Signs That You’re a Witch?

I have seen *so* many videos on this lately. Luckily, most of them appear to be older, so maybe it was just a meme-type thing, but the truth of the matter is, there is only 1 sign that you are a witch. Ready for it?

You practise witchcraft.

That’s it. The end. You can’t really be a witch and not know it. Just like you can’t really be a carpenter and not know it. The word is a descriptor of an action or a trade. It’s something you know you’re doing.

Until you hit that point, you are a Seeker. And there is nothing wrong with that. Being a Seeker is the best! Everything is new and magical and filled with enchantment. Not that I’m saying that that feeling fades with time necessarily.

Even for me, 25ish years later, the spring time feels like life and magic, journeying, and meditation feel like home; but there are few things that carry the same trepidation and exhilaration that venturing down a new path does. It’s incredible. And it should be enjoyed for as long as possible.

In the beginning, having a name for your path can feel like the most important thing in the world. How can you have an legitimacy if your path doesn’t have a name? Let me ask you this: does the tree outside your window have a name? Does the bird flitting about the branches? Do they need one to exist?

Don’t be so quick to slap a label on something that is developing and growing. I can count on one hand the number of times that someone in real life has asked me about my religion, and more often than not, they ask if I attend church. My response is simply, ‘No, we don’t go to church.’ Another perfectly valid answer would be: ‘Sorry, I don’t discuss religion. It causes too much friction.’

Back in the day, our parents and grandparents held to a strict rule of ‘no discussing politics or religion at the dinner table.’ I, personally, pull that into my own life as often as possible. We very much don’t need to know every detail of our neighbours’ business, and they don’t need to know every detail of mine.

 

The Plan 2015

I have been having a ridiculously difficult time writing this post.  Well, writing any posts at all, really.  I have been dealing with a hefty case of the winter blahs, and it has been sapping all of my ability to brain.

I have moments of clarity and inspiration, but by the time I find a pen to write it down, it’s gone.  Free writing/word association has helped a bit with getting the thoughts out of my head, but beyond that, stringing two thoughts together has been a bit of a challenge.  This is a difficult time for me as I still feel that energizing push to travel new paths and learn new things in honour of the new year.

The sunshine of the last couple of weeks has helped to lift the winter fog.  And while it may be a coincidence, I am also going to credit the coming of the Lunar new year.  Yay, Year of the Ram and the season of Pisces!

It’s been more years than I would like to think since I have worked on advancing my own path.  For some strange reason, inspiration tends to strike at right about the same time that I start considering joining teaching traditions.  It would seem that well travelled, nicely groomed and cared for trails generate a “run off and do my own thing” response in me.

Finally, I have settled on exploring the concept of sacred sound – be it chanting, singing, drumming, mantras, etc.  I am interested in delving more deeply into the assorted vibrations that echo through the universe and create change in the world.  I have found a couple of books on Amazon that I am going to be reading through.  If I find them useful, I may review them here.  I haven’t written a book review in a good long time.

I am excited for the warming weather, and the promise of the coming year.  Cheers all!

Moon Magic and the Lunar Year: Esbats

THE MOON

From our earliest childhood we are mesmerized by the silvery beauty of the moon.  As large in the night sky as the sun is in the day, the moon has provided inspiration to artists, musicians and magic workers for thousands of years.

I remember the first time I pointed out the full moon to my little one.  She sat staring up at it through our frost covered window for a good ten minutes, chanting “Moon! Moon!” over and over.  Eventually she fell into silence, but would not let me close the curtain.  She wanted to watch the moon.

Now she is in love with the shapes of the moon and stars.  She is always the first to spot a crescent moon anywhere and on anything (including the cat’s claws).  She has a toy that projects stars on to the ceiling in the dark, and won’t go to sleep until she has picked out the moon amongst them.

The Wheel Turns to: Twelfth Night

I have debated whether I should write an article about Twelfth Night.  There is very little to be found about it anywhere that is of a Pagan bent rather than a lesser known Christian holiday relating to the Epiphany.

However, I have, in my own way celebrated Twelfth Night for a many years.  And perhaps, a lot of you have too.  To my mind, Twelfth Night has, in some ways been taken over by our modern celebration of New Year’s Eve.  If you count twelve nights from the eve of the winter solstice, you arrive on or around New Year’s.

It’s Raining …

… and I have a napping baby in my lap, so I thought I would write a post.  See?  I told you I wouldn’t be away too long.

I was reading over some of the other posts in the PBP, and it seems to me that a lot of folks are running out of steam.  There are some interesting topics, but too many of the articles barely break 100 words.

BOTW: To Ride a Silver Broomstick

This book was originally published in 1993, and I believe it was Ravenwolf’s first book.  It has been reprinted many times over the years with updates and some of the more controversial portions removed or changed.  This is one of the reasons that there is so much debate over this book.

Some will claim that it is full of dangerous and unethical information, and others will claim that they found nothing of the kind. It all depends on which volume you happen to read.  The version I read for this review was published prior to 2000 (I wish I could check the copyright page, but I no longer have this book, so I am going by the year that it was given to me).

Virtues of the Goddess

I was reading through some of the ‘H’ posts for the Pagan Blog Project and came across a post on Gangleri’s Grove about Humility as a virtue.  From what I understand, the Nine Noble Virtues are central to Heathen spirituality.

In many circles it is commonly held that Wiccan ethics end with ‘An it harm none, do as ye will’.  Some years ago, a friend of mine wrote an essay refuting this idea and exploring the virtues that the Goddess laid down for us in the Charge.