Eye Strain & Urine

Now, who knew that it would take so long to catch up on reading my fav blogs and the new ones I've been recommended to read?? Whew! My poor eyeballs are tired these past few weeks of reading. Between reading & listening to my fav podcasts, this witchy is still wanting more!!

Been busy too with my work, being a mom and crafting new oil blends. I think my 2 favs are Van Van and Crown of Success. I've also been doing some major housecleaning with floorwashes I made. Who knew urine would be such a great ingredient to use in placing a barrier around my place for protection? I know, that probably made a few of you a little squeamish, but it's free, does the job you want it to & it will never run out. I use it on the outside of my place, diluted with a little water, around the windows & doors. Inside, my place smells good with the essential oils I use in the floorwashes. Each month I use a different oil, like this month was Calendula.

One of my fav podcasts is taking a hiatus for the summer. I'm so going to miss Velma Nightshade this summer. Hopefully she'll still get together with Fire Lyte to do their "Inciting A BrewHaHa" podcast. If you haven't heard it yet, I highly recommend it. But not to worry, Velma started up a blog called, "Witches BrewHaHa-The Blog" to keep her loyal listeners happy while she gets down to things in her mundane life. I'm still wondering whatever happened to the Pagan Hooligans. They haven't put out a podcast since Feb. They were a newbie couple to the craft & they were a refreshing, funny, new view to this crazy path we're on called Paganism. It was great listening to them explore new things, Jasmine's Tarot card draw, Isaac's use of the word, "Excellent". Go check them out, too to see what I'm talking about. They're not just for newbies to the craft, even experienced witches enjoy their fresh outlook on things.

Anyway, I know this is a short posting, but I am getting ready to head off to work. I need to use my glamour on clients to make them look good when they come in to get their hair done. As always, have a Blessed day.

~Rowan
)O(

Blog-Fading & Other Things

I am so sorry to you all for blog-fading these past few months. Actually, I have been doing a lot of reading & I found a new interest on my Pagan journey: Hoodoo & conjure. I've been reading a lot of blogs, forums & books on this fascinating topic. It's hard to find anything around here in my city where I can find the right herbs, but I did manage to find a little out of the way botanica which supplies things that I need. I've been making mojo hands, blended oils, honey jars, spell boxes, etc. I know a lot of Pagans out there wouldn't dare dream of doing this type of spell work, calling it dark, but it is a form of North American Diasporic folk magic, with influences from Native, African & European traditions. Yes, there are hexes & curses involved as well as love spells, things your everyday Wiccan would disapprove of. This is something not for the faint of heart. The spell working is really not so different from conventional BTW (British Trad. Witchcraft), but it very important to "feed" your mojo hands, or leave gifts at the crossroads for the spirits who aid you in your working.

In other things, I'm still listening to various Pagan podcasts. Some of the Podkin had been pod-fading (Hooligans) and some are keeping up to date on topics (Inciting A Riot). If you haven't listened to the wonderful podcasts that are out there, I highly recommend that you do, there is a wealth of information out there. Some are funny, informative, intelligent & some will make you grab a pitchfork. Most podcasts last for about a 1/2 hr to 2hrs, depending on the topic. I have 3 which I just love & anticipate the next episode: Inciting A Riot, Pagan Hooligans & New World Witchery. Even the podkin got together this past October for a Pagan Podcast Supermoot in Chicago. It was such a successful event that they are doing a 2nd one this Sept in Salem, MA. It was quite enjoyable to hear each podcast relate their stories of their experiences. Maybe this witch may take a little trip this Sept to go meet the ppl she's been listening to for the last few months & feels she knows them personally. We shall see how the bank account will hold out for me by then.

Ok, I have a new endorsement on my blog called: Project Pagan Enough. This is a movement started last year by Fire Lyte over at the Inciting A Riot podcast & blog. It is a hugely successful movement to end the constant witch wars that is constant in the Pagan community. I feel, as Fire Lyte does, that too many Pagans in the community are quick to judge their fellow Pagans, by what they wear, the music they listen to, how new they are, etc. Just because you read Scott Cunningham or any of the other 101 books, or if you have Christian friends or that you respect their beliefs doesn't mean you're not Pagan enough. There are far too many witch-wars in the community. I've seen it here withing my city where if you're not wearing thrift store clothes, eat vegan, have funky hairstyles, etc, you get looked upon as not being Pagan enough. I am a 30-something professional woman, single mom who listens to all sorts of music (just not always Pagan tunes, I like mainstream music) and hangs out with various people who aren't Pagans. Does that make me not as Pagan as those who are smelling of patchouli, wearing their pentacle jewelry & robes everytime they are out in public? No, my beliefs are what I carry with me everyday, I don't need to put them on for show, esp in this very conservative city that looks liberal

So, I support PPE and I encourage you, my readers, to look into it & look at yourself to see if you are judging those who you deem as not being Pagan Enough or fluffy, or a dumb newbie. We all do it or have done it, so don't get your broomstick in a knot denying it. I'm as much guilty of it as you are, but I am changing my ways. How can we ask for tolerance when we can't even give it to those who don't fit the "Pagan moniker" or they have a different religious belief than us? Respect is a two-way street, not a one-way lane, you want it, you have to give it as well

Check out http://www.incitingariot.com/p/project-pagan-enough.html for more on Project Pagan Enough.

Podcasts Galore!!

My poor iPod is been being filled up lately. Not with music (although I still have a few playlists that I frequently listen to), but with Pagan, witchy podcasts. I was looking to see what is out there in the land of Pagan podcasts, as I was getting a little bored with the ones I was listening to or they weren't recording anything new in a long while. I came across this really great one that I just adore! It's called New World Witchery and it's all about being a witch in America with the culture & beliefs that we have over here. They do talk a lot about folk magic, Hoodoo & conjure, as the 2 hosts, Cory & Liane, are from Tennessee. They both have backgrounds in BTW but felt that they didn't connect with it, but felt a pull from their own backyard in the Ozarks and southern magic. I'm not from the South, but it does hold a lot of mystery to me and I do find it interesting to learn about. I've even made a few mojo bags this week for personal purposes, complete with red flannel and herbs that I had to order off Lucky Mojo Curio (as they weren't avail around here). So, thus begins my rookie attempts at Rootworking.

Another podcast I've been listening to is called Inciting A Riot. Fire Lyte is hilarious, as well as very informative about current events and how they affect us Pagans. His most recent posting on his blog (of the same name) slams Christian Day and the Salem witches for being media whores in the wake of Charlie Sheen's rants about being a warlock. I saw the news videos and the YouTube video posted of their "ritual" I totally agree with him for labeling them media whores and making non-Pagans think we're a bunch of Goth, vampire wannabes practicing magic.

A list of my podcasts I am listening to is on the right side column under the labels cloud. Check them out, they're really good and very informative.

~Rowan
)O(

Springtime!!!

Well, the snow is melting and the air is starting to get warmer and next weekend the time moves forward an hour. That must mean spring must be around the corner. Now, as much as I love winter with all the snow, I think I'm finally ready to put away the snowboots & heavy coats and bring out the rainboots & lighter coats. When out shopping this weeeknd past, the stores were all full of new spring merchandise, from lawnmowers, to backyard furniture and gardening supplies. I came home and weeded my old planters that were out during the winter and pulling out the old dead plant roots, to get them ready for when I get new plants this spring. I also did the same for my poor neglected indoor planters that used to house my herbs. I am very guilty of letting them go this winter as I was pre-occupied with other things.

So, in honour of the coming season, I changed up my gloomy old blog with a fresh new background. I'm not used to 3 column layouts and I had to adjust some of my widgets to accommodate this change. I searched the land of Google for something that was bright, colorful and pretty. Et Voila!! This is what I found. I like it, I can see little Pagan things in the little window (a hare, eggs, etc)

I'm Baaaaaack!! Miss Me??

Well, after a long hiatus, I'm back. I just hate it when life gets in the way of the important things like blogging...lol!! No, seriously, in the past 2 months there have been a lot of changes going on with me. I ended one job and moved onto another that is giving me the freedom to grow as a hairstylist. Bills were being put on the backburner as I concentrated on getting rent & groceries paid, thus, I lost the internet.

During that time without being "connected" I did a lot of soul searching (after the withdrawals went away) and decided to make some changes in my life. I am eating healthier with hardly any junk food in my diet, I've been doing yoga on the Wii every morning with my son, I meditate more to feel the connection with the Divine, I've been drinking copious amounts of water to keep hydrated, I walk to & from everywhere to keep in shape (thanks to the Gaga on my iPod) and I am surrounding my self with positive people who aren't there to bring me down.

I have also been reading a lot while my youngling plays the Wii. I ordered a book a few months back from Little Mysteries and when it came in, I devoured it. It was right up my alley in terms of how I want to practice my beliefs. It is a book by Peter Paddon called, "A Grimoire for Modern Cunningfolk" If you're not into the whole Wiccan influence of Neo-Paganism, this is a great way start to change your whole perception of the Old Ways. There's no complicated rituals, no altars to worry about, just good old fashioned Crafting. I first heard of Peter Paddon by my good friend, Cliff. I glanced at his copy of the book the last time I was up at the Hollow and ordered it when I got home, along with a book by Robin Artisson called "The Ressurection of the Meadow" Still waiting on that to come in.

And now Yule is yet again upon us. Even though Samhain is my fav. time of year, I still get all warm & fuzzy with Yule. There's something magical in the air this time of year and I'm not talking about snow. My son is all excited with all the decorations, music, etc. I've been listening to Blackmore's Night on the stereo (Winter Carols). The tree is up, the Yule log ready, baking is almost done and the lights are up in the windows & on the patio. Another reason I like this time of year...my birthday falls just after the new year and as I get older, I relish the fact I don't look older ☺

Blessings,
Rowan
)O(

A Major Decision I've Made

So, I decided the other night that I'm going to do something I think I am ready to do. After about 4 years of studying & learning (and I'm not even finished), reading, preparing, I am getting myself ready to do a Self-Dedicating ceremony. I feel that after these years of hard work I've committed into the learning process, I am ready to serve the God &Goddess wholeheartedly.

Now, I'm not big on doing the whole big ritual thing that a lot feel they have to do, when I do my ceremony, it will reflect me & who I am. I am an Eclectic follower of the Old Ways, I borrow from other Paths to make my own, but yet I still follow a certain pantheon of Deities. I also have a special place in my heart that resonates with me on a spiritual level that would be a perfect place to do this. It is in the wilds of NS, where nature is as bountiful as the ever-changing leaves on the trees. It is a place that I fell in love with the 1st time I visited there, a place that I felt a great connection to the Earth spirits and Gaia, Herself.

I am preparing myself for this by what I eat, how I conduct myself and with a lot of meditation with my guides to assist me. I do not know when exactly I will be doing this, I will just know when it's right.

Samhain Shortbread

Here is my shortbread recipe I use at this time of year (ok, Yule, too) It was my grandmother's recipe and they are a good cookie to use with witchy cookie cutters. You will need:

• 1 Cup butter (real butter, not margarine)
• 1/2 Cup brown sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 Cups of flour
• 1 tsp baking soda

Cream together in a bowl, the first 4 ingredients until light & fluffy. Then blend in the last 2 ingredients and combine well. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll to a 1/4" thickness. Cut into shapes with a floured cookie cutter. Bake at 300F for about 8-10 minutes. Add icing, sprinkles, etc for decoration.

Correspondences for Samhain

Symbolism: Third Harvest, wisdom of the Crone, death of the God, reflection on our place in the Wheel of the Year, New Year, reincarnation, the dark mysteries, Rebirth after Death.

Foods: turnips, apples, nuts, beef, pork, poultry, gingerbread.

Drinks: Mead, apple cider, mulled cider, mulled wines.

Herbs: Angelica, burdock, catnip, pennyroyal, rosemary, rue, sunflower, sage, thyme, wild ginseng, tarragon, mugwort.

Flowers: Calendula, chrysanthemum, cosmos, marigold.

Trees: Acacia, apple, cypress, hazel, hemlock, yew.

Incenses and oils: Bay, cedar, clove, copal, coriander, cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, heather, mugwort, myrrh, patchouli, peppermint, sage, sandalwood, vetiver, wormwood.

Colors: Black, brown, orange.

Stones: Amber, beryl, bloodstone, carnelian, clear quartz, diamond, garnet, gold, granite, hematite, jasper, jet, marble, obsidian, opal, pyrite, rose sapphire, ruby, sandstone, smoky quartz, steel, tourmaline, turquoise.

Animals: Stag, jackal, cat, bat, ram, scorpion, heron, crow, robin.

Mythical creatures: Goblins, harpies.

Some appropriate Gods: all Death, Underworld, and aged Gods; Am-Heh (Egyptian), Anubis (Egyptian), Arawn (Welsh), Cernunnos (Celtic), Dis (Roman), Hades (Greek), Heimdahl (Norse), Herne (English), The Horned God (European), Kronos (Greek), Loki (Norse), Nefertum (Egyptian), Odin (Norse), Osiris (Egyptian), Pluto (Greco-Roman)

Some appropriate Goddesses: all Crone and Underworld Goddesses; Arachne (Greek), Aradia (Italian), Babd (Irish), Cerridwen (Welsh), Elli (Teutonic), Ereshkigal (Assyro-Babylonian), Eris (Greek), The Fates/Moerae (Greek), Fortuna (Roman), Freya/Frigg (Norse), Hecate (Greek), Hel (Teutonic), Inanna (Sumerian), Ishtar (Babylonian), Macha (Irish), Mari (Basque), Morrigan (Celtic), Nephthys (Egyptian), Nicneven (Scottish), Persephone (Greek), Psyche (Greek), Proserpina (Roman), Rhiannon (Welsh)

Decorations: Autumn leaves, fall flowers, pomegranates, apples, pumpkins, ears of corn, sprays of grain, corn dollies, gourds, nuts, seeds.

Traditional activities: divination, drying winter herbs, feasting and partying to defy the coming darkness (bob for apples, roast nuts, pop popcorn), Witches' Ball.

Spell/ritual work: astral projection, past life recall, Dark Moon mysteries, mirror spells, scrying, protection, inner work, clearing obstacles, transition, culmination, transformation. Releasing bad habits and toxic relationships, illness, failure and poverty; everything you do not want to carry into the new year.

Apples On A String...In this Case, Dental Floss

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to go to a local Mabon Ritual in Point Pleasant Park. It was a beautiful autumn day, the sun was shining, the air was warm, the sky clear. I arrived at the park an hour before the time scheduled, so I could go to my favorite little place where I like to be still with my thoughts. I saw a couple of birds splashing in the cool water a few feet away from me. I could feel the magic in the air already, I knew that this day was going to be special.

I had prepared earlier that day by making homemade mac & cheese for the potluck, some loaves of bread and getting things in order. I slipped into the bath for a ritual bath with some scented water, while my son played his math game on the computer. I did a meditation and asked the Goddess for a blessing. I was told that today I was going to meet some who would have an effect on me. With this is mind, I set out for the park with Heather Alexander on my iPod and a good book to read on the bus.

About the time when the ritual was set to start, no one was where I was waiting. Did I go to the wrong place in the park?? It seemed so, I looked on a map and saw that I needed to go to the other side of the park to get to the rit on time. It's a fact in the Pagan community that nothing really starts on time, but I still don't like to be late for anything. So, I hustled my butt across the park, uphill carrying my food. I finally found where I was to go, thanks to a couple dressed in their robes setting up the ritual space. I went over to a picnic table and set down my food and sat down where a friend offered me a bottle of water. I was kinda sweaty & out of breath from rushing to get there.

After a bit, we got things rolling by casting the circle, whilst chanting. This was a different take on the ritual as it was a Dionysian type ritual. At one point after hearing the story of Pomona, we all were given an apple half with a coin (wrapped in saran wrap) pushed inside the core, hanging by a thread. We had to try to get the coin out of out neighbor's apple with as few bites as possible, taking turns. What a way to get to know the person standing next to you...mine just happened to be the guy I was on a blind date with.

After the ritual ended, we all sat down to where ever there was a spot free to eat all the delicious food from Earth's bounty (or the local grocery store). There were meats, cheeses, breads, hummous, corn bread, etc. This was a feast!! For the desserts there were apple crisp, cinnamon rolls, cake, apples, etc. My poor stomach was not a huge as my eyes, but I tried a bit of everything.

The people at the ritual were very nice, and someone from my facebook came over to talk to me. She was cool, we shared a few laughs while we ate. Talked about the joys of dating again, in front of my blind date. I just hope he didn't feel awkward about out discussion. I don't think he did, as he was putting his 2 cents in, too. So, overall, I had a great day at the ritual, learned some new things, met some cool people (blind date incl) and lots of laughs (even during the ritual).

~Rowan

Mabon

Ok, so I have been thinking a lot about what I am going to do this year for Mabon. I may be going to a public ritual this Saturday, if I can get my son's father to look after him for a little bit while I go do this. I usually don't do the whole public ritual thing, as I usually practice solitary, but I think it would be interesting to see how others celebrate the harvest (this is the 2nd harvest celebration on the Wheel). I was at the location the other night, a bit breezy with wind coming off the water, hoping my new robe I made won't get lit up ☺

I have also been invited to a little ritual on the day of the actual Sabbat, next Thursday, with a few friends. Not sure if I can make it. I would like to go, but I still have my son with me. It also is a full moon that evening and I have some things I need to do, that I usually do solitary when I combine Sabbat rites with Esbats. Just a little dilemma for me. Don't get me wrong, I love being with friends, but I am a little self-conscious about how I do my thing. I know, get over it, right?? This is something I am trying to do. Under my skin is still a shy person lurking.

An Ode to the Autumn Equinox

I found this last night before going to bed. I find this to be very beautiful and it does bring a tear to my eyes (yes, I'm a softy at heart). I hope you enjoy this, too. ~R

Do You Say Grace??

So, on my way to work yesterday I was listening to the Crooked Path Podcast on my iPod. I had just downloaded some of them to listen to while walking to work, they're very interesting as they have a different take on Paganism, not just the "fluffy, love & light" side of things.

Anyway, Peter (Paddon, that is) brought something up on his episode about sacrifice about saying a type of Grace before we eat. This was something I never really thought of until lately in my life. It was something I never did as an Anglican/Episcopalian, but while I was reading a novel where Paganism was the main religion, they said Grace before every meal. NOTE: Kate West was an influence on the author & helped him with things Pagan. Thanking the Gods for what we put into our mouths is another way of connecting with them. Also, thanking the animal's spirit whose meat we are eating (if you're not a vegetarian) and for thanking the Great Mother for the bounty of the produce we have, as well. I know a lot of you may be thing that saying Grace is a Christian thing, but in a way, they have that right by thanking their God for what they have, but there are also cultures who aren't Christian who thank their Gods, too.

Here are a couple of examples of a Pagan food blessings:

I Thank thee Great Goddess
For the bounty before me
A gift of thy great abundance.
Thank you for sustaining my life.
I receive your gift of food in gratitude.

OR

Lord and Lady, watch over us,
and bless us as we eat.
Bless this food, this bounty of earth,
we thank you, so mote it be.

These are just a few that I have found in the past couple of months. If you don't feel comfortable saying Grace before your meal, you can always have a moment of silence before eating.

~Rowan
)O(

Enhancements or Fluff??

NOTE: This is my opinion, not the way it should be. If you get offended, this is an opinion only.

I've been on this Pagan journey for the better part of 18 yrs, while actively practicing for the past 4. Back when I was in college & exploring this path, I became enthralled with it. The mythologies, Deities, pantheons resonated with me on a level I never knew in my strict Anglican upbringing. I eagerly gobbled up what I could find on the Old Ways. In my naivete, I read books by less-than-stellar authors ($RW, for example) and in those early days of the internet, whatever I could find on the slow dial-up at the library.

There was a few things that I couldn't grasp in Paganism. Why was everyone so eager to jump on the crystal bandwagon?? When I look back to history and how the cunningfolk did things, they used what was around them: plants, kitchen implements, etc I don't think that they had access to crystals, like we do today and the means to extract crystals from the Earth is a harmful method. Why should we do harm to the Earth in order to aide on our path? Seems pointless to me. During the 20th century it has crept into Paganism from the New Agers. I do understand that there is a fine line between Neo-Paganism & the New Age movement, even books on Paganism are found in the New Age section in bookstores. Even in the Pagan bookstores, there is a huge crystal section. I try to honor the Deities with how I live, I am not be a person who has to do a ritual for everything or for every Esbat & Sabbat, but I do things that I feel are right for me.

I've tried to read books on crystals & their properties, what their correspondences are, which Diety they go with, but I never "got it" It never made sense to me. I know that to a lot of you, having a quartz or a piece of selenite as part of your workings works for you and that's great if it does. To me, they look pretty on an altar. I have tried working with crystals, but there was no spiritual connection there for me. So are crystals an enhancement to your practice, or something that was read in a book suggesting that you use them?

Ok, if that didn't squish your toes enough, how about Reiki. I see a lot of people using this form of Japanese healing to go along with their Pagan path. Reiki is great, I've tried it, very relaxing and refreshing to the energy field. But, along with crystals, it became popular with the whole New Age movement, where bodily energy fields became the "thing" to work with. I do know that in the Craft, we work with energy fields, but did the cunningwoman use a form of "laying on of hands" (to borrow a Christian term) to help those in need of her wisdom? I see that she may have used the herbs & plants around her to help with her workings/healings. Magic is working with the energies around us for a multitude of things. Reiki is a relaxation technique that also promotes healing. It was developed in 1922 by a Japanese Buddhist and is used by a multitude of Pagans, but is not Pagan in origin, nor is it an ancient practice. So, I ask my question again, is this an enhancement to the Craft or just more New Age fluff that is making its way into Paganism? I find a lot of Pagans using things to enhance their path, but I wonder if this due to the large influence the New Age movement of the past century had on modern Paganism. Besides crystals, I have heard of the use of pyramids to keep one centered, the idea of people being defined as Indigo, Crystal & Rainbow, to use as some examples.

I was asked why I am against Paganism & Wicca. I'm not against Paganism, just the fact that it has gotten away from its roots. I'm also not against Wicca, just I have issues with Gardner & his thievery of other Hermetic orders to come up with a religion that is as rigid as some Christian faiths. As I stated at the start of this posting, this is my opinion and not the way it has to be, I may have stepped on toes, I may even have offended some, but I see no use for New Age things in my beliefs. I come to honor the Deities, live in harmony with Mother Gaia and I don't need pretty colored rocks to aid me or someone to place their hands in my energy to heal me. Does that make me cynical? Perhaps, but I like to think of it as getting back to the good old days of being Pagan, which a lot of us have forgotten to do.

Dark Moon Blessings

I bless You now that You may aid
The energy flow as magick is made
I cast out negative energy
Leaving only the positive to live and breathe
Within you as I start this Rite
Blessed be in joy, love and light.

My New Tarot Deck

Ok, so I'm at the bookstore the other day when I happened upon a Tarot deck that caught my eye & wouldn't let go. So, like any resourceful witch, I used "Girl Math" to figure out if this would be worth while for me to get. I figured the deck was $24.95 and learning a deck would cost me about a day (or less) to learn and factoring out the joy it would bring me (priceless) I bought it.

The deck is full of wonderfully designed artwork, that the artist did using her Deviant Art account. She used real models for each of the 78 cards and added in digital enhancements. Now I know Tarot has entered into the 21st century. This is a beautiful deck, very airy feeling. The only drawback I find is that each card is based on the Rider-Waite deck. I only have one deck out of my 5 that strays from this formula: The Vampire Tarot by Nathalie Hertz.

Treasures From The White Lotus

On my recent jaunt to Twa Corbies this past weekend, we took a little trip into New Glasgow, a small town on the north shore of NS. They have a cute little Pagan shop called, The White Lotus. You can buy organic teas, herbs, body lotions, Earth-friendly cleaning supplies, as well as the usual things to be found in a Pagan shop. You can check out the store's website here.

My Goddess wall plaque

Goddess meditation candle with charm

My Green Man trinket box

Goddess figurine from a previous trip.

Lammas or Lughnasadh

This festival celebrates ultimate sacrifice. The Goddess gives all of her energy, all of her life, so that the children are fed. The date is August 1, when the Sun is in Leo and the days have begun to shorten. Lammas is a major festival and is celebrated mid afternoon.

The Festival

The world has subtly changed since the verdant climax of Midsummer. At the roadside, the grass is going to seed and no longer looks green. This very thing is happening to many plants, and the colours are changing to beige and yellow and brown. The Goddess is giving us her first fruits, the first harvest of the Year. And at the same time she is still working, working hard and using her amazing energy to ripen the fruit. She surrenders herself to us at this time. And we honour her for it.

Witches and Pagans honour the self-sacrifice of the God, who is the corn. He sacrifices himself in the harvest for the good of the people. That is why very often a loaf of bread plays an important part in the Lammas ritual. The word Lammas also means 'loaf mass'. To me, the corn grows out of the body of the Goddess. She is the Earth and what grows on it.

A Lammas Ritual

Lammas corresponds to the South Western point of the Circle, and that is where I place my altar. On it are symbols for each of the Elements. The focus of the magic is the Lammas loaf this time, and I place it at the centre of the Circle. I cast the circle and invoke Brigit, the nurturing Grandmother for the first time.

My rituals have changed over the last few Moons, turned upside down. I don't raise power straight away, but do the divination for the coming season first. My question is: 'What does the Earth need from me this season?' I have often felt that my magic and my work is too self-centered, and that it is time for me to start working for the outside world. I am convinced that my healing will come if I work to heal the world - or at least my corner of it. I want to give my abundance to the world, like Brigit does.

The answer to my question consists of three qualities I have to work on this season. I go deep inside in meditation and find those virtues within myself (after all, we all already have all that we need present within ourselves). I call upon the spirits present to help me find these qualities.

When I have found them, I raise their energy with a dance and a chant. I direct it into the bread at the centre of the Circle. I then cut a slice of wonderfully crusty bread from the loaf and eat it, taking the qualities I have invoked inside me. I also crumble some bread to scatter in the four directions later, so that this energy is spread into the world.

Then it is time to celebrate, with some more bread and some beer. Beer seems like a more appropriate drink at this festival of the corn. Thanking Brigit, the generous one, I open the Circle. I take my positive energy out into the world with me.

*Note: I got this off a site, but I forget which one. If this is yours, I need the correct URL for proper credit to you.

John Barleycorn by Traffic

Lughnasadh/Lammas Is On the Way

Well, the time is just flying by this summer. Seems to me that we were just celebrating Beltaine, now Lughnasadh is upon us. Where'd the time go?? What are all your plans for the Sabbat?? I've been busy here at my house cleaning, trying to get my altar ready and today I made my 1st corn dolly out of the husks of the fresh corn I bought at the grocers.

I have never attempted to make a corn dolly before. After I husked a dozen corncobs, I gathered up the husks that I needed (12 corncobs does yield a lot of husks) and went ahead with it. I had no idea what I was doing, but I am rather pleased with the results. I made 2 dollies, a male representing John Barleycorn and a female to represent the Goddess. I didn't have any twine/string to bind them, so I used what I had: white ribbon. I also decorated them with symbols of the sun and crowned them with crowns. It's amazing what a Sharpie pen can do for decorating. ;-)

Musings of A Melted Witch

Well, summer is upon us all & the warmth of the sun shines brightly upon us. With summer comes the firsts harvests from our gardens, whether urban gardens on balconies or acres of gardens on your homesteads. In a few weeks we will be celebrating the first harvest of the season with Lughnasdh or Lammas. Now this year I did attempt to grow a little garden, but as in years past, my thumb grows more & more a non-green color. Even on my first visit to Twa Corbies, I planted thousands of parsnips in Cliff's garden. By my second visit, the parsnips didn't sprout...at all and Cliff had to transplant them to another location where they did eventually sprout.

Also this summer, in my personal life, I had to deal with a parent who was in hospital. My mother went in for a triple bypass & came out with a quadruple instead. While she was in hospital, my father stayed with me on wknds. This meant that this witch had to retreat back into the closet. Down came my altar, certain pictures off the walls, Pagan-themed decorations that I had made were hidden away and books were hidden in the closet bookcase or under the bed (as my bookcase is too full, now). I did have a scare, however, when my cat was sleeping under my bed & my dad went looking for her & found her. I was at work when this took place, I just happened to call home to see when Dad was going to the hospital to see Mom. I panicked!! He must've seen my copy of Doreen Valiente's book, Witchcraft for Tomorrow and Marian Green's, Natural Magic. They were right on front of the cat and there was no way he couldn't have seen them. After work I looked under the bed to see where exactly they were. He must've seen them, but he never mentioned anything to me. That was too close a call for me. I come from a very Anglican (Episcopalian) family, Paganism is not accepted at all. Even when I was younger & went to a Fundy Christian church (yes, I did) they weren't happy with me. This is why I am still in the "Broom Closet"

My mom's surgery went well, but a week & a half after getting released from hospital, she developed a nasty infection on her scar. It was so bad she was ambulanced down here to the city where she stayed for almost 2 weeks, hooked up to drainage tubes & IV's. My dad stayed with me on wknds, so blogging was almost impossible, so was going onto my "witchy" facebook account. So, now I'm back.

I've been doing some subtle changes to this here blog. I'm going to be experimenting with new layouts & backgrounds. I've added a calendar, so you all know what I'm up to, what meetings I'm going to, when I'm going to Twa Corbies, Sabbats, Esbats, etc.. So, please bear with me over the next while as I attempt to master Winzip for some new layouts.

Blessings to you all,
Rowan
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