I was thinking about deleting this blog but have decided against it. I'm sorry I've been away for almost a month but I've finally managed to get a job, still in school, and life has been going pretty quickly. I am going to start updating again soon so check back!

Le sigh

I am sorry to have been away for a few days but I didn't do the love spell. My love life was generally shredded apart and I am picking up the mess as I type. I've been a busy bee recently and am once again running out of things to blog about. *Sighs*

Eclipse and Yule

Happy Yule everyone! Did anyone watch the eclipse this morning? I did and got a few pictures. :]

A Pagan Child's Alphabet

is Athame, the knife that we use.
is for Beltaine, when partners we choose.
C is for Circle where we all are one.
is for Deosil, path of the Sun.
is for Esbat, when we gather round.
is for Fire and its crackling sound.
is for the Goddess in beauty and love.
is for the Horned One, our Father of above.
is for Imbolg, candles light the way,
is for June when it's Midsummer's Day.
is for Karma, the things that we do.
is for Lammas, harvest's almost through!
is for Moon, riding way up so high,
is for Nighttime, which darkens the sky.
is for Ostara, when we hunt for eggs,
is for Pan, with hairy goat legs.
is the Quarters and there are just four,
is for the Rites when we open the Door.
is for Samhain, end of the year,
is for Tarot cards, futures to hear
is Undines from the watery West,
is Vervain for protection and rest.
is Widdershins, the path of the moon.
is the sign that's the sign of the God.
is for Yule and the sun's return,
is the Zodiac, 12 signs to learn.
 
Copyright 1989, Breid Foxsong

Prosperity Tea

I tried one of the teas that I have for sale after finally getting a mesh tea ball. It was very good and so far I've made two mugs. We shall see if it actually brings me prosperity...to help it along I've sent in another application and am going up to the store tomorrow to talk to someone.

List of Herbs in the tea:
Black Tea
Pennyroyal
Parsley
Basil
Meadow-sweet
Sage
Clover
Mistletoe
Rosehips

Maybe someone who knows herbs can tell me why mistletoe is included..I thought it was poisonous.

Ritual

I had a question that I posted on witchforum.net "What do you do before you begin a ritual? Is it something different for Esbats, Sabbats, and just regular workings or do you do the same thing every time?"

Here are some answers I've received

Vakanai said: "I haven't done a ritual yet, but I think I'd do the basic steps I do for meditation or just getting my mind silent, focused, and in the right kind of state for doing something important. Get my posture good, back straight, shoulders back, head straight. Clear my head and relax. Breath deep and regular. I usually imagine myself walking down stairs, 21 steps, counting backwards from 21 (I got it from a book, Psi-Kinetic Power; it really does get my mind to a bit of a deeper place than usual). I'm trying to get in the habit of shielding and grounding/centering as well. Pretty basic."

Snowdog said: "I will ground and center then meditate, I'll ask the goddess and god to to be with me as well as my spirit guides and totems for guidance. I then meditate in the void until the circle is cleansed and altar consecrated. We do ritual with our coven so if I am helping our HP to cleanse and consecrate I will meditate a few miutes before we start. The important thing is to forget everything that has happened or is going to happen in the world and focus your energy and mind to the ritual. I think of it as trying to have a conversation with someone with the television on that has a show running that I am interested in, you can't concentrate and give 100% of your attention to that person. Turn the TV off, clear your mind of drama and focus on the important things."

 Ken Ra said: "The day of the ritual I schedule for low stress. Meals are easy to eat foods, enough to fill but not stuff me. I will have a shower with baking soda salt and Myrrh. I will check and prep my working space.  Then I will tighten my courage and jump into the ritual."

What do you do before a ritual?

My new notebook

Just wanted to share pictures of the Notebook I got at Barnes and Nobles yesterday. I thought it was just a random notebook with what I decided was a goddess on it. I got home and it had a sticker on the back that told me it is a painting of the goddess Selene guiding the moon by Josephine Wall.

Pagan Pride

Yesterday was the 8th annual Pagan Pride Day festival in my city. There were five workshops, four booths actually selling things, and a bake sale. This was my first time attending and I honestly thought it could have been better. Some of the vendors were selling antique store costume jewelry -_- Maybe I'll stick to the internet.

Using household items as magickal tools

The automatic drip coffee maker
With the coffee make you can brew infusions, potions, and washes. Here are a few tips for use

• Don't use the same coffee make to brew indigestible teas, or potions and anything poisonous. If you plan to brew any type of wash with ingredients not suitable for human consumption get another coffee maker.
• Between brewings, clean the pot and filter cup with hot soapy water.

The Blender
Can be used for pretty much every grinding, powdering and mixing job in place of an mortar and pestle.

• If you are using dry ingredients, add only two or three tablespoons at a time to keep the motor from overheating.
• Always clean the blender after mixing. A tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and a cup of water, then let the blender run for a few seconds. Empty the cup and wipe it with a cloth or paper towel. Cleaning this way removes any herbal oils, vibrations and odors. 
• When powdering gums like dragon's blood and gum arabic, add a few drops of rubbing alcohol before you turn the blender on. It keeps the powder from gumming up the blades. The alcohol evaporates and leaves no vibrations.
• As the blender grinds and powders focus on your intent.

You can use the blender for incense, magickal powders, sachets or potpourris.

Slow Cookers
Making your own oils in the slow cooker is easier than you might think. Use one part herbal mixture to one part vegetable oil and stir well. Check the oil every six to eight hours for scent. If you don't think the scent is strong enough, strain the oil and add another helping of herbs. Let cool, strain and bottle.
Because this can take several hours, you might want to add a chant of intent to charge your oil.

• Consecrate your slow cooker as a magickal tool and use for magickal purposes only.
• Use the lowest setting.
• Use a light, unscented vegetable or fruit oil. Grapeseed oil or jojoba oil are good for making oils of quantity as they don't turn rancid.
• When working with fresh herbs, bruise them to release their oils. An easy way to do this is put the herbs in a plastic bag and pound them with the side of your palm.
• Keep the lid on the pot unless you're checking for aroma. Wipe the moisture from the inside of the lid before you put it back on the pot.

Note: I didn't write this. These sections are paraphrased from the book Everyday Magic by Dorothy Morrison. I do not intend to make any money from this posting and all credit is giving to the original author!  

Llewellyn's 2010 Magical Almanac

August 7, Saturday

Republic Day (Ivory Coast)
Waning Moon
Moon Phase: Fourth Quarter
Color: Brown
Moon sign: Cancer
Incense: Ivy

Here is an excerpt about one of my Favorite Goddesses Artemis. This can be found on pages 233-234 of Llewellyn's 2010 Magical Almanac.

Working

I'm trying to create the right feel for my blog. I just picked a new background but if anyone can show me how to those really cool custom blog layouts I'd be so happy!

Update: I made a blog button! Hope everyone likes it. Feel free to share!

New day

I hope everyone had a great Solstice! Just a quick post to tell everyone reading how much I appreciate your reading and I hope you guys spread the word on this blog!