follow a blog, let alone decide what posts should be about once a week. That's my job *wink*.

So I'm taking down the YPW today, but I'll bring it back out for a special occasion. A little Yule present to my blog readers, perhaps? I'll be thinking about it.

Until next post, blessed be!

Oracle Cards

I wanted to get this up for a while now, but certain things got in the way, and by that I mean life and free time had a bit of a conflict. Oh well. On to the Oracle decks!

Only within the last few months have I gotten into Oracle decks, so my experience with them is relatively new.
I own three decks at this point (though I would love to add to the collection), they are the Victorian Flower Oracle by Baba Studio, Healing with Archangel Michael by Doreen Virtue, and the Astrological Oracle deck by Lo Scarabeo. I haven't been using the Astrological Oracle very much since I purchased it. The artwork is in the beautiful Art Nouveau style, which I love to look at, but I am not comfortable using it at the moment because I do not know enough about astrology. I'm looking to learn more about astrology and astrological correspondences, so I will be using this deck at some point in the future.

I do use my other two Oracle decks on a regular basis. I use them both on their own, as an Oracle deck, and also as an add-on to my Tarot readings. I like how Oracle cards can supplement my readings, especially when used as a 'message from higher self' indicator card. Using an extra card can be a supplement to the entire reading, like a summation of what the cards are trying to say. The Victorian Flower Oracle is especially helpful in that respect. I have used that oracle deck in many readings as an overall 'theme' or 'mood' card, and it has been spot on each time.
Healing with Archangel Michael is a bit harder to use that way, but it is okay as a 'message' card. I've only used it for my own readings at this point, but I think it would be helpful for anyones reading since Angel cards are usually accepted as a positive energy.

That's all I have for now. In the future I may revisit this topic because I love cards, and there are many more Oracle decks out there to discover. Blessed be!

You-Pick Wednesday

Excuse the lateness for posting this week's YPW. I've been a busy bee all week! So I will be posting tomorrow the topics.
I say topics because...we had a tie! Whoohoo.

So I will do a post on both Oracle cards and Spirit Guides and have them up for sometime tomorrow.

Stay tuned :)

Myself and Plastic Surgery

Yesterday I had a very interesting experience with plastic surgery. No, I did not get any, nor did the people I was with, which was the funny part. I tagged along as a designated driver for the post-op trip home, but the surgery did not happen because of the person taking an aspirin the night before. Not intentionally, but the surgery was cancelled out of bleeding-related dangers. Which is understandable and expected.

However, being in that situation got me thinking about being on the path I am and how that relates to the subject of plastic surgery. Personally, I would be too scared to get surgery of any kind unless it was absolutely necessary to my survival, so I would opt for these kind of procedures. As a pagan, someone that should be accepting of nature and part of nature in a holistic way, both externally and internally, human, animal, mineral, vegetable...does that mean we are inherently against plastic surgery? I am not sure of my stance on this at the moment, but I'm sure it will come back again as a topic.
Why, just today, funnily enough, a Youtuber named Shazzybpear (check her out, she's awesome) made a vlog on this actual topic, which kind of freaked me out because of her timing, but it was very interesting to listen to.

So for those of your following this blog, what are your opinions on it? I would love to hear more views on the topic, so don't be shy to comment.

Blessed be.

The Bracelet Miracle

Something amazing happened less than an hour ago. I finally took off my bracelet.
That doesn't really sound profound, but it is. I'll explain.

I had bought a Jade bangle over a year ago, and unfortunately it was a tad to small to get on. I wanted to wear it so badly because it was so beautiful and colorful, delicate looking...I thought it was perfect and I had to have it on my wrist.
So one night, in the middle of October, I spent hours trying to force it on my hand. Finally, a miracle in itself at the time, after hours and hours of praying and wishing that it would go on and my hand red and sore, it slipped on effortlessly. At the time that was like a miracle also.

So there I was, happy as heck to have this bracelet I wanted to wear so badly hanging of my wrist and looking so pretty, and then I made a scary discovery. What goes on apparently does not come off. It was stuck on my wrist for over 4 months. Day and night, 24/7. I tried so many times to take it off, but even full of soap the bracelet would just not come off. Nada, not even a budge. Until 10-something pm this evening. Finally, after 4 months, it came off. In fact, it came off almost as effortlessly as it went on in mid-October.

Now I am one of those people that believes in karma and that things happen for a reason. Tonight I feel that my bracelet came off as it did because I was ready for it to come off.

My heart is telling me that this experience was meant to teach me something. Perhaps that is the Buddhist part of me coming out. My first thought was this is a lesson in suffering I had to learn. Not a terrible lesson, but a lesson nonetheless.
I had suffered with the desire to have the bracelet on my hand so much that it had overcome me. I tried every day for two weeks to get it on. After I got it on my hand I was happy for about 30 minutes, and then in horror I nearly cried when nothing would take it off. I had to suffer until I got it on and fulfilled my desire, and then I had to suffer after I realized it was stuck on my hand perhaps for good. A bit of a hard lesson to swallow after the fact.

But I think tonight the powers that be decided had I learned enough, and I was in a better, more accepting place, and for that I am thankful. Something told me it was time to try taking it off again, and I'm glad I listened to my inner feeling. Or, as the famous Charming Pixie Flora would say, my 'inner bell'. It rang loud and clear tonight.

So I have learned my lesson about desire and suffering, and Lord Buddha was right. Desire is the cause of all suffering, and the only way out of suffering is to let go of desire.

I let go of desire, and now I am free. Well, my wrist is.

My experience with the Tarot

I love Tarot cards. There was always a strong connection between myself and the Tarot, even before I actually  understood what it was.
I was first introduced to Tarot at the age of 11 or 12. I walked past a very small display of decks in a toy store that I frequently went to with my family. It was the artwork on the box that first caught my eye, and after a closer examination of their box I wanted them immediately. The first deck I ever saw was the Rider-Waite, and to this day I still have it and use it on a regular basis.  I am always very delicate with my cards, keep them wrapped up and in a safe place, so they still look brand new, despite being over 14 years old.

Of course, when I first had my Tarot deck, I had no idea what to do with it. I mostly spent my time looking at the artwork on each card. It was really more of an artifact than a tool at that point in my life. I did read, and re-read numerous times, the little booklet that came with the deck, but I never really used my deck for divination. Every so often, I would take out a random card and the little booklet to see what it meant, but that was the extent of my Tarot deck use. Inwardly, I felt that I was not mature enough to use the Tarot on a regular basis. Like I said, it was more of a sacred item to me, and just having it was special enough. That was in 1995 or '96.
Fast forward to 2002, when I began my first journey into Wicca. It was the first time I seriously took out my Tarot deck with the intent to learn the cards and divine with them. That was the beginning of what has become a regular part of my life and interests.

Aside from the Rider-Waite, I also own the Aquarian Tarot and the Botticelli Tarot decks. I only bought the Botticelli deck out of my admiration of Botticelli's art, so I do not think it will ever be used for more than a few times a year, when I am in the mood for it.

All three decks that I have are very beautiful and resonate well with me, though I sometimes feel that having three decks is a bit of an extravagance. I am very picky about the decks I use, you see, especially when I will be reading for others. I will use only the Rider-Waite if reading for someone other than myself. For myself, I go back and forth between the Aquarian and Rider-Waite. However, if I'm doing a particularly large spread I will use the Rider-Waite, just because I know the cards so well. That way I can gauge a large reading in a few glances, as opposed to spending more time looking that cards whose artwork I am less familiar with.

That's all I have the stamina to write about at the moment. This is probably going to be a two or three-part post, so stayed tuned. Blessed be.

Interesting Finds

I was in a local Marshall's store yesterday. I woke up with this feeling that I had to go there and take a look. Later in the day I decided to go because I hadn't been shopping there for quite awhile and you never really know what you're going to chance upon in their store. Many times in the past, I just happened to find very interesting things for decorating or to use in my craft, so I like going there every once and a while to see what I can find.

Anyways, I got there in the early afternoon, and while strolling through the housewares isles, I found, tucked away in a corner...a whole bunch of huge bells. Never in a million years did I expect to find bells at a local store. I was ecstatic! Of course I had to buy one.

I had this feeling all day that I should go there and take a look, and my gut feeling was right! How awesome was that? I am so happy that I trusted my intuition, because I had been looking online for a bell to use in ritual for ages now. I actually have a very small one I bought over a year ago, but the sound it makes it too soft and high-pitched, and on occasion the hammer gets stuck. Kills my concentration every time.

The bell I purchased is very big, more than I wanted it to be, but that's okay. The sound it makes it just perfect, not to loud or high pitched, and the sound vibrates after the bell has rung, which is important to me because I would like to use it to create sacred space and call the quarters.
The next time I get a feeling about going to Marshall's I will certainly be heading there. I may find something even better the next time 'round!

Who's the BOS?

BOS stands for Book of Shadows. And yes, I now have one in progress.

To be brutally honest, deciding to create a Book of Shadows was one of the hardest decisions I had to make. Even as a young child I loved the idea of keeping a journal to record my thoughts and daily experiences, but it never really happened until now, at the ripe old age of 26. If you knew how many journal-type books I bought, wrote my name on the inside cover, and then never used again you might be surprised, or not. Apparently I am not the only one that has experienced this. But that was my entire journal-writing experience up until about 7 or 8 months ago, to be conservative. More like 6 months really, if you take being serious about it into consideration.

The idea of writing down everything by hand into a beautiful bound book made for nice day dreams, but I had to be realistic about it. For starters, I will be the first to admit that my hand writing is atrocious, and I'm not even joking. Fast-paced note-taking is a nightmare for me; I can't even read my notes afterwards. Talk about self-defeating. Secondly, I am all about reference, so I must have my pages grouped together in a certain order, or else I wouldn't even use my BOS. Therefore the notion of a romantic, handwritten account of my journey, spells, rituals, correspondences, herbs, what have you...was completely out of the question. Here steps in the wonderfully practical, and utilitarian, three-ring binder with about 100 clear sheet protectors. Now we're talking business.

I know the idea of word processing a BOS does not appeal to everyone, and some would even say that it takes away from the personal  power put into the book by handwriting all your entries. Yet, I think there is merit in having your BOS word processed and backed up, just in case a rogue candle sets your book on fire during ritual, or that odd leaky ballpoint decides to finally let go of its last few drops of ink all over your pages.

So for those of you out there that feel you can't have a Book of Shadow because the connection isn't there, or you don't have the stamina to get out that pencil or pen and write, it's okay. Take your time. The moment will come when it is meant to. Perhaps it hasn't come because you were not meant to have a BOS, which some practitioners don't. There is nothing wrong with not having a BOS. And if you are meant to have one, you will come to find out the best method of putting it together. Bound and handwritten, or binder-full of sheet protectors, or any other method that strikes you as correct , are all equally as beautiful and poignantly done as the rest. Your BOS is your own book, and as they say, follow your truth and do what is right for you.

Blessed be, and may your shadows fill books to the brim.

Ostara Haul!

Like many others on the Pagan/Wiccan path, I do love my altars, and decorating them is often times more fun than displaying them.

Last year I did not have an Ostara altar because I just did not have the space or time, so this year I wanted to go all out and make the prettiest altar I could. Partly because I love the spring/Easter season, and partly because I cannot wait for spring to come again. Despite being hit by quite a harsh winter, the snow where I am is melting slowly but surely, the sun is getting stronger and longer by the day, and there is a definite scent of spring in the air. So off to Michael's craft store I went, and I have to agree with a certain fellow blogger and vlogger that Michael's is more than deserving of the title "un-official witchy store". I could honestly go mad looking at all the craft supplies in that store and have an imagination meltdown thinking of all the lovely things I could make. And no, I am not in any way, shape, or form affiliated with them. I do, however, spend an unholy amount of money each time I go there, but that is neither here nor there.

Anyways, aside from the craft items they do carry seasonal items. All the Easter items were out, making things incredibly difficult to choose from, but I finally picked out a cute little mercury-glass votive candle holder with little birds on it, and a super adorable egg/candy holder dish with the sweetest little rabbit in the middle. I loved that it had five spaces on the dish, that way I can use it in place of a pentacle on the Sabbat. Hurray for me! I also found these fuzzy fabric eggs with a string to hang up, so I may place those on the fake flowers in my altar vase, like an Ostara tree if you will.

Not a big haul, but I have plenty of time to find other things to add to my altar. If I find wooden eggs I will certainly paint and lacquer them! That way I have Ostara egg decorations for many years to come. That would be very nice indeed.

My Altar

For most pagans, the altar is the center of our practice and a symbolic representation of our individual spiritual path. No altars look alike, just as no pagan path is exactly the same. Even within a coven, no one person will have the same experience as any of the other people within the circle. So the altar holds its place as both a spiritual sanctuary and a direct link to magick and our deities.

My altar has always been a special place for me to go because it gives me comfort and peace in my everyday life. A little nook of my own, to relax and soothe away the inner and outer disturbances that come with existing in this world. Not to mention, I like a good decorating gig when I see one. And so my altar is born, and reborn, throughout the Sabbats and Esbats that pass through the year.

With the exception of the Sabbats, I always have two small statues on my altar, Guanyin and Amitabha. For me they represent both the male and female sides of deity, on earth and above it. Guanyin represents the deity that exists on earth to help show us the way to enlightenment, and the energy of loving compassion. Amitabha is a representation of full enlightment and peaceful energy. They do not necessarily represent the God and the Goddess, but sometimes they do. It just depends on what I'm doing on my altar at the time. For the most part, the God and Goddess are represented by two candles on my altar, because I feel that Guanyin and Amitabha are separate entities from the God and Goddess. They are Buddha and Bodhisattva, which is different from God and Goddess.
I also like to keep a vase of (fake) flowers on my altar, incense, a red votive candle, and two small dishes of crystals/stones and water.  These not only act as offerings to my deities, but also as representations of the elements earth, air, fire, and water.
Outside Sabbats and Esbats I like to keep the items on my altar to a minimum. I only have a small end-table to work with, so space is a bit precious. As for crystals, I personally love any kind of quartz, so I keep a good-sized quartz point and rose quartz puffy heart on my altar. Clear quartz amplifies energy, so I feel that having a rose quartz and clear quartz together brings more love and calmness into my space. It's also part of my personal fengshui as well.

I love my altar, and I'm lucky to be able to display it freely in my space. I know there are many pagans and Wiccans that do not have the luxury of having their altar out all the time, and I am very thankful that I am in a position to do so.

I did take photos, but they will be up later in the week. For now, blessed be and namaste.

You-Pick Wednesday

I have decided to make my polls an ongoing thing. The way it works is the most voted-for blog topic will be posted each Wednesday as my blog topic for that day. I've decided to call this "You-Pick Wednesday", because I think it is nice to have my readers involved with what I'm blogging about, because they are the reason why I blog. I will have a poll on my blog page with different topics to choose from, and within those broad topics I will choose something specific to blog about. For example, if next week's chosen topic is 'Herbs', I will pick a specific herb to blog about, such as Mugwort. If the topic is "Kitchen Gods", I will pick a kitchen or hearth-related Goddess or God to blog about, such as Hestia or Zao Shen.

The poll from last week has closed, and the majority of the votes were for blogging about my current altar, so sometime this week I will have a blog post about my altar and I will be showing pictures of it for everyone to see. I'm going to try to post for Wednesday, February 9th, but that may or may not happen. I'm hopeful I will get the blog post up in time, but the pictures might only appear later in the week. Depending on how well it goes with my digital camera, I may even upload a video of my altar on my Youtube channel as well. We'll see what happens.

Many blessings and thanks to everyone that voted last week, and I will be putting up another poll for next week's "You-Pick Wednesday" soon.

Shields Up

Yesterday, I was chewed out by one of my family members regarding the fact that I do witchcraft. They went on and on about how I was a weirdo, and that what I believed in made no sense.
Now I respect their opinion about what I do in my life, and I understand their reasons for feeling this way about something they neither understand nor accept. However, just because I am a peaceful, non-confrontational Pagan does not mean that I am going to sit there and allow myself to absorb the negativity they are directing at me, instead of deflecting it away from myself. Yes, what they said did bother me for awhile, but not as much as it would have without my psychic shield. And so this experience got me to thinking about psychic shields and protection,

To me, a psychic shield is not only protection from someone sending out negative energy accidentally, but also for people sending out negative energy around you and towards you. I feel this way because in my life I am constantly surrounded by negative people that happen to clash a lot, most definitely on a daily basis. So being in the middle of this kind of energy all the time not only puts me in a difficult position to go about daily life in, but also makes it very difficult for me to concentrate on meditation, magickal workings, or anything I may be doing, such as writing this blog, for example. Basically, I find it hard to be a spiritual person in everyday life when I am faced with this onslaught of unending negativity all the time. Plus it drains me emotionally to the point where I feel depressed and upset. So I need my psychic shields up and ready at all times.  

Now I haven't actually read any books going in depth on the subject. My knowledge of shields comes from the small sections I've read in 101 books on Wicca or Witchcraft, and from some information I've gleaned off the internet. Therefore my expertise in putting up and using shields has come mostly from my own personal experience than techniques I learned from a book.

At first try, I found that my shield did not work as much as I wanted it to. I think I had set my hopes a bit too high for the first try, not to mention that I hadn't practiced enough visualization before putting my shield into action. I would say it took me about two months before my shield became effective enough to truly feel a difference after a negativity attack. Nowadays I have no problem with visualizing my shield, and I can put it up at a moments notice whenever I need to.

I'm not going to say how I visualize my psychic shield because there are so many ways to visualize a psychic shield. Instead, I urge everyone to experiment and find out what works best for them when they are faced with difficult energies. On that note I would like to say that having my shield as protection from negativity has made my life so much better. I don't think I can go back to not using one now. Negativity, for me, is very harsh energy, and my emotional psyche has become very scarred over the years because of it. A psychic shield has become a permanent fixture in my waking hours, and it has definitely made me a stronger person on the inside and outside.

Negativity will always follow someone on a different path and for those of us that are more sensitive to these energies, shields can be a valuable source of protection and comfort.

Do You Mantra?

I do.

As a long-time admirer of Buddhist prayer beads, I started adding mantras to my life over two years ago, almost three now.
My first experience with mantras did not actually involve mantras at all. Originally I fell head over heels in love with Japanese prayer beads. That is what really started it all.

I first saw them at a Japanese Buddhist temple when I was a child.They were so beautiful. Many were made from Swarovski crystal beads with gorgeous tassels hanging from them, and they glittered in the sun like jewels. All the refined women at the temple would have their beads in hand while they offered prayers at the temple, and I wanted to be like that. Stylish and devout. At the time I thought what could be better than that? So my quest to procure these prayer beads began. I finally bought my first mala (the Japanese call them o-juzu) a few years later while in Nagano, Japan. Sadly, they were lost in a move, and I have missed them ever since.

Nearly a decade later I went to China to study abroad, and it was there that my love of Buddhism was totally renewed, and so I bought another mala at a night market. Not as pretty or flashy as my first mala, but there is a refined elegance in wooden malas that crystal malas just can't compare to. So I had a replacement, and that is when I began using my mala for meditation and doing mantras.

To explain, a mantra is a phrase that, through repetition, can calm, motivate, or inspire specific thoughts or intentions. In Buddhism there are many mantras, and for the most part each mantra is attributed to a specific Buddha, Bodhisattva, or deity.
For example, the most famous mantra is "Om Mani Padme Hum". This is the mantra of Avalokitesvara, or his Chinese female counterpart, Guanyin. It is Sanskrit for, "all hail the jewel in the lotus". The 'jewel in the lotus' being the Buddha himself. Even the syllable "Om", which does not stand for a word, can be repeated as a mantra.
I personally do not stick to one mantra all the time during my meditation or relaxation work. I tend to choose one depending on how I feel at that moment.

You can also create your own mantras to suit your practice or meditation. For example, a few months ago I wrote my own mantra to inspire dreams about my tarot readings. I had amazing dreams each time I repeated the mantra before I fell asleep, and have used this mantra many times since.

On a daily basis, saying mantras has become my bedtime ritual. I bring my mala bracelet, or wrist mala, to bed with me and repeat my chosen mantra 108 times (an auspicious number in Buddhism) or until I fall asleep. This nightly practice helps me fall into a deep sleep almost every night, and has also warded off many nights of insomnia.
I have also used mantras during ritual meditations, and as a prayer to certain Buddhist deities.

So I urge everyone, especially those inclined to Buddhist practices, to use mantra in their spiritual practice. It can be greatly beneficial to the mind and the soul of anyone wishing to gain more peace and serenity in their life, or to strengthen their intentions for rituals and spellwork of any kind.

My Tenets

I believe in the Goddess and God, and that they are both equal and opposites halves of the same whole.
I believe that Buddhism can lead to enlightenment.
I believe in reincarnation.
I believe that love really conquers all.
I believe in equal rights for men and women.
I believe that life was meant for living.
I believe that the Buddhas and the Bodhisattvas can lead us to the right path.
I believe in the power of nature and the healing power of plants.
I believe in the Tao.
I believe in magick.

Happy Chinese New Year!

I want to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous Chinese New Year 2011.

This year is the Year of the Metal, or Golden, Rabbit. For all those born on a Rabbit year, I urge you to wear red clothing, red coloured jewelry or stones, or even red underwear, as often as you can this year. To the Chinese, the colour red is a very lucky and auspicious colour, so Rabbits should take full advantage to have the luckiest year possible!

Connecting

Today is Imbolg and sure enough, the heart of winter has come through in full force. An ice storm to top off already too much snow brought my part of the world to a standstill, with no electrical power in my neighbourhood for about four hours or so earlier in the day.  So here there I was, thanking the Gods that my eagerness drove me to make my Imbolg candles in advance, which helped a lot in the greyness of the day while we were without power. I also made a honey cake in advance (thanks Charming Pixie Flora!), so I had something sweet to enjoy whilst waiting for the electricity to come back.

As I sat there burning my Archangel Michael candle and eating my cake, I was thinking about two things: February and connections. The two may not seem to be related at first, but I will explain.
The coming of February has brought me closer to so many things, namely the Goddess Brigid, my Book of Shadows, my journal writing(both online and off), my new Youtube channel, and a deepening comfort in my practice. But February is not just for material connections, it is about connecting to people as well. I want it to be about connecting to people, like the pagan community at large. The Youtube pagan community especially, just because they are all so special to me, and have helped me so much in my practice and in finding my true inner spirit. Connecting with people has definitely been something missing in my life for a few years now, because of my moving around and studying abroad, and I really want that back. To be able to communicate with others about my experiences and feelings and inner most thoughts and opinions is important to me. That is also why I created this blog; to connect and be connected.

So as February moves along, so will I with my connections to others, my path, and the coming spring.

Happy Imbolg!

Hi everyone! I wish you all a very blessed Imbolg , and I hope that the weather wherever you are is better than the weather I've had today!

In Brigid's honor I would like to post this blessing called "The Caim of Bride" from brigitsforge.co.uk :

Be the compassing of Bride around me
Keeping me from ill and evil,
Keeping me from death and doom,
From malice and misfortune.
Be the fiery sword of Bride
Defending me from all black swarms. 

Be the shield of blessed Bride
Protecting me from all sharp edges.
Be the cloak of gentle Bride
Encircling me.

Be the compassing of Bride around me,
Keeping me from hurt and harm,
Keeping me from wound and woe,
From darkness and despair.

Be the compassing of Bride around me
This day and every day,
This night and every night.

Blessed be!