The Pagan Gift Guide

AWJ PentacleI think many will agree, the Internet is a wonderful tool. There is so much we can do with it! So I was thinking about all the times I scour the Internet looking for specific items that I can’t make myself and I’m hoping someone else does. There are so many wonderfully talented people all over the world who work really hard to create wonderful magical items. So for my own benefit and for all of you out there who have a Pagan friend or relative (or for yourself of course!) I decided to put together a Pagan Gift Guide! I will update the gift guide as I continue to research and find more wonderful resources, and if anyone wants to recommend, please do leave a comment here. :) And don’t forget to bookmark this page because I will continue to update it as I find more wonderful resources!

 

Note: The shops I am linking to from this article are not mine and not my responsibility. I’ve found all these resources by doing research online myself and by friends’ recommendations. You will see that shops are mentioned many times as I am categorizing by item. :)

 

The Pagan Gift Guide

Art

Attire

Books

Divination tools

Candles & candle holders

Crystals

Decor

Essential Oils

Oils – magical brews and perfumes

Herbs

Incense

Jewelry

Masks

Statuary and Plaques

Wands

 

Lots of shopping goodness! Again, don’t forget to bookmark this page because I’m just getting started!

Blessings

Fashion Magic for Everyday Use [Pagan Blog Project]

This subject may seem a bit superficial to some, but I find it fun, and empowering. I’m referring to Witchy Fashion! The garments and accessories we choose to wear inside and outside of the magic circle.

 

First, outside of the magic circle. That is for us to decide. What makes us feel comfortable and happy is what we should always wear. What is required of our day job if we have one, is a guideline that many of us follow. Some jobs require uniforms, others require suits. But none of them say anything about leaving magic out! Witches are magical people, and magic should be part of our daily lives, not just limited to the magic circle. Empowerment comes by being ourselves fully and embracing the power that resides within us. We are like flowers waiting to bloom fully. If you are a rose, then be a rose, you can’t be half rose and half tulip! I’m a Witch, so I will be a Witch! :)

So, at your day-job you are required to wear a uniform. It’s plain, it’s boring, it’s quite strict so you can’t do anything to it. If you are allowed to wear any jewelry, choose a pair of earrings that you’ve magically charged to only bring pleasant sounds to your ears and see the effect it has on how people talk to you. It could be a brooch, bracelet or a ring. Obviously Pagan symbolism on your jewelry is not necessary if you don’t feel comfortable showing it off. If you can’t wear any jewelry with your uniform but you have to wear a hat, you could easily draw a magical symbol on the inside of your hat to keep you protected, keep your mind sharp and alert. Even your socks can be magically charged, for example if you have to be on your feet all day long charge them to give you the energy and comfort that you need throughout the day. I could go on and on about this, so as you can see, you are only limited by your creativity!

 

For those who are not required to wear uniforms at their day-job, color magic can be easily used when picking clothes and accessories. Different cultures and traditions have their own interpretations of what each color means, so go with the one that you identify with. Use the colors to your advantage, and attract the energy that you desire or need depending on the day or situation. If you do a quick search online you will find many websites that discuss ways of using Colors in magic. There are also some good books out there as well. I’m just going to mention two of them but I’m sure there are others that are good as well. Ray Buckland’s Practical Color Magick, and Color Magic for Beginners by Richard Webster. I do not own either book but they seem to get good reviews.

 

Although it isn’t considered magic per se, I do use Fashion Feng Shui to choose my wardrobe and it really helps to attract the energy that I desire (read a blog post I wrote about this subject here) and to feel more comfortable and more like myself. Fashion Feng Shui is based on Chinese Feng Shui, and it simply uses the Five Element Theory and intention to create a harmonious flow just like good old Feng Shui does in the spaces we inhabit. Clothing is such a personal and intimate part of our lives that it makes perfect sense to use it to our advantage. We can thank Evana Maggiore for developing this technique. Her book Fashion Feng Shui: The Power of Dressing with Intention is really insightful and helpful.

As I said before, you are only limited by your own creativity and resources. So go ahead and bring your magic with you everywhere you go!

 

Secondly, there is fashion in our magic circle. When I think of this my mind conjures images of velvet capes and robes, headdresses, masks, and many other dramatic, rich, and meaningful symbols that have been carried on by both fictional sources like books and films, and by old traditions. Some people like to keep it simple and they don’t feel the need to wear elaborate garments, and some just don’t wear anything at all. Whatever you wish to do is fine as long as you feel comfortable and in the case of nudity, safety of the participants and location should also be considered.

 

Making your own magical clothing and accessories for your rituals is a wonderful thing. It allows you to infuse the item with your own energy. Some people chant or say prayers while crafting scarves to give to the poor and ill. The energy and intention stays with the scarf and the person who wears it benefits from it. But not all of us are that crafty. Never fear, many wonderfully talented Pagans enjoy creating delightful pieces for others to purchase and enjoy. You can find many of the creations of talented magical people on websites like etsy.com.

Let me make something clear. All the magic you need is within. Your own intention, focus and connection to the Divine can be just as powerful while wearing a luxurious velvet robe with satin lining and bell sleeves as while wearing a simple cotton dress. However, many of us find that the addition of special garments and accessories helps to enhance the ambiance, contributing to our focus and magical personality. In group work, this is even more true. A Priestess or Priest can enhance a ritual by drawing more attention to themselves using magical fashion. All eyes will be on them and will remain on them, keeping the energy and intention of the ritual steady. It’s a great tool to enhance your own energy. The colors play an important part here of course, depending on the time of the year and the celebration. Examples are black for Samhain, green or yellow for Ostara, red for Imbolc, white or gold for Yule etc.

As for accessories, we all have a special necklace or pendant we like to wear for rituals, a bracelet or a ring. The materials of these can bring even more beneficial energies into our work. Gold or silver, gemstones,  they can all be used to enhance magical work in different manners. Studying color and crystal magic is quite practical and useful! ;)

 

Personally, I favor the enhancement of magical work using fashion. I use robes, capes, masks, an Isis crown, pendants, earrings and a lot of times I’ve worn a special dress in place of a robe. These items help me “step into the magic circle” even more literally. I feel the shift in my state of mind and focus.

There are many tools out there for us to use creatively. It’s all up to us to make magic a part of our every day lives and through fashion we can do that. :)

 

Love and Blessings

Sprinkle some Fun in your Craft [Pagan Blog Project]

Blessings all,AWJ Pentacle

When I first started studying the Craft back in 1991-92, I remember being excited, reading a lot but most of all, doing a lot. I wanted to cast spells, celebrate rituals, feel and experience as much as I could. To me, learning about the Craft was serious, but it was also fun to learn all these new wonderful things that I felt an affinity, a connection to.

 

It was a lot of fun when I started celebrating rituals with my small group of Pagan friends, which was usually at the beach. We’d bring our magic tools, robes, candles in lanterns, then we’d look for a good spot. It really was so much fun to work together. Jumping the fire during Beltane was one of the most fun things we did. It was fun even when we accidentally scared the crap out of someone who unknowingly was taking a walk at the beach and suddenly bumped into us (just imagine, he saw a group of people dressed in different color robes with hoods on, standing around in a circle with candles, one holding up a dagger). Sorry, we really didn’t mean to scare you. We always took our craft seriously, but we had fun too.

 

Over the years, as work, responsibilities, and all kinds of experiences with people and situations have been part of the process of life, things did change a bit. I became more cautious, and retreated back into solitary practice. Moving into a very different place also made the “cautious” part be more necessary for me. And all the responsibilities and stresses of life took the front seat while my Craft took the back seat. I was too serious about so many things that it rubbed off into my Craft, and I couldn’t even see that.

Eventually I found a group of like-minded individuals and began a new chapter in my life, and my Craft. It was a slow process, but it was happening. I was still very serious as I wanted them to know that I was dedicated. The fun did come back slowly, with the help of my new Craft friends and I started feeling more empowered.

 

Now that I’m a Priestess, I’ve had some trouble in the fun department. The responsibilities can make a person become locked into a too-focused state, and then everything becomes too serious and formal. Don’t get me wrong, learning, studying and practicing the Craft is something that we all should take seriously. I mean, do you really think it wise to joke around with a healing spell for someone’s mother? It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to joke around during an exorcism. There are many things that could go wrong if you  were to act like everything is fun and games. We need to be focused when we are doing our magical work, but we can’t be 100% serious all the time. When we are too serious we can become stiff, tense, and that could create energy blocks on us and our work, and  sometimes we could just go blank from so much tension and forget what we must do or say next during a ritual. It affects our energy and the energy of our work and the group if we are working with one. We can integrate some fun into our Craft, we really must. And sometimes when we don’t, the spirits and Deities themselves will remind us to do so. Some spirits and Deities are tricksters by nature, and some will suddenly do funny things (I’m looking at you Lord Ganesha! :) ) as a way of saying “Lighten Up!”. Really, whenever I sprinkle some fun, the ritual feels more enjoyable, everyone seems to feel lighter and more receptive.

Singing and dancing are fun activities that also bring great energy into our Craft and there are many other activities that are fun like creating your own magical tools. And laughter, well laughter is wonderful. It has the power not only to make people happy, feel lighter and break tension, it can also dispel negativity. :)

 

So, remember to sprinkle some Fun in your Craft whenever possible! :)
~Oscura

Awakening Osiris: The Egyptian Book of the Dead

I wanted to do an extra post this week because the Pagan Blog Project is up to the letter ‘D’ and I feel like I kind of  cheated it hehe (see previous post).

This post is about one of my favorite books of all time, or to be more specific, my favorite translation of that book. The Egyptian funerary text, also known as the Book of Coming Forth By Day, better known as the Book of the Dead. According to many historical texts, it is a collection of spells created to help the dead in their journey through the underworld and into eternal life as a spirit. These texts are both magical and religious and there are many sources of historical documentation to read up on them. Don’t let the title mislead you, these writings are not about death, but about life, eternal life. This is what the Egyptians believed in and looked forward to. Living an eternity as a spirit, enjoying everything they loved, surrounded by the spirits of all those they loved.

The ancient Egyptians really cared a lot about the afterlife, and it showed in the construction of their tombs, which were made more elaborately and with better materials than their own homes. Their logic for this is simply that they knew this would be their eternal dwelling, while their mortal homes would be a place to live for the next 40 or so years (life expectancy back then wasn’t as high as it is now). One can imagine the comfort this would bring to a person who was getting closer to death, as opposed to the fear of death and dying which is more prevalent these days.

 

When I first wanted to learn more about the Egyptian Book of the Dead, the book I found at the library was the Wallis Budge translation. It is a great tool for learning and researching historical data. I wasn’t able to read the entire book though, I guess it wasn’t what I was looking for. I got my copy of Normandi Ellis’ Awakening Osiris: The Egyptian Book of the Dead in 1988 which I believe is the year it was published. Since then I have read so many times that I lost count. This book was definitely what I was looking for.

Inspiring, spiritual, beautiful, rhythmic, magical, powerful. Those are some of the words that come to mind when I try to describe Normandi Ellis’ translation. When I have felt the need for wisdom, I have looked in its pages. When I have felt the need for guidance, I have looked in its pages. I have even used it when constructing a spell or when I need a good affirmation. It is a book that I keep going back to, all these years it is still relevant to me, and it still has the same spiritual and magical power.

In my opinion, Awakening Osiris: The Egyptian Book of the Dead is giving us a window into the possibilities that the funerary texts have for us, of how these ancient texts can still be of use to us today. My copy of the book is marked up, pages flagged, and I had to put plastic on the cover to protect it from all the use it gets (see photo above, that’s my copy of the book).

One of my favorite spells excerpts that can also be used as an affirmation, is one that some of my friends already know me by. It is the following:

“Let my spirit be stronger today than it was yesterday, my heart more peaceful, my mind more fertile, my hands more gentle.” This is only part of Chapter 5: Coming Forth By Day. These words have given me strength on many days when I’ve felt I am lacking it. I have shared these words with others many times and I’ve always heard that they find them very comforting and empowering, regardless of religion.

Chapter 8: Triumph Over Darkness is such a powerful spell, with many words that can be used for protection. One example: ” May my fingernails turn into thorns to drive back the snake. May my arms become spears to thwart crocodiles. May the light of my soul detect shadows of evil. May I listen to the voice of the messenger. May I walk the road envisioned by Ra’s eyes.” When I read these words I can feel their power and confidence.

 

I imagine that in ancient Egypt, having an instructional text such as this would bring a feeling of security to a person who is going through preparations for the afterlife (construction of their tomb and such).

There is so much relevant, powerful and insightful wisdom in this translation that I think this will be a book I will keep going back to for many more years. And I thank Normandi Ellis for this wonderful work. :)

 

Love and Blessings
Oscura

 

Sources: Awakening Osiris: The Egyptian Book of the Dead by Normandi Ellis , Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead, translated by Raymond O. Faulkner, http://en.wikipedia.org/

Duamutef, son of Horus [Pagan Blog Project]

Image from http://en.wikipedia.org/

This week I’ve decided to write about one of the Four Sons of Horus: Duamutef. I don’t have a whole lot of information on Duamutef alone, as he is usually associated and referred to through his family. The Four Sons of Horus.

 

The Sons of Horus were said to be the children and also the ‘souls’ of Horus, and were also referred to as the ‘friends of the king’ because they’d assist the deceased monarch in his ascension to the sky. These four Gods were also known as the sons of Osiris and were later said to be members of the group called ‘the seven blessed ones’ whose job was to protect the netherworld god’s coffin. Their role was a funerary one, and you may have already heard about the Canopic Jars, containers in which the internal organs of the deceased were preserved. The stoppers of these jars were once carved into the shape of human heads representing the deceased, but from the 18th dynasty they were carved in the form of the four sons of Horus who then had become the patron Gods of the contents of these jars. Each of the sons was said to be guarded by one of the funerary Goddesses, though there was some variation on this linkage. They may have been based on the symbolic completeness of the number four alone, but they are often given geographic associations.

Duamutef is depicted with a jackal head. He is the guardian of the stomach, often protected by the Goddess Neith and his orientation is the East. His name means “Who adores his mother”. In other texts he is associated with the South.

Qebesenuef (pronounced ‘Kebsnoof’) the falcon to the West, Hapy (pronounced ‘Haahpi’) the baboon to the North,  and Imsety the man to the South are Duamutef’s brothers.

 

As a Pagan Witch who casts a circle at the beginning of any magical workings, I also often call on the Four Sons of Horus to guard my sacred space. These guardians can be summoned in a similar manner as one would summon traditional Elemental Kings, and can be associated with the elements as well. When summoned, the Four Sons of Horus should be visualized in the mummified human form with the head of the creature associated with each. We must do so with the same respect as we would summon elementals, because these are deities (or demigods as referred by some). We should also remember to thank them and bid them farewell at the end. They will surely guard our sacred space well. :)

 

Love and Blessings
Oscura

 

Sources: The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt by Richard H. Wilkinson; An Egyptian Book of Shadows by Jocelyn Almond & Keith Seddon; http://en.wikipedia.org/

 

Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/

 

The World of Dreams [Pagan Blog Project]

The topic of Dreams and Dreaming is one I’ve been fascinated with for as long as I can remember. I’ve had very vivid and interesting dreams since early age, and many times they were like epic stories and I could remember every single detail of them. So naturally, I am very interested in the subjects of Lucid Dreaming and Dream Interpretation.

 

When I was studying towards my degree in Psychology, I took a class called ‘The Psychology of Dreaming”. I really loved that class, and everything we talked about was just so fascinating to me. In one of the class projects, I had to lead a class about the subject of Lucid Dreaming. It was my first time learning about the subject, and I remember bringing a crystal to class, and everyone sitting in a circle on the floor and enjoying the topic of discussion. Of course I got an A for that one! :) Lucid Dreaming is a state in which the dreamer is aware and conscious of the fact that they are dreaming. This experience can come naturally to some people, but it can also be learned and with practice it can become a great tool to control dreams. There are many books about the subject and online guides to lucid dreaming.

To learn to lucid dream, one of the things you have to work on is dream recall. Some of us can remember most of our dreams, but some have trouble remembering. Keeping a Dream Journal is one very important technique to dream recall. Not only are you keeping a record of your dreams which you can go back to at any time, but the action of writing down your dreams makes you aware that they are important and that you want really want to remember so you can write it down. This starts setting the intention that you want to remember. It doesn’t matter if the dream is short or long, funny, boring, odd, write it down. If you only remember parts of it, write it down. You can always go back later and add to it. Sometimes I get hit with sudden flashes of what I dreamed throughout my day, triggered by something I hear (like a song), or something someone says or something I see. One thing that helps me remember my dreams is talking about them. I call my mother and tell her what I dreamed about, and in the process I end up remembering even more details.

Dream Journals can be a simple plain notebook, but personally I feel that a Dream Journal should be more special. Decorate the cover, embellish it anyway that feels more dreamy or magical, or if you’re not into all that, a simple elegant notebook will do. If you are good at drawing, you should try adding your own illustrations to it. I know personally I sometimes feel that a picture would be so helpful when I’m trying to write down my dreams. If you prefer, you can also use an electronic journal, like a blog, or one such as Dream Journal: http://dreamjournal.net/

There are many other techniques to learn and practice lucid dreaming. Here are some examples: http://www.consciousdreaming.com/lucid-dreaming/how-to-lucid-dream.htm , http://www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com/ and there are many more out there.

 

Dreaming is also considered by most versions of magical theory to be a form of awareness of the astral realm, and as a way of astral travel. Astral Travel is another huge subject that I won’t get into right now, as it needs its own blog post (to say the least).

 

Dream Divination, also known as Oneiromancy (from the Greek Oneiroi) is a system that uses dreams to predict the future. The earliest record of dream divination comes from the Egyptians (19th Dynasty around 1275 BC), and it is known as Ramesside Dream-Book. So as you can see, it is an ancient form of divination still used today.

There are countless books that interpret dreams and it is good to have a couple of them around to help with interpretations. But I find that once you get familiar with some of the basic interpretations that you can find in many books or websites, you can then begin to use your intuition for dream interpretation. This is even better when you are interpreting your own dreams because you are more connected and familiar with the content. My mother and I usually interpret each others dreams. Sometimes there are messages that can come through the interpreter directly from the Divine or a spirit guide which can be instructions on some type of spiritual work you need to do, or a recipe for a magical work that you must do, or simply some guidance that is being passed on to you through the dream.

I’ve sometimes thought of the idea that our dreams are a parallel dimension and we get glimpses of it (dreams) or we get in touch with our other selves in that dimension to feel and experience and learn.

I could go on and on about dreams and dreaming. It really is a fascinating world. I’ll go on further in a future post. :)

Until then, may you have empowering dreams!

Love and Blessings
Oscura

'Rites of Passage' artwork by Oscura LM

 

Citrine: The Energy Converter [Pagan Blog Project]

Image from http://en.wikipedia.org

Citrine is only one of several quartz varieties. Its name is derived from the French word “citron” whichmeans “lemon”. It is any quartz crystal or cluster that is yellow or orange in color. Somewhat rare in nature, citrine is often confused with the more expensive orange-yellow topaz. Most citrines on the market have been heat treated (the more orange and reddish ones). These beautiful crystals lived a past life as Amethysts, until the heat from nearby magmatic bodies (in the case of the naturally made) caused their amazing transformation.

I first was attracted to citrines because of their beautiful color and because it seemed to me a bit more of a rare crystal as I was used to seeing more quartz of the smoky, clear, and amethyst type. I picked up a point citrine crystal without knowing much about it. I guess my instincts served me well when I chose to buy one.
Citrine doesn’t hold negative energy, so cleansing or clearing is not necessary. Instead it transmutes negative energy into positive. It really is an amazing and very useful crystal; one that you will treasure for all of its benefits.
Just think about it. If citrine is transmuting negative energy into positive, the possibilities are endless! Bad habits, lack of motivation, quitting smoking; it can help you release negative traits. Of course we must remember that lessons may need to be learned so if a negative trait lingers it’s probably because there is a lesson to be learned from it and in due time it will be released. Still, I think that if my Citrine can help me, then I welcome the help.
For prosperity and success this is a great little helper. It is called Merchant Stone for a reason. Placing it in your safe, cash register, and in your purse or wallet (a small tumbled crystal would work) will not only help attract wealth, but also helps to maintain it.
Keep citrine with you to stimulate mental focus and commitment to the task at hand. It is believed that citrine enhances the intuition and the connection to the higher self. It raises the mood, encourages happiness while stabilizing emotions and calming anger and frustration. So if you have a job like customer service representative for example, imagine how helpful it would be in calming the nerves that customers tend to raise.
To encourage a good night’s sleep, keep a citrine under your pillow. It will help remove fears, and overcome nightmares.
When it comes to healing, citrine is there for you. If you suffer from digestive problems, keep it nearby, even better if you can wear one. citrine may also help improve blood circulation. It is often used to treat degenerative diseases and to diminish growths. It may also help improve the vision, activate the thymus gland and balance the thyroid gland. It is of course not to be used as a substitute for medical advice and treatment. It is more of a supplement.
During meditation, citrine will help you connect to your higher self. Since it is associated with the Sacral/solar plexus chakra, it is nice to have it in that area (as a pendant for example). During my daily Reiki self-treatment, I sometimes hold it in my hands as I do the hand placements and it feels great. I only do this for self-treatment though, and not when I am giving Reiki treatment to another person. Reiki doesn’t really need anything external other than the Reiki practitioner.
Citrine also plays a part on a very popular modern tool: Mineral Makeup. Yes, I am referring to the makeup that us women wear on a daily basis. Imagine the benefits of having something as healing as citrine be part of the makeup you wear every day.

I’m only scratching the surface here. If you do your research, there is much more information about citrine quartz. But if you are looking for a quartz that will bring all around positive energy and positive results, then citrine is worth looking into. I know I personally love it. :)

Love and blessings,
~Oscura

On the Subject of Banishing [Pagan Blog Project]

The term ‘banishing’ is one I’ve read about since I first started studying and training in Witchcraft about 2 decades ago. Mind you, I am not the type to read something and memorize it. I need to actually use the information, repeat it, revisit it, to be able to retain it. So my basic understanding of banishing has almost always been, that we use banishing methods to get rid of something unwanted, something of a spiritual or energetic nature.

I use banishing on a daily basis, although it is banishing of a lesser, simpler kind. For example, after morning prayers I banish my simple circle with the sound of a bell or my systrum; also, whenever any negative or stressful thoughts creep up into my mind and begin to disturb me, I use a symbolic destruction in which I imagine a huge sledge hammer destroying the thought as if it was a TV screen. One banishing ritual that has been my custom for many years at midnight when the new year is coming, is as follows:

I find a pen and a piece of paper that is small, but with enough space to write on it. I also have my cauldron or any other container that is fire proof, and of course some matches and a pair of tweezers. Regardless of the fire being indoors or outdoors, I always make sure it is in a safe container and have water nearby just in case. I also keep the fire small. I sit and meditate on the year that has passed and all the things I would like to be rid of like bad habits, health problems if any, negative situations. When I’m ready, I take the piece of paper and write my list and fold the paper. I don’t look at it anymore. I deposit all the negativity in that paper. Then, at midnight I take the piece of paper with the tweezers, and light it on fire. I watch it for a few seconds as the fire of destruction gets to work and I drop it in the cauldron and let it be consumed in the flames. Done, gone.

Lately, the subject of banishing has been popping in my mind a lot. I think this is because of so many exorcism and paranormal related films that I’ve been seeing, and the growth in popularity of paranormal investigation in the mainstream, with many TV shows to choose from. I find myself wondering what I would do if I were in this person’s or that person’s shoes, pondering what type of banishing would work on this or that situation and what they are doing wrong and right.

I grabbed my Encyclopedia of the Occult by John Michael Greer to quickly find a definition. In short, here it is: “Banishing. The process of causing a spirit or nonphysical force to depart or withdraw from manifestation.” Greer mentions that there are two effective ways of banishing, one using ceremonial magic, the other relying on natural magic. On the ceremonial side we have the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP) which can be a very powerful ritual and you can even find videos of it on websites such as YouTube. I myself have not performed the LBRP, as I tend to lean towards the natural magic type of banishing. This type deals with herbs and other natural materials such as metals, minerals, and stones that have a natural energy that helps to banish and protect.

So banishing is done through all the senses. Here are just a few examples of each. By sight via visualization, by sound via the use of bells and other musical instruments as well as words of power, by smell via the use of herbs, oils and incenses and by touch via the physical removal of objects connected with the unwanted, by removing a person (who is causing harm) from a group or coven, by special ritual dances or movements, and even the physical destruction of a piece of paper among others. These are all combined as necessary.

The list of ways to banish can go on and on, and is only limited by creativity, resources and intention. I want to make an important note here. That for any magical working we must first carefully meditate on our intention, and consider that every action has a reaction. Situations always teach us something, there are no coincidences. We must consider if that which we want to banish has served a purpose to us, and the lesson has been learned. The impulse to jump into the working can be strong sometimes but rushing can lead to regretful mistakes, specially when the situation is deeper or more serious.

I like to sort of test myself while I watch movies or anime of a magical or paranormal subject, and think of what I would do in a specific situation. I recently was rolling  my eyes endlessly while watching Paranormal Activity 2. The boyfriend was a collection of the most cliched things anyone can do in a situation as the one they were in. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, so I won’t go into details of the movie itself. It’s not that the movie is so good, but it is a great example of what NOT to do when a negative entity is attacking you and/or your relatives, friends, etc. Some serious banishing and exorcism would be necessary in such a situation, but then again, there was a background that lead to the situation that they posed in the movie.

Banishing is a subject that is fascinating and it is a very important practice that every Witch should learn. Writing this blog entry has helped me to remember and to research and even discover more about how I’ve been using banishing rituals in the past. There is of course, much more to learn. Always.

 

Blessings
Oscura

Finding out what my dream was about 4 years later

Four years ago, I had a very strange dream that involved dead bodies resting up on a tree. Here is an excerpt of my dream: “They were launching the bodies across the sky with a catapult. They landed on a tree across the water. I was one of them. When I landed on the tree I woke up and I asked one of the others why….she said that they exiled us because to them, we were too different, and evil. To us it was just because we were special and they did not understand us…”

The featured image below on this post is something I created a few months after my dream, to try to illustrate what I saw in my dream. The bodies were wrapped and rested on the tree branches.

I wasn’t sure what the dream meant so, I simply wrote it down. I only thought of it as being a vry odd dream so I didn’t do anything else about it. Today, on my way home from work, I read the following:

“Several centuries ago, when travelers returned from the Caucasus Mountains and reported having seen dead bodies carefully laid in tree branches, they were describing a tradition that was already venerable when the kings of ancient Colchis – keepers of the Golden Fleece – ruled the area. Deliberate exposure is perhaps humankind’s oldest way of disposing of cadavers.”

It is such an odd realization to find out 4 years later, that I dreamed about an ancient burial ritual that I had no idea existed. And yet, even American Indians practiced Tree-burial. The book that I was reading btw, is Vampire Forensics: Uncovering the Origins of an Enduring Legend by Mark Collins Jenkins. From all I’ve read about the way we humans handle  the dead, we haven’t been very respectful or grateful to them, at least not throughout most of our history. As I read all these stories of different ways people used to abuse and destroy the dead (due to the fear of them coming back and doing terrible things), I can’t help but wonder what the other side of the story is: How do the dead feel about it? And then I remember my dream, when the dead woman on the tree said to me that people think they are evil, so they exile them but they are simply special and misunderstood….

 

'Exiled' artwork by Oscura

'Exiled' artwork by Oscura

 

 

 

Moving Forward with Gratitude

Photo of Yule Tree

2011 and 2012, two huge years of change. Our friends the Mayans, were so blessed to have the wisdom, the knowledge of what this journey would entail. Our world is now at the door of a spiritually unified era, and I feel very blessed to be living here, now.

This new era is more of a return to basics. Spirituality, love, unity, and the connection to Mother Earth and each other that we’ve neglected for so long. This year I’ve felt the current of unconditional love that flows all around us and within each of us, thanks to Amma’s Darshan. It is difficult to explain in a way that is understandable because of all the limitations and corruptions that we’ve taken into our lives.

As we quickly move into 2012, I feel excited and grateful. I want to hold my brothers and sisters’ hands and just enjoy each other and share anything that is requested and needed of me. I look forward to a healthier, joyful life for all of us.

Those who shut themselves out of all this, who hold on to patriarchal, violent, religious, purely materialistic ways, may not enjoy this as much as the rest of us (to say the least), and I have hopes that they will turn around and open their hearts and even let us aid them.

I encourage everyone to express their gratitude to the Divine, the Universe, or any other way you’d like to call it. Be grateful, everyday; shift your focus from what lacks to what you have in the moment, because that is what really counts. Learn to see the blessings, from what seems like small to what seems to be huge. This shift in focus is an open invitation to a steady flow of blessings into our lives. :)

 

I just want to say THANK YOU, to my family, friends, co-workers, to my ancestors, to all who’ve been part of my life one way or another at some point (thank you for all you taught me), and also those who work to create all the things that help me in my daily life. To Mother Earth, and the Divine, I am grateful  to all. And I love you all.

 

Much Love and Blessings,

Oscura, Nigaya, LM