Home Again!

I want to tell you that I skipped almost the whole chapter on Web Weaving. I have moved in the Pagan community and while I have no problems with people coming to me, I have seen too much back-stabbing and politics from the members of my local community to be willingly active in it.

The section on Divination was accurate, including how each Witch has a breakthrough moment with a specific divination tool. I was first exposed to Runes by a friends step-father, he seamed really interested in reading me the first time we met. I think it was in an effort to know his step daughter. I don't remember his name, but I remember he was drinking a can of budweiser and I pulled two runes.

Raido and Algiz.

He smiled and said that I was going to be good for Heather. That was it, no trouble getting permission for her to stay over, and not the bat of an eyelash if I stayed an extra night with them.

I picked up my Mom's tarot a bit after that, my readings are startlingly accurate but my true love is lithomancy. Working with crystals.

The rest of the book was about spell work and different approaches to it mixed with referance tables. I can't say that as a whole I did not enjoy reading it again. I think that what I am taking away this time is completely different. This back to basics expirment has been a success, some of my passion for my craft is coming back. And to my great pleasure a young lady asked me to teach her a few weeks back, and while I am not confident as to her level of commitment the idea of bridging into the role of mentor is thrilling. As I continue my own journey in back to basics I'll be paying attention to what I feel should be shared with my new student.

Onto my Next Read!

My Dedication

This is another scheduled post. Per Silver I should be recording notes on my Dedication as I have already committed to my path. You know that as you read this I am camping, and going through various rites both alone and among my coven.

Date: Today
Time: Mid-Afternoon
Moon: Last-Quarter
Astrological: Gemini
Purpose: Rebirth
Tools: Beer, Incense, Anointing Oil, Athame
Guardians: Fae
Deities: The Great Mother and Forest Lord

My Original Dedication

Date: May 1st 1995
Time: Midnight
Moon: New
Astrological: Taurus
Purpose: Present myself to the Gods
Tools: Standard Altar
Guardians: Fae
Deities: Airmed and Arawn

Camping

This was a pre-scheduled post. Even now I am outside the city and 10 miles away from cellular service. We left the valley early this morning and had camp set up this afternoon. I have set aside some time to meditate.

The Chapter after the one on tools and preparation is all about magickal record keeping and ritual preparation, all building up to a personal dedication. Per this blog, you already know that I am quite comfortable with my Book of Shadows.

However, while I am up at the Spring I've decided that aside from the rededication of the Coven that I am going to take the time to re-dedicate myself. Using what I know now I think that I will get more from the ritual than I did as a Teen. I know myself a lot better now than I did then.

Unlike then, my Rite won't be focussed on what I do and do not have, nor will it be introducing myself to the Gods.

I am going to be reborn, and I am going to claim my birthright among Witches as a Priestess.

A Personal Note

Almost exactly a month ago, the chain that bore my pentacle at my throat snapped. It upset me, but the pentacle I wear hasn't been consecrated in a few years, almost ten, and tree of life that I have had on the same chain was never consecrated, I've had it almost three years. So I have them in a side pocket on my purse and have gone shopping for a chain.

I didn't find a chain. I found some other items that spoke to me. It was a lesson, my chain breaking was that moment that I knew I hadn't been paying attention to my faith and actions. It took me a few hours but the message sank in. I have done a lot of asking without giving, and while I claim to honor my Scottish heritage the Scots have little to do with how I practice aside from a connection to the Fae. I know things of the old ways because of my parents, ways that were practiced in the Highlands before the families crossed over to the states. I know the lore, but I don't honor it.

In my Back to Basics, I am on the search for more that the passion I once had for my craft. I am looking for myself. Who practiced the ways of the Clans. I am searching for my Robertson Red Tartan Shawl so it can again adorn me during rituals. I have bought a set of stones marked for the elements so that I may mark my circle and I have bought a Sgian-dubh to act as an Athame. Its not my intention to use them at all times. Maybe just at Samhain or other times of importance to my ancestors.

Summer Solstice

This week, Thursday through Monday of next week I will be gone camping with my Coven. We have some great plans to rededicate ourselves, reconnect and re-consecrate ritual tools. Which was what the last chapter was all about.

Getting ready to dedicate to the path of Witchcraft.

I am already dedicated, but I am going to take some time off and try to capture what I have lost. More back to basics, a couple things that have been embraced by my Coven, we are all going to rededicate.

I plan on dragging along an old school paper journal and practicing my French. Just kidding, while I am taking along my journal some incense and some candles. My only ambition is to unplug and reconnect.

There is a place I am looking forward to being when I meditate and some Black Thorn that I can wild harvest as well as Juniper berries. I got to thinking that I haven't wild harvested resins or anything for incense in a while, since I was nineteen to be precise. So I may take a walk with that in mind.

I have some posts scheduled for my time away and will do a better update once I get back.

Holy Water

I'll be camping next week. Silver pointed out that Spring water can be hard to find. This is true throughout most of the country. Where I am camping is Clover Springs, and the spring (where it bubbles up out of the ground) is actually located about twenty feet from where I'll be camping. As is customary for my Coven we walk over to the spring, leave an offering to the elemental there (we know there is one, we had a case many moons ago when someone investigating our Coven got on its bad side) once the offering is laid, we speak a blessing and collect a respectful amount of the water, usually about a quart to see us through the years rituals. On other trips we may collect smaller quantities to present to friends in the Pagan Community.

Now Silver has a recipe for Holy Water that she suggests that we record, it's not the same recipe I use:

Holy Water
To be performed at midnight on the full moon (or whenever the moon is at its zenith in the night sky).

• 1 Tsp Rose-Water (Optional)
• 3 tbsp Sea-Salt
• 1 Small bowl Spring Water (1/2 to 1 Cup)
• 1 Clean glass bowl
• A Small compact mirror (I would use a flat mirror candle dish or a black mirror)
• 1 Clean glass storage container (I suggest one with a stopper not a cork, like a Cruet used to serve salad dressings)

Clean the bowl and the container with boiling water, then set your altar. 

Circle Cast and any other Esbat stuff.

*** FOCUS ON VISUALIZATIONS ***

Taking the Goddess Position (seen below) Say:

"In the cloak of the midnight hour I call upon the Ancient Power. I seek the presence of the Lady and the Lord, to bless this water that I shall pour."

Take a moment to feel the energy stirring then add the rosewater (if you chose to use it) and hold the bowl aloft in the moonlight saying:

"In my hands I hold the essence of the Gods. I hereby cleanse and consecrate this water, to Divinity, that it may be used in positive acts only and aid me in my works."

Rinse and Repeat with the Salt. Add three small pinches of salt to the water. (You will salt it during later rituals also).

Stirring deosil.

Either use the mirror to reflect the moonlight onto the water or place the container on the mirrors surface.

"This liquid now serves the Lord and Lady, it is free from any negativity, in any time, in any space."

My Witches Cabinet

This Chapter didn't have any home work for me, just advise on tools and spell components.

I would like to Note that anything can have a magick purpose, a few years back my best friend bought me a case of latch sealing jars (24 jars), each holds about 2 ounces. I set out to fill each jar with some non-herbal spell ingredient. I have Cemetary dirt, Crossroads dirt, seashells and sea glass, coffin nails, sea salt, black salt and blue salt (personal invention). I also have Ashes from the bale fire, tiny quartz crystal points, other assorted crystals, copper, silver and some other things that I cant remember at the moment.

By limiting the quantity of what you have you will need less storage space. Don't collect ten years worth of every herb on the market these things have a shelf-life. Keep a six pack of your favorite bottled beer around but don't stock more, this gives you enough libations for a couple months. If you don't do alcohol recently the option has come available to by a six pack of sparkling cider.

Don't file bankruptcy to afford something that you can make yourself, there are always people out there who just want to take advantage.