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The Official List of Green Witch Books, Blogs, and YT Channels

admin — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 18:24:22 +0000

Looking to expand your knowledge as a green witch? Research, read, and study using our mega GIANT list of green witch books and resources. Find books, blogs, and YT channels on green witchcraft, herbalism, foraging and wildcrafting, trees, fairies, folklore, and more! DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you information about the paranormal and paganism. Green Witch Books & Resources Sections covered in this list: Green Witch and Wicca Books Herbal Books for the Green Witch Tree Magic and Ogham Foraging and Wildcrafting Fairies and Folklore Green Witch Blogs Recommended YT Channels Green Witchcraft & Wicca Books 1. The Green Witch The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock is a new book on the market for the green witch. It is also a loved book in that it provides easy to use recipes and information on herbs, essential oils, and more! 2. Green Witchcraft 1, 2, and 3 by Ann Moura is a favorite among Wiccans and Green witches alike. If you learn more towards Wicca, you’ll love Ann Moura’s books. 3. Another of Ann Moura’s green books, Grimoire for the Green Witch provides a full Book of Shadows for readers to use and adapt for their own green traditions. 4. A Green Witch’s Cupboard Deborah Martin is a Master Herbalist and teaches us about sixty-nine different herbs in A Green Witch’s Cupboard – herbs that can be used in cooking, medicine, and magic. 5. Craft of the Wild Witch by Poppy Palin is an essential for the green witch. A green witch is indeed a wild witch, utilizing the energies of the forest, garden, and meadows. Talking to the trees and fairies. Seeing herbs as magical helpers. Herbal Books for the Green Witch 1. Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs I haven’t used any other herbal book more than this one. Scott Cunningham is a well-known Wiccan author and this book will demonstrate why. An indelible reference for the green witch to always have on-hand. 2. Another of my must-have herbal reference books, 20,000 Secrets of Tea makes it easy to concoct magical teas for medicine and everyday use. I can’t tell you how many times I referred to this book by Victoria Zak. 3. This new herbal guide by Maia Toll and Kate O’Hara will have you gawking at the beautiful artwork. 36 bewitching botanicals are detailed within. 4. The Witching Herbs I’ve heard nothing but good things about The Witching Herbs by Harold Roth. Not only does he discuss the magic of each herb, but also goes into detail about their lore and history. A must-have on the green witch bookshelf. 5. Another of Cunningham’s books – The Complete Book of Incense, Oils, and Brews gives easy-to-use incense recipes, oil mixtures, and brews for various magical intentions as well as to honor different deities. 6. Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health The green witch should know how to use herbs for magic but also for healing. Rosemary Gladstar’s books are a wonderful place to start learning the healing effects of herbs. Tree Magic and Ogham 1. The Magic of Trees by Tess Whitehurst will teach you about the magical properties of trees and how to utilize tree magic in your practice. Often green witches attach to herbs but forget the power of the trees! 2. Whispers from the Woods One of the first books I picked up on tree magic by Sandra Kynes is a must-have for the green witch. 3. Celtic Tree Magic Danu Forest guides us into the magical forest of the Druids and teaches us about the Ogham sacred tree alphabet in Celtic Tree Magic. Foraging and Wildcrafting 1. The Forager’s Harvest The Forager’s Harvest by Samuel Thayer is a book that should be on every green witch’s bookshelf. If you’re a green witch, you’re a natural forager. Learn how to properly identify, harvest, and prepare edible wild plants with this guide. 2. Foraging and Feasting Foraging and Feasting: A Field Guide and Wild Food Cookbook by Dina Falconi gives recipes and details on how to harvest edible wild foods just like our ancestors once did! 3. With great reviews on Amazon, Ellen Zachos’ guide to 65 backyard plants you didn’t know you could eat is the perfect book for the green witch looking to learn more about edible plants in his or her own backyard! 4. Edible Wild Plants Edible Wild Plants by Thomas Elias and Peter Dykeman has sold over one hundred thousand copies to foragers and herbalists worldwide. It details over 200 wild foods and the photographs are stunning! Fairies and Folklore 1. A green witch has a connection with the forest. Dive into the folklore and mythology of the forest to learn more. 2. A Witch’s Guide to Faery Folk One of the first books I picked up on the fairies and one that I still own to this day. A must-have guide to working with the fairies and spirits of the forest by Edain McCoy. 3. Meeting the Other Crowd A compendium of stories about Irish fairies, Meeting the Other Crowd by Eddie Lenehan is intriguing and hard to put down! 4. The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries by W.Y. Evans-Wentz is a timeless fairy book from the early twentieth century that every green witch should read. It gives an idea as to how the belief in fairies was widespread over the continent of Europe. Even my kids love hearing the fairy stories in this book! 5. Wildflower Folklore Want to learn more about wildflowers and their energies? Read Wildflower Folklore by Laura C. Martin. Green Witch Blogs 1. Sarah Anne Lawless One of the first witchcraft blogs I ever found and am still attached to is Sarah Anne Lawless’ blog now called Bane Folk. Sarah is an animist, folk witch, forager, and herbalist. Talk about an essential blog for the green witch! 2. The Witchy Mommy A personal […]

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Cat Goddesses & Male Cat Gods + How to Honor Them

admin — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 20:02:30 +0000

Gods and Goddesses of the ancient world held a connection with certain animals. This is because our ancestors’ beliefs were animistic – they believed everything on earth had consciousness and a soul. Wildlife was sacred to our ancestors. The cat was held in high regard by many ancient civilizations, namely ancient Egypt. We see the cat appearing in dozens of European folk tales, being particularly linked to witches as their familiars. Learn more about cat goddesses and male cat gods from various cultures below. Greek and Roman Cat Goddesses The Greek goddesses Artemis and Athena both have connections to cats. The Greeks saw the Egyptian cat goddess Bast alive in their Greek goddess of the forest – Artemis. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, is mostly depicted with owls and snakes; however, Athena aids Heracles in slaying a monstrous lion. Also, the sphinx makes an appearance on Athena’s headdress in an ancient sculpture of her that once stood in the Parthenon. Circe, the Greek goddess of transformation and sorcery, has a prison of men whom she’s turned into pigs and lions. The Roman goddesses Diana and Juno have close ties to big cats, as well. Cybele, one of the most ancient Greek goddesses, rules over large cats like the lion and tiger. Ancient Egyptian Cat Goddesses Bast is probably the most well-known of all ancient cat goddesses. She hails from ancient Egypt and was depicted as a black cat or as a woman with the head of a cat. Her cult center was at the ancient city of Bubastis. While Bast presided over light-hearted revelry and motherhood in Lower Egypt, her counterpart was Sekhmet, a fierce cat goddess from Upper Egypt. Bast was once a warrior goddess, too. In later years, her demeanor softened and Sekhmet came to be the feared lioness among the two cat goddesses. Ancient Semitic Cat Goddesses Asherah was an ancient Semitic goddess who is even mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. She was also known as Qadesh, depending on time and region, and is sometimes depicted standing on the back of a lion. Other than this depiction, Asherah’s link to cats isn’t well documented though she has been called the Lion Lady. This reflects the ancient belief in the “Lady of Beasts”, a prehistoric concept of primitive woman as ruling the animal kingdom. In the Queen of the Night Relief, some scholars say the goddess is Erishkegal while others claim it is Lilith. Whomever the ancient goddess is, she has a clear connection to cats as she is flanked by two lions. Hindu Cat Goddesses The Hindu pantheon began in ancient times and is still a part of Indian culture today. Two of the most sacred Hindu goddess are Durga and Parvati, both of whom share a connection with large cats. Durga, the feminine representation of the positive divine energy in the universe, rides a lion into battle. Sometimes she’s shown riding on the back of a tiger, though some sources say this is incorrect. Shiva’s wife is Parvati, the goddess of beauty and love, whose mount is also a lion. Two Cats to Be Revered Freya is the Norse Goddess of lust, love and beauty. On the opposite side, she is also the goddess of death and war. Similar to a cat, she is seductive and playful but takes an alternate, aggressive approach to those who wrong her. She is a cat goddess because she is often illustrated as riding in a chariot drawn by cats. Yaoji is a Chinese mountain goddess, also known as the Jade Lady, who is often featured in artwork with a beautiful tiger. These two cat goddesses were revered in their own way in two very different cultures. DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you information about the paranormal and paganism. Bes: Egyptian God of Protection Household gods were common in ancient times, and Egypt had its own – Bes. Bes was a fierce protector of the people. He particularly loved families and children and was strong enough to fight off lions with his bare hands. In the New Kingdom, Bes’ appearance changed and he often wore leopard skin. Of the ancient male cat gods, he was the smallest in stature – a “dwarf god” in nature. But powerful, nonetheless. Asian Male Cat Gods In Asia, there are many male cat gods because of the prevalence of large cats like the tiger and leopard. Manjushri is a Buddhist deity whose name and qualities vary depending on the region. In Indonesia, he is seen wearing a necklace made of tiger’s teeth. The tiger may have once been Manjushri’s ally or mount. In Hindu religion, Shiva sits upon a tiger or tiger’s skin. He is also seen wearing tiger’s skin. As Shiva is the god of destruction, the link between Shiva and the predatory tiger is evident. Mesopotamian Cat Gods The Mesopotamia had its share of male cat gods, surprisingly enough. Dionysus, the Greek God of wine and revelry, rode a leopard or wore leopard skin. He was seen riding in a chariot drawn by panthers or cheetahs. In some places, Dionysus was linked to the lion. Cats are seductive and playful creatures, so its no wonder Dionysus was associated with them. In the old Babylonian Empire, Nergal was a god of the sun who was also a lion. His cult is mentioned in the Bible. As a god of war, Nergal’s lion-form was feared and worshiped. The Aztec Jaguar God Tezcatlipoca was the Aztec god of change, the sky, and ancestral inheritance. In his jaguar-form, Tezcatlipoca becomes the deity Tepeyollotl and rules over the dark, animals, caves, and earthquakes. Tepeyolltl is the heart of Tezcatlipoca, and as a part of creation, his jaguar spots represent the stars. DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services […]

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DIY Banishing Herbs, Oils, Chants, & Rituals to Get Rid of Ghosts & Exes

admin — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 22:13:50 +0000

Banish Ghosts and Exes Are you having problems with pesky, unwanted ghosts in your house? Sometimes we can live with the dead, sometimes we can’t. Same with ex-lovers. Are they helping or harming you? If it’s the latter, time to KICK them to the CURB! Whether your problem is ghosts or an ex, banishing is the best way to keep them out of your life. A personalized banishing ritual with butt-kicking banishing herbs and oils is best performed on the Waning Moon. The Waning Moon un-does things. It puts things into reverse or decreases things; hence, the BEST time for banishing something or someone from your life! Learn how to make your own banishing oil and apply it to a ritual below. Powerful Banishing Herbs Having a problem with ghosts or stalkers? Time to stock up on at least ONE of these banishing herbs, though two is better! Find them in your backyard, local forest, grocery store, online, or nearby metaphysical store. 1. Thorns While not technically an “herb”, thorns (aka prickles and spines) from nearly any plant or tree work wonders as banishing herbs and as an ingredient in banishing rituals. The thorn serves as a protective weapon, psychically pricking any intruder (be it spirit or person). Trees with thorns include: honey locust, hawthorn, black locust, and american plum. Plants and shrubs with thorns include: roses, firethorn, bougainvillea, blackberry, raspberry, and cacti. Use heavy gloves and caution when removing thorns or spines from a plant or tree. 2. Garlic Did you ever wonder why garlic is used to ward off vampires in the movies? Garlic has been used for centuries in exorcisms of many kinds – from ghosts to illness. Its cleansing and protective qualities make it one of the best banishing herbs to get rid of ghosts and ex-lovers. 3. Pepper When you have too much pepper, you sneeze, right? Think of pepper as a powerful banishing herb in this way – sprinkle a ton of pepper in a circle around your house and it will drive away any negative entities. Pepper is used in hoodoo recipes like hot foot powder to send an enemy far away. Pepper’s magical associations include the element of Fire, which serves to “inflame” any ritual it’s part of. This herb has been used for centuries in warding off evil and the evil eye. 4. Sage Most people know white sage is probably the most powerful banishing herb to use in a house. It clears out negative energy and entities with ease. But sage smudging alone will not work to banish a ghost or person from your home and life forever. Measures must be taken to keep them away for good. This is why a banishing oil and ritual are crucial (cleansing, blessing, and protecting). The Triple Threat Banishing Ritual for Your Home Now you’re thinking “great. I know the best herbs for banishing, but how do I use them?” I know how confusing banishing rituals seem, so here is the triple threat banishing ritual I use to keep ghosts and intruders out and away from my home. The triple threat is 3 steps: cleansing, blessing, and protecting. For further banishing rituals to keep exes and creepers away scroll down. DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you information about the paranormal and paganism. 1. Cleanse your house of negative energy with a smudge bundle (with white sage if you can get it). Cleansing is the first part of the process and should NEVER be skipped. White sage is extremely effective, which is why Native Americans have used it for years. If you can’t get a hold of white sage, culinary sage and rosemary also work (among others). While smudging chant the following: “With this sage, I cleanse all negative energy away. Only positive energy can stay.” 2. Dip your finger in your homemade banishing oil (see below for recipe), and draw a protective symbol on every window and door. Whatever symbol you use for protection is at your discretion. I typically use a cross, the rune Thurisaz (the thorn rune), or a bind-rune of my creation. Other options for protective symbols include: personal sigils, the hamsa, the eye of horus, the troll cross, and the Helm of Awe. While blessing the windows and doors, chant: “I banish all forces that seek to harm me. As for me and my house, we are strong and free.” 3. For a triple measure of protection, draw a circle with banishing herbs around your house. Moving in a clockwise direction, start at your front door and circle your house in a mixture of banishing herbs. An example of an herbal banishing mixture is salt, pepper, and garlic powder, but any banishing herbs will work. Following your circle, bury a thorn in all four corners of the property. This creates a barrier of protection around your house. DIY Banishing Oil Recipe Ingredients: olive oil (base) black pepper garlic powder dried hot peppers (with seeds) jar or bottle with air-tight lid gloves Directions: IMPORTANT: Wear gloves to protect your skin and membranes from pepper oils which can cause rash and burning. Fill an air-tight jar/bottle three-quarters of the way with herb mixture. Pour olive oil over the herbs, almost to the top of the jar/bottle. Leave about a quarter of an inch empty at the top. Close jar/bottle with an air-tight lid. Shake the jar/bottle liberally. Place in a dark cabinet. Shake the jar/bottle daily for two weeks (up to a month). While wearing gloves, strain the herbs (or leave some in) and re-bottle your banishing oil. Creeper-Be-Gone: Powerful Banishing Ritual to Get Rid of Exes In addition to using the banishing ritual above to keep creepy, intrusive exes away from your house, you also need to protect yourself while out and about. Also on a Waning Moon, perform the Creeper-Be-Gone banishing candle ritual. Don’t be afraid […]

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Being Teen Wiccan Before Social Media: Raw, Personal Confessions

admin — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 13:50:34 +0000

When I first found Wicca, I was fourteen years old and living in a world where the internet was just starting to gain traction. Yes, we had a computer. Yes, we had access to the internet, but it was rather limited. We had dial-up and it would take forever for the browser to load a single page, so I didn’t have time to search the web for information on being a pagan or Wiccan nor did I even know it was an option back then. I found Wicca through a random book in my local thrift store – Laurie Cabot’s Power of the Witch. It’s faded purple cover caught my eye, and I picked it up, then looked around to make sure no one was watching me. I mean, come on, I had a book with the word witch on the cover in my hands! The scandal! When I knew no one was watching, I flipped through the book cautiously, and not-so-surprisingly I was drawn to the words and vibes of Cabot’s writing. Witchcraft is a religion? I thought. There is a female form of God? I could hardly contain my excitement. So, I bought the book for one dollar, the whole time worrying what the thrift store clerk thought of me buying such a blasphemous book. You see, I grew up in a somewhat small town in Southern Maryland with a population of about 30,000 at the time. And most of the residents were strict fundamental Christian – either Pentecostal or Southern Baptist. So if the words witch or magic are even whispered in this town, most people fall to their knees and start praying for your soul right in the middle of the grocery store. Or…they run away from you for fear the Devil is trying to steal their soul through you. DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you information about the paranormal and paganism. I took the book home and plopped on my bed with it, devouring every last word. Sure, some of it was confusing for a fourteen year old. Laurie Cabot has a way of diving deep into esotericism in some of her books. One confusing idea was of getting into an “alpha state” of mind. I had no idea what meditation felt like much less being able to use it at any time of the day. Nevertheless, I’d gotten a taste of magic and freedom and I wanted more. One book wasn’t enough to whet my newbie Wiccan appetite. So I scoured the stores for as much information as I could find. I bought books written by Scott Cunningham (of whom was one of the foremost authorities on Wicca) and also books by Silver Ravenwolf (yes, I know she’s a bit controversial but more on that later). I read and read some more and realized there were others out there who saw the world like me. As a magical, beautiful place full of enchantment and opportunity. My first ritual was a bit cliche. The first ritual I ever performed was an invocation of the Goddess, and admittedly, I had no clue what I was doing or why I was doing it. But, there I was, standing on my parents’ back porch in a black robe with a kitchen knife as my athame, looking up at the full moon and chanting words to somehow “invoke the goddess”. Embarrassingly, the reason I wanted to try it was probably because I saw it in The Craft. Don’t judge me. You all know you’ve done things just because of Sarah and Nancy. Nothing really happened out of the ordinary, except for the feeling that I was learning something new and mysterious. I was doing something rebellious that the town wouldn’t like nor would most of my family. But I didn’t care. It felt right. It stirred something within me nothing else ever had. So, onto the first spell I ever attempted. Can someone say botched teen love spell? Yep. I crouched in front of my makeshift, particle board corner table covered in a black sheet with a bottle of cinnamon in hand, my trusty kitchen knife-athame, a set of matches, and a red candle from the dollar store. Then I proceeded to perform a love spell to draw love into my life. I was fifteen. I should’ve been studying biology or some shit…instead of trying to change it. I carved a symbol into the candle, dressed it, then said a prayer while lighting it. Finding Wiccan Friends While I barreled headfirst into this new world of the craft, I realized there was only one other person like me – and she would become my best friend. We sat in her parents’ barn, drawing and painting magical symbols on the walls for hours. We walked through the woods and sat outside talking about Wicca and all kinds of paranormal topics. On the weekends, we took small road trips to local cemeteries and haunted historical sites. On really special weekends we got up the courage and saved up the gas money to travel a few hours out of town just to get to the one and only metaphysical store within hundreds of miles. We once entertained the idea of doing a full moon initiation in the woods, which unfortunately never came to fruition. High School finals get in the way every time. Not to mention we both had part time jobs at the local thrift store (yes, the one where I originally found Cabot’s book), and we both acquired boyfriends. No, not because of my love spell from two years earlier. Fast forward to me at nineteen years old. I move out of my parents’ house and move to Florida to go to design school. I still considered myself Wiccan, though my spirituality had been somewhat suppressed at this time because of my high maintenance boyfriend and then even […]

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Modern Sun Worship: Solar Deities, Sun Worship Rituals, Sun Magic and More!

admin — Sun, 22 Jul 2018 14:59:21 +0000

Modern Sun Worship: What Is It? The sun has been worshiped for thousands of years. After all, it is the source of life on our planet. We need its light, heat, and gravitational pull to survive. Our ancestors worshiped the sun and even named certain days and holidays after it. But do modern day people worship the sun? Yes! There is such a thing as modern sun worship and it is pretty common. Many neo-pagans worship the sun by incorporating sun worship rituals, sun magic, and solar deities into their spiritual practice and religions. Many people honor the sun without even knowing it through celebration of the seasons and seasonal holidays. Learn how you can add modern sun worship into your pagan path here. Solar Deities Solar deities are gods and goddesses linked to the sun. These solar deities are found worldwide in nearly every culture. Start by incorporating one or more of these solar deities into modern sun worship by setting up altars for them. Provide offerings daily or, at the very least, weekly. Pray to the solar deities, talk to them, and honor them on the sabbats (more on sabbats below). Solar deities in ancient Egypt included Ra, Horus, Aten, and Bast. The sun goddess Amaterasu was once worshiped in Japan. Helios is the Greek Titan sun god. The Aztec people worshiped many sun gods including Quetzalcoatl, Tezcatlipoca, Nanauatl, and Tecciztecatl. Belenos and Grannus are ancient Celtic sun gods, as well as Sulis the sun goddess. If none of these solar deities suit your preferences, look up more solar deities online or in the Encyclopedia of Spirits. DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you information about the paranormal and paganism. Sun Worship Rituals Sun worship rituals can be as elaborate or as simple as you make them. Honor your solar deities during sun worship rituals or simply just the sun. In Edred Thorsson’s book Futhark: A Handbook of Rune Magic, Thorsson details body positioning (stadha) for each rune. The rune Sowilo is the sun rune – honor this rune by mimicking it with your physical body. A simple runic sun worship ritual performing Sowilo Stadha: Wake to meet the rising sun. Go outside and face the sunrise. Squat so that your calves and thighs are in alignment and pressed together (your buttocks should rest on your heels). Rest your arms on the tops of the thighs, keep your torso vertical. Close your eyes and thank the sun for rising and giving us life. DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you information about the paranormal and paganism. Other Sun Salutations An easy way to honor the sun is to greet it with a smile and raise your arms to the sky. This sun worship ritual has been done for hundreds of years, dating back to the ancient Celts and Germanic tribes. In modern times, certain Christian denominations raise their hands to the “Son” of God…the Son of God simply replaced the “Sun” God. Yoga has a routine called a sun salutation. Look up how to perform this yoga sequence online or go to a yoga class. Sun salutations do just what they say – salute the sun. Modern sun worship is what you make of it. Tailor it to your needs and preferences. The Sun Sabbats Many neopagans and Wiccans follow the Wheel of the Year, which is a celebration of the seasons throughout the year. The major holidays are called Sabbats and honor the waxing and waning of the sun throughout the year. Solar deities are celebrated on the sabbats, as well. The eight sun Sabbats are: Yule (aka Winter Solstice): around December 21st Imbolc: around February 1st Ostara (aka Vernal Equinox): around March 21st Beltane: May 1st Litha (aka Summer Solstice): around June 21st Lammas (aka Lughnasadh): August 1st Mabon (aka Autumn Equinox): around September 21st Samhain: October 31st Each sabbat celebrates the sun in a certain way, either waxing or waning. The spring and autumn equinox mark the time of year when the sun’s light is equal to the night’s darkness. The winter and summer solstice mark the sun at its furthest and closest. Look up each sabbat and learn them intimately. Modern sun worship should include the Wheel of the Year and sabbats. On the Beltane fire festival, light a bonfire and dance around it wildly. On the Winter Solstice, hang lights and eat oranges in attempts to bring back the sun. DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you information about the paranormal and paganism. Easy Sun Magic for Everyone! Moon magic is something that’s popular in modern times, but what about sun magic? Sun magic is part of modern sun worship as it helps harness the energy of the sun to make changes in one’s life. Make sun catchers with your family or partner and hang them in the windows to catch and reflect the sun’s light in your house. Kits can be bought online or in craft stores. Make sun tea by filling up an air-tight container with water, tea bags, and herbs of your choice and leaving in the hot sun to steep for 6+ hours. Then drink sun magic! Charge your crystals, stones, and jewelry in the sun to give it a boost of energy and power! Keep in mind some crystals and items might fade in the sun so research before doing this! Another simple sun ritual is sunbathing on hot summer days. Decorate your house and altar with suns. Let your imagination run wild and let the sun enchant your life!

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Bear Goddesses and Gods Across Cultures

admin — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 20:33:06 +0000

The Origin of Bear Goddesses and Gods Gods and goddesses of the ancient world held a connection with certain animals. This is because our ancestors’ beliefs were animistic – they believed everything on earth had consciousness and a soul. Wildlife was sacred in ancient times. The bear is one of the most powerful and most feared of the animal kingdom. Dating back thousands of years, the people of Europe left their marks on cave walls—some of these drawings were of bears. Shamans have revered the bear for its power, but also for its motherhood qualities and healing abilities. Bear medicine is strong medicine, according to Native Americans. Its no wonder ancient gods and goddesses were connected to the bear. Learn of the bear goddesses and bear god here. The Greek Bear Goddesses Artemis The typical illustration of Artemis, Greek Goddess of the Hunt, depicts her with either a hunting dog or stag. However, one of Artemis’ most sacred animals was the bear. Artemis had domain over the forest and all wildlife within it. The bear was the largest and most powerful animal, and so Artemis found it to be a special animal. Any time a bear was killed by the Greeks, Artemis would lay a plague on the people as punishment. Artemis’ cult spread over Greece. In Brauron, young girls played she-bears in honor of Artemis and as a preparation for motherhood. They wore bear masks and acted wildly in worship of her. Artemis’ name is theorized to have meant bear-sanctuary. If we break it down—art is close to ark which means bear, and temis is close to temnis which means sanctuary. We will see in the next section how another Goddess’ name reflects this etymology. Callisto Another close association between Artemis and bears is in the tale of one of Artemis’ followers named Callisto. Callisto was a nymph (demi-god nature spirit), and as followers of Artemis, women were charged to stay chaste and pure from men. Callisto was lured into having relations with Zeus, who impregnated her. When Artemis found out, she changed Callisto into a bear. Other versions say Athena was angered when Zeus impregnated the nymph and so she turned Callisto into a bear. The constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor (known to the Greeks as Arktos—bear) are said to be the soul remnants of Callisto and her son, and were placed in the sky by Zeus himself. Artio: Forgotten Celtic Bear Goddess We don’t know a lot about Artio, the Bear Goddess of the ancient Celtic-Gauls, but we knnow she was intimately connected to bears. The few pieces of evidence we have of her cult’s existence were found in Switzerland and southern Germany. A bronze statue depicting Artio feeding a giant bear surfaced in Bern, Switzerland. Scholars say Artio feeds the bear with a bowl of fruit in her lap. But could it be the other way around? It seems to me the goddess is being confronted by the bear and she is not backing down. There was once a great tale about this encounter, I am sure; however, over time the lore of Artio has been lost. The inscription on the Bern statue translates to “for the goddess Artio”. As with Artemis’ name, there is a clear link to the bear in Artio’s name. Art translaes to bear in Gaulish. Could Artio, the Bear Goddess of the Gauls, be the same goddess as the Greeks’ bear goddess Artemis? Ildiko: Hungarian Bear Goddess Much of what we know of the Hungarian Bear Goddess Ildiko has been lost in time, or perhaps is just not readily accessible by my research methods. However, according to the Encyclopedia of Spirits by Judika Iles, Ildiko was a goddess of the forest and wildlife. One of her most sacred animals was the bear. Ildiko was like Artemis – she was the goddess of the hunt but also protector of forest animals. This is because of the need for balance—she guides the hunters but also protects animals in need of preservation or honor. Ildiko is a common name in Hungary with a Germanic origin meaning “warrior”. We can see how a warrior goddess would also be keen of bears—power, wisdom, and ferocity. Mielikki: Finnish Bear Goddess Above all, Mielikki is a healing goddess of Finland. She is associated with the woods and with wildlife, just as Artemis and Ildiko, but her main attribute is her healing abilities. She heals the animals when they are sick or wounded. This corresponds directly with the medicine of the bear. Shamans know bears to be healers, and so Mielikki is like the bear in this way. Mielikki is one of the bear goddess who had a part in the creation of the bear. The story goes that Mielikki left earth and traveled into space, past the moon, in search of the materials with which to make the perfect animal. She returned and stitched together the materials from the heavens to make the bear. The bear is Mielikki’s favorite animal, above all. The tale of Mielikki going into space to find the materials to make the bear correlates nicely with the tales of the other Bear Goddesses Artemis, Callisto, and Zeus putting Callisto into the sky to make the Ursa Major and Minor constellations. There is an asteroid and a mountain on the planet Venus named for Mielikki. DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you information about the paranormal and paganism. Odin: The All-Father and Bear God Odin is a popular god among Scandinavian and Germanic pagans, but has spread as a god to nearly every part of the world in modern times. He is known as the All-Father, the One-Eyed, and the ultimate trickster. He is a wise, yet powerful god and knows how to win a battle. Because of this, the shamans and warriors of ancient times sought Odin for his knowledge and ferocity. When depicted, he is usually illustrated as an older man with white […]

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Sea Magic: Water Magic, Seashells, Sand, and More!

admin — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 19:56:42 +0000

Sea Magic The sea has captivated us since the beginning of time. The waves soothe us. The sand beneath our feet grounds us. People say the sea calls to them when they are not close to it. The ocean waters are powerful and bridge the gap between our world and the spirit-world. There are numerous superstitions, myths, and tales on this topic. The beach, be it by the ocean, sea, or lake, is a liminal space where magic abounds. A place where the spirits meet willingly and unabashedly. A place where earth, sea, and sky meld in one glorious conjunction. Use the sea’s power to manifest: abundance, healing, love, friendship, release, and more. Learn about sea magic and water magic below. Sea Magic: Beachcombing for Ocean Treasures One of my favorite things to do on the beach is beachcombing. Similar to foraging in a forest, yet it yields different kinds of magical objects. In the forest we find plants, barks, berries, wildlife, flowers, rocks, and more. But on the beach there are seashells, coral, hag-stones, driftwood, feathers, and sea glass. Many of us collect these things and never use them to aid in our water magic. We let them sit around in a drawer or photo album to serve as mementos. And that’s okay, too! But don’t forget, the power of the ocean is imbued in these items found on the seashore. Seashells Magical Properties When gathered from the beach seashells have various magical properties, including: love, fertility, healing, emotions, intuition, and dreams. Look up the seashell online and identify the kind, which makes it that much more powerful! For example, the shell of an oyster draws love into one’s life. After all, oysters are known as powerful aphrodisiacs. Or maybe you found a perfect spiral shell – spirals are the symbol of eternal life and therefore this seashell is connected to past life work. DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you information about the paranormal and paganism. Sand’s Magical Properties When gathered from the beach and kept in a jar, place the sand anywhere around the house to bring the invoke powerful water magic. Set it on your altar. Use the sand to draw a magical circle for a sea ceremony or sabbat. Put the sand in spell bags, along with herbs, and charge it to manifest your goals. Feathers Magical Properties Feathers are always a fun find, no matter the location. When they’re found at the beach, they represent seabirds like the gull, heron, osprey, egret, sandpiper, pelican, etc. Look up what bird the feather came from for added oomph in your sea magic. Place feathers on an altar, in a dreamcatcher, or wear as a charm. Feathers are reminders that someone on the other side is watching, and they also represent a connection to the heavens. Use a large feather as an old fashioned quill to write your wishes on a piece of paper. Driftwood and Seaglass Magical Properties These are two common things found at the seashore. Make driftwood into chimes or decorations. Place it on an altar or decorate it and turn it into a wand or staff. Put seaglass into bottles or jars or weave it into jewelry. Seaglass is a representation of transformation by the elements, a “return to the sea”. Use it in times when you need a direction-change. Simple Water Magic Don’t forget the basic beach activities are magical in and of themselves! By swimming in the ocean, you become one with the water element. This is water magic at its simplest! Ocean water purifies your body and soul of residual negative energy. While swimming, visualize all anxiety and negativity washed away and absorbed by the ocean’s healing waters. While laying in the sand, feel the sun’s warmth on your skin and give thanks to the sun for its life-giving light. By simply visiting the beach, you are connecting with all four elements (water, earth, air, and fire). Sand Castles Another fun beach activity is building sand castles. Who didn’t enjoy building sand castles as a kid? Adults build sand castles, too! While building your sand castle, charge it with your intentions or goals. Watch it get swept out to the sea, along with your wish, and ask the ocean to help that wish manifest in reality. Writing your wishes or dreams in the sand has the same effect. Trust the ocean with your intentions. Water magic is strong elemental magic. Please Note! Tread lightly – don’t leave cigarette butts, plastic wrappers, floats, toys, straws or cans on the beach. These pollute the environment and make it dirty for the next visitor. More importantly litter physically harms the wildlife! Straws are found regularly stuck in sea turtles’ noses. Plastic can holders get stuck around seagulls’ necks. Pick up after yourself. Be thankful and only leave footprints in the sand. Magical Sea Creatures Another fun bit of sea magic is to connect with sea-life. Really dive into it (pun intended) and call upon an undine or mermaid to aid in water magic. Mermaids are great for dream magic, but be careful not to trust them too much. They are tricksters! They open a portal to the spiritual world, but don’t trust they won’t close it on you once you’ve gone inside! Decorate with dolphins, whales, or turtles and bring the sea magic to life in your sacred space. Spend time with these amazing sea animals by studying them and donating to a conservation fund. If you live near the beach and can aid in returning sea turtle babies to the sea, join a local group and help out!

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Everyday Magick: How to Add Magick to Your Daily Life

admin — Wed, 11 Jul 2018 13:55:13 +0000

Everyday Magick in the Mundane Want to know how to bring magick into your life on a daily basis? Let’s face it. Life is busy af. We’re all just trying to make our way in this world which includes daily routines like caring for our families, going to work, going to school, cleaning the house, running errands, and more. These daily routines seem severely mundane and un-magickal; however, it takes a shift in perspective to see how the mundane is magickal. Incorporate everyday magick into your daily life simply by being mindful and putting extra effort into your routine You don’t have to perform an elaborate ritual every day to be connected with the Universe/Divine/the gods! There are simple ways, which I plan to show you. Drink & Eat Magick! What is one thing we all have to do that we can’t avoid? Eat and drink to survive! Most of us enjoy drinking and eating, but sometimes it seems like a chore. We rush through our lunch breaks, we eat breakfast on-the-go, and the privilege of eating good food is taken for granted. Practice magick daily and be grateful for food! Being mindful of what you’re eating and drinking, take a few minutes to thank the Universe/gods/Divine for providing for us. Next, think about the ingredients – do they have magical properties? Of course they do! Do you know their magical properties? If not, google it. Drink herbal tea. Drink more water. Enchant your cup of coffee in the morning. Kitchen Witchery As the cook of the family, kitchen witchery is an easy way to do everyday magick! Again, identify the ingredients in each dish and their magical properties. Think about how they physically nourish the body. Stir in a spiral going clockwise and put intentions of health, love, peace, etc. into the dish. Add an herb or spice to the dish that has a specific intention you’d like to manifest. For example, use rosemary to flavor soups and poultry dishes and bring vitality and health to the household! Garden Witchery Another suggestion – grow your own herbs and spices to use in meals every day. A huge garden is unnecessary. A couple of pots, bags of soil, herbs (or seeds), sunlight and water is all you need to get started. Snip fresh herbs right off the plant and throw them in meals. Talk about making the mundane, meal-cooking chore a magickal adventure! Cooking gets a whole lot more fun, trust me! Impromptu Divination Divination is speaking with the divine, which is something everyone should do on a daily basis. It is simple and effective. In addition to praying and meditating, try some impromptu divination. Stuck in traffic on the way to work? Glance at the license plates around you to divine a message from the gods. Sitting outside during your lunch break? Peek at the clouds and identify shapes, numbers, and animals to divine a message from the universe. Use nearly anything for divination on a daily basis. Tarot cards and crystal balls are great but not necessary on a daily basis. This is simple, everyday magick to help tune your intuitive powers. Simple Rituals: Candles, Incense, Prayer Rituals don’t have to be detailed and drawn out. Something as simple as lighting a red candle in your kitchen to honor the hearth goddesses while cooking meals is a perfect way to add magick to daily life. Light a white candle in the morning and say a small prayer or affirmation for the day. Burn incense on the altar as an offering for deities or ancestors. Play relaxing music any time during the day to relax and re-connect: nature sounds, Tibetan singing bowls, Native American music, Celtic flutes, etc. Instead of sitting inside during lunch break, go for a walk or sit on a bench under a tree. Observe nature – the sky, the sun, trees, birds, bugs, people walking by, etc. On a nice day, open the windows and let the fresh air in! Responsibilities Made Magickal Let’s all admit that some of the things we have to do on a daily basis are not only boring but they get old. So why not make those things less boring by adding some magick? I’ve already discussed how to make cooking and eating/drinking more magickal, but what are some other responsibilities that could be spiced up a bit? Magickal House Cleaning Cleaning the house? Ugh. I know. Why not practice visualization when you are vacuuming? Imagine the negative energy being sucked up into the vacuum and out of your house. Sweep the negative energy out the back door, visualizing as you do so. Use your own homemade floor washes and herbal floor sweeps to bring abundance of health and success to your household. Don’t know how to make floor washes and sweeps? Google it! It’s an easy way to make cleaning fun, everyday magick. When you clean the mirrors, counters, etc. wipe in a counter-clockwise motion to un-do any negative energy build-up. Wipe in a clockwise motion to bring something positive into your household. After you’ve finished cleaning the house, open the windows or door and give it a good smudging to cleanse the energy completely! Traffic Magick Does the drive to work leave you frustrated and tired? How about listening to relaxing music that helps you connect or maybe an audio-book that dives into your spiritual studies? Open the window on a nice day and let the fresh air into your car. When you’re at a stop-light (only when you’re stopped!) look around at the license plates and see if you can divine a message from the gods. You’d be surprised how the universe/gods will talk to you through the most mundane of things and places! Practice a chant on your drive to work and show up to work relaxed and/or energized. Witchy Grocery Shopping Going grocery shopping? As you walk through the aisles, try to focus on the magickal properties of some of the foods you see. Make a spontaneous […]

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Household Gods, Ancestors, and Fairies

admin — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 14:45:21 +0000

Household Gods, Ancestors, and Fairies In this article, we will learn about household Gods and Spirits according to ancient tradition in Europe. We will also learn about ancestors in the household and household fairies. Join me on an adventure into the past, to a world where our venerable ancestors lived alongside spritely and vengeful household spirits. When Everything Had Consciousness… Times have changed since the times of our ancestors. Our ancestors’ routines and customs focused on appeasing the spirits in nature and spirits in their homes. The belief in spirits of trees, rivers, and even spirits in their homes was not just “silly superstition”…it was reality. From China to England and everywhere in between, our ancestors believed in these spirits and took precautions not to provoke them. Nowadays, the majority of people don’t believe in spirits in the way our ancestors did. Sure, we might believe in God or angels, but the belief in household spirits, revenants, and fairies has all but faded. Ancient Roman Household Gods The ancient Romans honored household gods called Lares. Each household maintained an altar, similar to the re-created house altar shown above. In the richer homes, there was a painting or sculpture to represent the household gods and offerings left in front. The household gods’ images were placed at the dinner table to partake in a family meal. These Roman household gods were guardian spirits who protected the home and the family from illness and invasion. Lares weren’t only household gods in Roman times, they also guarded places in nature. This points to the fact that lares were originally nature spirits brought into the home and deified. The Ancient Tradition of Household Spirits Our ancestors believed everything in nature had consciousness. When trees were cut down and other things from nature were used to build a home the fairies attached to these items were brought into the home. Others believed the fairies occupying the landscape where a home was built became domestic household spirits. This is why there were many superstitions as to where a home was built. For example, our Scandinavian ancestors stayed the night at the site of a new home to see if evil spirits manifested. If the person slept peacefully, the home was built there. There were different methods of testing a suitable site, including checking the ground or nearby trees for signs of a previous fire. Fire was a bad sign, associated with evil spirits, and many people refrained from building somewhere that had a fire. If there were good fairies on the new home’s site, the homeowners petitioned the nature spirits to become their household gods. Buried in the Hearth Other methods of acquiring a household spirit were disturbing. In some areas of Eastern Europe and Asia, when a new home was built a human being was sacrificed and buried in the walls or under the hearth. The victim’s spirit was eternally tied to the home and became the household god and guardian. When a family member died a violent death in the home, the windows were opened immediately to let the soul out. They didn’t want a violent spirit lingering and wreaking havoc on the household. If a family moved into an already-established home, the original owner of the home would become the household spirit. Ancestors who lived in a house beforehand could also be household gods and spirits. Read about more of these traditions in Claude Lecouteux’s book “The Tradition of Household Spirits”. DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you information about the paranormal and paganism. Where the Spirits Resided and What They Did There were many, many names for household gods, which vary by country, region and down to the family. They were also titled differently depending on where they resided in the house. Some household gods lingered on the thresholds (doorways, windows, chimneys), while some lived beneath the hearth. Evil spirits occupied the corners of the home, so people burnt herbs in each corner to cleanse the space. But what did a household spirit do? Household gods and spirits protected, healed, and brought abundance to the family. They also helped with chores around the house. The Ancestors as Household Gods Modern people do not honor our ancestors like we once did. Our ancestors believed in honoring their ancestors. There are certain religions today that still focus on ancestor-worship; however, this is mainly in places in Asia and Africa. In the United States there are not that many people incorporating ancestral beliefs into daily life. But what do ancestors have to do with household gods and spirits? Our ancestors believed household gods could be ancestors; this was especially true if the home was passed down in the family. If an ancestor built, lived and died within a home, he protected it and his descendants even after death. Back then, ancestor shrines and altars were set up around the home to honor the ancestors’ spirits. In Northern and Eastern Europe, a place at the dinner table was set for the household gods to enjoy offerings of food and drink. If the ancestors weren’t honored, they would leave or become angry ghosts. Fairies as Household Spirits In Europe, certain types of fairies were also household spirits. In Scotland, the brownie was a small man who lived and worked in the household at night. He helped the lady of the house with unfinished chores, as long as she was a hard worker and pure of heart. The Brownie shapeshifted into the form of a rooster to alert the family that he was going to bed and it was their time to rise and shine. Never offer the Brownie clothing as a gift – he will leave your home for good! This is a popular European folk motif. The wee folk rarely revealed themselves to the household. Sometimes the household fairies showed up as a child […]

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Could We Have Been Our Ancestors in Past Lives?

admin — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 07:20:40 +0000

Do You Believe in Past Lives? Millions of people all over the world believe in reincarnation – the belief that the human soul lives more than one physical life. The belief in past lives is part of several religions—including Buddhism, Hinduism, various types of modern-day Paganism, and New Age—for thousands of years. We see traces of this idea in the Kabbalah and in beliefs of the Rosicrucians and Gnostics. Belief in reincarnation dominated ancient views of life after death. The ancient Celts, Norsemen, and Egyptians were just a few of many cultures that believed we live more than one life. The soul moves in a circle, just as the Universe does. Life, death, and rebirth make up the circle of life. Some say it is never-ending, while others believe a soul will eventually ascend to a higher dimension. Do you believe in reincarnation? Is it possible to have lived past lives as our own ancestors? We will explore ancestral reincarnation in this article. Stories of Past Lives and Ancestors One fascinating case of reincarnation tells of a boy named Gus Taylor from the American Midwest. When Gus was a toddler, he would talk of being his own grandfather, who had passed away several years before Gus’ birth. When shown pictures of family members, he would point out his grandfather “Augie” without being told who his grandfather was. One day, as his father was changing Gus’ diaper, Gus suddenly looked up at him and said, “When I was your age, I changed your diaper.” Naturally, this floored his father. Gus’ mother decided to test him by asking about Augie’s dead sister (who the family never talked about due to emotional scars and trauma). She asked him, “If you are Augie, did you have any siblings?” Gus answered yes, he had a sister who had died. This was true. Augie’s sister had been murdered and thrown into the San Francisco Bay. Thoughts Gus’ story is not the only documented case of people claiming to have been their ancestors in past lives. Simply google “past lives and ancestors” and you will find a plethora of stories from those who believe they were once their own grandfathers, grandmothers, great-aunts, great-great-grandmothers, etc. If we compare pictures of ourselves side by side to those of our ancestors, we often see striking similarities. Is this solely because of our DNA or because we might have been these ancestors in past lives? We can look at this topic on a mundane level, or look beyond the physical realm to see the spiritual possibilities. I recently discovered my great great grandmother was a folk herbalist in the late eighteen hundreds. Her name was Clara and there are stories of her making her children wear necklaces of camphor to ward off the flu. The funny thing is, I’ve dreamed of this woman before even knowing she was a part of my family tree. She and I share similar physical features and interests. Might I have been Clara in a past life? Do Souls Travel in Groups? We’ve not only lived past lives – we’ve also lived lives with the same souls, repeatedly. This belief is reflected in the concept of a “soul mate” or “soul twin.” A soul mate is someone with whom you’ve lived a past life, someone you’ve had a very close relationship with in multiple past lives. You have more than one soul mate, and when grouped together these souls form a “soul group.” In this way, souls incarnate together, often incarnating into the same family. If the idea of a soul group is true, then a past life as one’s own great-grandmother might reveal a mother from that life might be a daughter or sister in this life! Have you ever felt a close connection to a family member that’s so close it can’t be explained? Have you felt like you’ve known that family member in a past life? Is this really because you share the same DNA, or is it because you’ve both lived past lives together within the same bloodline? DISCLOSURE: I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website. Your purchase helps support my work in bringing you information about the paranormal and paganism. Family Trees and Bloodlines: Were We Our Ancestors? So the question is, did we live past lives as our ancestors? Does DNA not only give us our physical attributes but also our spiritual existence? According to my research, this idea is possible in two ways: Physically: Because we carry the DNA of our ancestors, their memories are passed down to us through DNA. Spiritually: Our spiritual bodies move through our bloodline from one incarnation to the next. If we did live lives as our ancestors, what about the stories of those who lived as people outside of their family trees? Technically, we can trace our lines back to one person who lived before us millions of years ago, to the first of humankind. This means that everyone is related. It also means that we all share traces of DNA. Anything is Possible Take a look at your family tree and look further and further back at all of the people who came together to make you. At first, it doesn’t seem like that many people—parents, grandparents, great-grandparents—but then you might go back another couple of branches to great-great-grandparents and then great-great-great-grandparents. You realize at this point you have the DNA of hundreds of people. What happens if you look back three or four branches further than that? Your family tree starts to look so gigantic that it’s hard to comprehend just how many ancestors you have. In fact, you don’t just have dozens or even hundreds of ancestors; you have millions of them going back to the beginning of humankind! Many amazing stories of past lives show us there are those who believe they lived as their own ancestors—grandfathers, great-aunts, great-great-grandmothers, etc. The Norse rune Othala represents ancestral inheritance […]

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