Saturday, October 30, 2010

An Almost Finished Lid

I need to add the sides, then I can start on the bottom. This will be a flat storage box, like gift-box size, and it will be for sale in my etsy shop. I hope to be done in a month or so. Probably less because the rest of the box will work up quickly.


Friday, October 29, 2010

How Rabbit Feet Become Lucky

Once there was a farmer whose cows were going dry. He could find no cause for it so he decided someone must be stealing the milk. He decided to sit up in his field all night to catch the thief.

It was a very dark and cold night. The moon barely gave any light. The ground was hard and the farmer was uncomfortable. He thought longingly of his warm bed. After most of the night had passed he began to think this had been a foolish idea. He was about to give up and go in the house when he saw movement by the fence.

It was just a rabbit. The farmer went back to cursing himself for sitting up all night. Once again he decided to get up, then he noticed something odd.

The rabbit was going to each cow, standing up on its hind legs and sucking milk from the udders. The farmer had never heard of such a thing. He knew this was no ordinary rabbit.

The farmer sat so still that the rabbit didn't not see him. Eventually the rabbit came close by and the farmer grabbed it. The rabbit began to kick, scratch and bite. The farmer pulled out his knife and cut off the rabbit's foot.

The rabbit screamed like a person and ran away. By now it was almost morning and in the dawn's light the farmer could see a trail of blood. He followed the blood through the woods to the local village.

The blood trail went to a cottage on the edge of town. The farmer knew the cottage well, it belonged to a wise woman and healer. There was blood on her door.

The farmer went in the cottage and saw the old wise woman sitting by the fire with the bloody stump of her arm wrapped in bandages. She looked at him and said, 'Now you give me back that foot.'

The farmer looked at her. He put the rabbit foot in his pocket. He said, 'Naw. I think I'll keep it for luck.'

The Magick of the Log Cabin Quilt Block

Log Cabin is my favorite quilt. It is very versatile. Depending on how the blocks are arranged, it can carry the names Barn Raising, Lightning, Straight Furrow, or Crooked Fence. It is very easy to sew and doesn't require much measuring. It's nearly impossible to screw up. It works as either a scrap quilt with a multitude of fabric, or as geometric art when arranged carefully with color.

Log Cabin is an old quilt pattern. No one knows exactly when or who invented the block, but it is believed to have been created after the Civil War by a pioneer woman. Because it's so easy to make, it became popular quickly. Log Cabin is what I think of when American patchwork is mentioned.

Quilt blocks almost always symbolize something. There are quilt blocks of flowers, birds, and animals, blocks about politics, and blocks about life trials and hardships. But Log Cabin is a special block that represents the love of hearth and home.

When the center square of the block is red it symbolizes the hearth fire or the center of the home. And when the center square is yellow

it's the lantern in the window that will always lead you home.

One of the first quilts I ever made was a Log Cabin. I keep it on my bedroom wall. Mine has red center squares. I made that quilt when I still lived with my parents. It was very important to me to have my own house. I made a list of things I thought would be good to have in a home. Spider webs for magick, hearts for love, roses for romance, my dog for happiness, the sun, the moon, and the stars. I made 49 blocks (7x7) I stitched one thing in each block- animals, trees, my intial, I even stitched around my own hand so that I would always be in my quilt. I worked on my quilt almost non-stop. Surprisingly, it didn't take that long to finish. I had it pieced, bound, and hand quilted in under one week. I was obsessed. But I have a happy home now.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Stitching- Harder than it looks

Believe it or not, this is a difficult post for me to write. I don't mean that it is very emotional or that I don't understand my subject matter or that I have writer's block. The problem here is knowing when to shut up.

Sewing is my whole life. I plan my day around my projects and I feel quite annoyed that my job takes up so much of my day. Sometimes I call in sick just to stay home and sew. Let me make it clear- I TURN DOWN HOURLY PAY JUST SO I CAN QUILT.

My cooking style is quick and easy- so I have more time to sew. My favorite kitchen tool is my slow cooker.

I take embroidery projects on vacation. The last time I was in Florida I spent the entire ride making yo-yo's for a yo-yo quilt.

I have craft, crochet, and quilt books on my wish list at amazon.

I own 3 sewing machines. And I would like another one.

I can go on and on like this, telling you how I admire fabric like it's art, how I choose my clothes based on the texture, about my 150+ spools of thread... but this is supposed to be a magickal stitch post. Sigh.

Magickal stitchery can be as simple or as complex as you like. As you sew a button back on a coat you can cast a binding spell at the same time to ensure the coat is never lost. Or you can plan a wedding quilt in colors that represent love, happiness and harmony and with every stitch you bring two people closer together. You can tie up the wind with string then release a storm by untying the knots. You can make VooDoo dolls, gris-gris bags, bind someone like in the movie 'The Craft' (I bind you, Nancy, from doing harm against yourself and others) If it can be made from thread and fiber then it lends itself well to spells and curses.

This is how I usually add a little magick:
I start by choosing a project. This directs my intent. Let's use one of my plastic canvas stars as an example. BTW, knitting and crochet have become retro-hip so I keep waiting for a plastic canvas revival, but alas, no such luck.

So I want to make a star. Stars are lucky. Who deserves a lucky star? After I decide who gets the star, I know what colors to use. For the star I gave to my friend on her birthday, I picked purple for magick, red for love, yellow for self-confidence, brown for a good home, and green for prosperity.

I smudge the canvas and the floss with incense to remove any negative energy. Then I cast a circle around them to imbue the materials with my intent. I name each color and say what it represents. I name the canvas as the person's life. I leave everything in the circle for 24 hours.

As I stitch, I might chant. Or I might just name the intent of each color again. When the project is complete I'll cast a new circle and see all the energies melding together in a harmonious whole.

Tomorrow- the meaning/magick of quilt blocks.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Before I Stitch Magick

I want to share my New Year's Resolutions. You see, Halloween is the witch's new year. While I was bored at work, I made my list. I thought of sections of my life where I need/want improvement and then I dedicated one piece of paper to each section. This allowed me to 'ramble about mentally' In no particular order:

New Year of the Witch Goals

Etsy:
Every full moon- search for alchemy projects
Every 7th day of the month have a sale/showcase
Try to add 1 new item per week
Set sales goals. How much $ should I make? How many sales in a week/month?
Need some quilts and quilt kits
How do I best promote my shop?
How do I link Zazzle to Etsy?

Zazzle:
How best to promote?
New shirt design every month
Buy some for self (my t-shirts are becoming ragged)

Home:
New shelves in sewing room
glider rocker
spice rack
redo sewing room table
under table storage for art supplies
over door hat rack for Kevin (he hangs his caps on the bed posts which ANNOYS me to no end)
Bench for dinning table
small filing cabinet

Garden:
Cauldron fire pit!
Grow more food
preserve food
make more compost/worm bin
more roses
roses around dog pen

Would like but don't know where I'd put it:
Big, solid oak, antique chine hutch for magick, altar, storing herbs, (maybe some sewing projects) Something well loved with its own energy, a gift or very well priced, needs cleaning or maybe new hardware at most, light wood color, simple but beautiful

(IMPORTANT NOTE- Notice the lack of negative language in the above category. When manifesting anything it is important to keep the wording as positive as possible. No no's, don't, won't, etc)

Magick goals:
Every dark moon banish anything I don't like
Burn candle while sewing
Weekly offerings to Goddess
Regular Tarot readings?

I've got a few more things on my lists but they are personal and anyway, I think I've given you a good enough example. You can see how I think, what's important to me, and how to use positive wording for manifestation. Notice I wrote down things that I don't know how I will get them. I'm not worried about the process because the Universe will take care of it. I'm just focusing on the end result.

Most people think New Year's Resolutions are a once a year thing. I believe they should last the whole year and every three months or so should be reviewed to ensure that you're on the right path to getting what you want. And to make sure you still want those things. Sometimes after we focus on things we realize they're not right for us. That's fine. Reflections helps us to realize what we do want and to be appreciative of what we've got.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

A Short Post

I'm a little pressed for time today, but I wanted to give you a preview of tomorrow- stitch magick. I'll talk about color, pattern, and materials. Intent, chanting, and threads, oh my!

Monday, October 25, 2010

So Happy Together

I am entralled with my new monitor. Kevin said I was spending too much time with it and I told him to leave us alone.

Kevin seems to be better now. He's mostly slept and I let him because I believe the body heals better during sleep. There's been a nasty virus going around but he doesn't seem to be suffering too badly. He hasn't ate much, but I think he'll be fine.

Instead of going off to the gym, I decided to stay home in case he needed me.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Internet Junkie

My computer monitor, which was the size of my washing machine and 10 years old, finally gave up the ghost this weekend. The screen would gradually become darker and darker until it was pitch black and I couldn't see what I was doing. I now have a very flat screen and I feel like I'm sitting in front of a picture window. But I am damn glad to have my new monitor because without it I couldn't check my email or my bank balance, I couldn't pay my bills, and I couldn't have a convo with anyone on etsy. Nor could I write in my journal or mark items off my to do list. I started buying Christmas gifts but I couldn't check anything off my holiday planner. I know several of you are laughing at me right now. Shut up. I freely admit the Internet is my drug of choice and I just can't do without it. I admit my entire life is on a little black box and I'm fine with that.

I did manage to get a lot of sewing done. And now that I can actually see what I am doing, at some point I can post pictures.

Kevin came home sick today. He thought it was something he ate, but we both ate the same food and I am fine. I'm afraid he might have a virus and he's going to give it to me.

Earlier today I decided to improve my finances with a spell, so I used this chant
Trinka five, trinka five,
Ancient Spirits come alive.
Money grow and money thrive,
Spirits of the trinka five.
I said it over and over while I was sewing. I went to visit my parents today and my father gave me $100. I was shocked. The man never gives me anything. He just handed it to me, told me to put it toward my computer. It just stunned me so much I could barely thank him. When I finish this post I'm going to chant some more!

That's about all here. I hope you and yours are enjoying the weekend.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Done With That

Yesterday I called the diabetic supply people who informed me my next shipment would go out 'any day now' When I mentioned the second week of October there was a slight pause and the representative asked if I needed my strips. 'Well, YEAH. That's why I'm calling.' She put me on hold, came right back and said the person she needed to speak to was on the phone and she'd have to call me back. Annoyed, I hung up.

The supply company called me today. They're not shipping me anything because my strips are too expensive. Supposedly, blue cross won't cover the full cost which I think is bullshit because they reimburse me 100% when I buy the strips myself. I got annoyed again and canceled my account. Then I called blue cross and said 'stop payment.' I feel better now. Oh, and btw, blue cross was totally helpful.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Making Some Progress


I'm almost finished with this star. It will be a box. Everyone who has seen it says it's cool so I hope to make a quick sale when I post it on my etsy shop.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

How Dare You Make a Profit Off My Incurable Illness

To make my life a little easier, I signed up with one of those mail order diabetic supply companies, the ones who ship your test strips right to your door at no additional cost to you. However, my life is not much easier.

To begin with, there are companies that cheat people, like Liberty Medical. (I was warned by several nurses not to use them.) They get your name, the name of your insurance, and then you don't get what you are promised while you insurance gets a huge bill. To combat this fraud, doctors must approve a supplier before your test strips are charged to your insurance. The insurance company must also approve said supplier.

My doctor wouldn't approve anything until she actually spoke to me in person at her office. She told me hundreds of 'suppliers' mail/fax requests and she has no idea which company I actually signed up with. And this is the SECOND supplier I tried, the first one never even responded to me.

So after a month of trying to get supplies, then waiting for the ok from both doc and blue cross, I had to wait several more weeks before I got a shipment. Two boxes arrived, both with my name and address. In each box was a packing slip. Only one slip had my name, the other was for someone in Texas which I take to mean the supplier is not well organized. Also there was more things in the box than listed on the packing slips.

I had two different kinds of strips, both the same brand, but one didn't work in my meter. I've already posted about how the postal services is staffed by idiots. I STILL haven't gotten the correct strips.

Thinking that maybe the diabetic supply company wants to keep costs down by not shipping unnecessary boxes, I figured there would be extra strips in my next shipment, due to arrive the second week of October. I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN A SHIPMENT!

It's a damn good thing I purchased more test strips from CVS because if I were poor and had to wait on a box, I'd probably be dead or comatose again.

I'm calling again tomorrow. So for I've either gotten a person who assures me all is well (but can't answer my questions) or I don't get an answer at all.

Isn't being a diabetic hard enough as it is? Aren't I already struggling with my sugar? Am I not under enough stress wondering if this disease is killing me slowly? Every time I feel a little tingle in my toe I become paranoid about losing feeling in my feet. If I eat out and the diet coke doesn't taste exactly right I freak out thinking some lazy server has given me regular coke and my sugar is about to skyrocket.

What is wrong with these people? Why are they not falling all over themselves to help me? Surely there is at least one person employed by that supplier who knows a diabetic and understands the daily struggle, paranoia, and fear. Surely that is why the business start in the first place? What kind of person decides they can cheat people by denying them the tools to manage an illness? And for all the people who think such a thing is alright, I hope they burn on the very bottom layer of hell for all of miserable eternity.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Should Be a Good Day

As I've had my first Etsy transaction! It's not a sale, but a trade. I'm fine with that, I feel like it's a good start. Now I know what's popular and how to best promote my shop.

Oh yeah- Kevin told me last night's dinner was excellent. I informed him I slaved over the stove for a good 15 minutes ;)

Monday, October 18, 2010

A Big Pot of Supper

I really don't have anything to talk about today, so I thought I'd tell you what's for supper: Red beans and rice and sausage.

I boil everything separately and mix it together at the end in my biggest pot (which btw, is the set Kevin gave to me some years ago. As a kitchen witch I find the gift of cookware to wildly romantic. Now if only he would buy me a sewing machine or a spinning wheel or a loom or SOMETHING for textile arts!)

Used to, diabetics were told not to eat beans and rice because of all the carbs. Now they think the health benefits outweigh the carbs. I suppose I could make this a little better by using wild rice but I already had white.

This is another easy meal that tastes better when reheated. It's also lends itself to the 'this and that' style of cooking. You can add onions or chives, maybe potatoes (I'm thinking red would be good here) or you could just have boiled chicken and rice. I put mustard on mine because diabetics can have all the mustard they want.

It's almost time for Kevin to come home, so I better start cooking.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Cauldron of Scrim
























This is the plastic cauldron I bought at the dollar store for sewing magick. And the second picture is scrim, all snipped up and mixed together. I sped up the process a good bit by adding fabric scraps. Then Saturday I was bored and needed something to do while I watched tv, so I cut up some funky velvet ribbon stuff that I have no use for. Ordinary I wouldn't have cut up anything just to make scrim, but like I said, I was bored. Just for fun I'm adding sandalwood oil. Twice a day I stir up my cauldron of scrim with a chopstick. Then I add one drop of oil. This feels a lot like cooking to me- chop, stir, add, simmer. I feel like I'm making soup or stew or a magick potion. I believe now would be a good time to draw up my dragon. Or maybe I should summon a dragon.

I'm debating doing a post on Animal Speak. On the one hand, I wanted to do a series about animal magick and totems, starting with how I learned it and moving into real world experience. On the other hand, I haven't read the book in years. I refer to it often, but I haven't sat down and read it all the way through in a long time. But doing the cards was a good way to keep me posting on a daily basis. But I don't want to comment on every single animal in the book because that would take forever. I might just take my favorite animals from the cards and post what Andrews says. If anyone has an opinion, please, speak up.

Other than the scrim, I haven't done much sewing. I am trying to finish a needlepoint star. I need a break between quilts to clear my head. I am thinking about making some little stuffed charms and animals, like key chain size. I've been seeing little stuffed things everywhere.

October seems to be a long slow month which is great for me because lately I was feeling very rushed and put upon. That may be the appeal of my scrim soup, it's a slow process. Relax. Wait. Stir things a bit. Rest. If more things in my life were like that I might be a bit happier.

I've been watching the leaves change colors. Right now there's a lot of yellow with sudden bursts of red or purple. Still a lot of green, but it's dull green, not the vibrant pulsing green of summer.

Since the fall garden is going so well I've decided to try a winter garden. Today I gathered dogwood seeds which need the coldness of winter to sprout. I've also gathered some rose hip from my father's garden. They too need winter's chill. I'm going to keep my seeds in the fridge and plant in the spring. Since I've already started planning for spring, I might as well plant something for the cold season. Maybe next fall I can say I garden all year round.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Never Leave Your Plate Unattended & Other Things I've Learned From My Labs

Every morning the alarm goes off and I wobble to the bathroom on ankles that don't want to function properly. From the bathroom I head to the kitchen where I am greeted by Halona jumping up and down and growling. That growl means, She's awake! We can go out and pee! We can smell things! She's going to FEED us! Hurry up!

I climb over the baby gate, unlock the door, and let the dogs out. Sometimes if I don't unlock the door fast enough they push me down in their rush to go out. I start the coffee, put the food bowls down, then take my insulin. All this takes mere seconds. Maybe a minute at the most, because I fill the bowls and ready the coffee pot at night before bed. Before I've drawn up the insulin I hear the pounding of paws on the steps. The dogs are hungry and they want back in.

Both dogs inhale their breakfast. Seriously, it's like chomp, chomp, burp. Then they lay around until I put them in the pen. Getting both dogs in the pen is tricky. I try to bribe them with treats. But if they spot a squirrel it is on. I hate squirrels, they make me late to work.

If I'm off, the dogs lay around the kitchen until I let them out again. This morning when Kevin left for work he let the dogs in the bedroom. Getting to sleep on the bed is huge treat for the dogs. If I let them have run of the house they will stay on the bed all day. I'll go back there and say, 'Y'all getting up?' They will open one eye, decided I don't have any food, and go back to sleep.

This morning I got up around 7. Halona was licking a brownish spot on the comforter. At first I thought she was in heat, then I realized I got her fixed. She looked guilty. Gradually my sleep addled brain figured out what is brown and comes out the backside.

I'm just assuming my dogs are so eager to eat they don't take the time to poo, even when their bowels obviously can't hold it in. I guess tomorrow morning I'll have to stand at the door and make sure the dogs do their business before breakfast. The problem is Sophie black and I lose her the moment she goes out the door. I can't see her on the steps next to Halona unless I turn on the porch light. Sometimes Sophie runs behind the trucks and then for all intents and purposes she has disappeared off the face of the earth. I can't tell if she's back there, if she snuck across the street to antagonize the neighbor's dogs, or if she's chewing on a pine cone. She doesn't always respond when called, particularly if squirrels are involved.

After much thought, I realized Labradors live by the following rules:

1. If Mom is looking don't do it. Unless it's really, really fun.

2. Squirrels are evil and need to die.

3. If anyone leaves a plate sitting unattended for more than 3 seconds they don't want it so go ahead and chow down. It's okay if the plate is on the counter. Just stand up on your hind legs. If anyone wanted that food they would be eating instead of looking in the fridge for a can of diet coke.

4. Don't listen to Mom yelling at you when you doing something Important like trying to rid the world of squirrels or cleaning up unwanted food.

5. All food is the source of happiness. Eat your food really fast so the coyotes can't get it.

6. The bed is the nicest place on earth.

7. Rabbits are squirrels with long ears and therefore need to die.

8. The river is the nicest place on earth.

9. If you stare at Dad long enough he'll drop some food.

10. Under the dinning room table is the nicest place on earth. Be ready when Dad drops food so the coyotes don't get it.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Finished!

Yay! I finished the baby quilt this morning AND I got paid!


Tuesday, October 12, 2010

We Interupt This Series for an Important Annoucement

Diabetes sucks and I would not wish it on my worse enemy.

My sugar went up over the weekend and I spend all of yesterday trying to get it down. It topped out at 299. This morning at 2am it dropped to 46. Last night I was hot to sick to my stomach from too much sugar and this morning I was tired, drained, weak, and heart racing from not enough sugar. Argh.

I still have to finish the baby quilt because I didn't plan on my sugar going wonky. I'm off tomorrow so maybe I can get a proper post in. But not right now.

Monday, October 11, 2010

The Big Animal Totem Post Part 1

The cards I've been posting are Animal Messages, Seek Inspiration from Your Animal Guides by Susie Green. I have to admit, this is not the animal deck I originally wanted. Then one I had my heart set on looked like very well done cross-stitch painting, hence the my longing for it, being that a love of textiles is programmed into my DNA. The problem with that deck was I took too long to buy it. Someone decided they didn't like it and they posted the same negative comment on every bookstore site and metaphysical site on earth. Ok, maybe not all, but it sure seemed that way. Every time I searched for the deck I found the same negative comment. At first it put me off, then I decided I really liked the art and should buy the deck anyway, but at that point the deck was gone and I've not been able to find it again.

But Animal Messages is a good deck because it works for me. I have found it to be very accurate. Usually the cards show what I am feeling which in turn shows me how I am viewing the world. Have no doubt, the world is exactly what you make it.

The deck divides the animals into 6 groups-
Creatures of the Air
Eagle, raven, owl, humming bird, parrot, peacock, butterfly, bat, spider, and bee
Arboreal Creatures
Panther, panda, sloth, orang-utan, chameleon, and red squirrel
Earth-Dwellers
Mouse, porcupine, badger, scorpion, and fox
Walkers Between Worlds
Tiger, hippopotamus, water buffalo, beaver, and elephant
Water Denizens
Whale, dolphin, crab, ray, seal, octopus, crocodile, and frog
Land Creatures
Cheetah, lion, cobra, kangaroo, hare, wolf, rhino, mountain goat, llama, wild boar, wild horse, scarab beetle, bear, deer, bison, moose, baboon, and tortoise

I don't have time to go into every single card. I'm going to cover what each group means, add my thoughts, and then discuss my favorites. Next post will be about the book Animal Speak.

Creatures of the Air

Eagle, raven, owl, humming bird, parrot, peacock, butterfly, bat, spider, and bee
All of these creatures represent new beginnings. Air is East, the direction of dawn and new days. Drawing one of these cards means pay attention to what you are thinking. Remember, your thoughts shape your actions. Air is also about words, so watch what you say.
My favorite- spider. A goddess I work with often is Spider Woman. I call her Grandmother Spider or just Grandmother. I don't kill spiders. Anything that kills bugs is great in my opinion. Spiders bring dreams, teach patience, and of course, they weave (there's that textile connection again).

Arboreal Creatures

Panther, panda, sloth, orang-utan, chameleon, and red squirrel
These are all tree dwelling animals. Of the earth, but not on/in it. Drawing one of these means pay attention to your environment/home life. It could also mean the World Tree and your path in life. Panther, sloth, and chameleon are dream animals, meaning they have the power to teach dream magick.
My favorite- panther for sheer power.

Earth-Dwellers
Mouse, porcupine, badger, scorpion, and fox
All burrowing animals who reside in the earth. These cards are about connecting with nature or your true self.
My favorite- badger for being fierce.

Walkers Between Worlds
Tiger, hippopotamus, water buffalo, beaver, and elephant
Land animals that spend a great deal of time in water. These are cards of balance. Each animal is also associated with wealth and abundance. Many are dream animals as well.
My favorites- Tiger (strength), beaver (ecological balance) and elephant (power through gentleness)

Water Denizens
Whale, dolphin, crab, ray, seal, octopus, crocodile, and frog
Water is about emotion. If a water animal appears pay attention to how you feel. Do not suppress your emotions even if you find them unpleasant.
My favorite- dolphin. Pure joy incarnate. Frogs run a close second. Frogs are the first to show distress in a threatened environment. If all is well with the frogs all is well with the world.

Land Creatures
Cheetah, lion, cobra, kangaroo, hare, wolf, rhino, mountain goat, llama, wild boar, wild horse, scarab beetle, bear, deer, bison, moose, baboon, and tortoise
The largest card group in the deck. There's a bit of everything here- cheetah runs like the wind, lion thrives in heat, cobra is calm but deadly, horses are generally associated with dreams and emotions, bears represent strength. We all live on the earth. Earth is all encompassing. Earth is varied and amazing. Earth provides everything you need. These cards are about mundane affairs, daily living, and good luck in general.
My favorite- wild horse. I love horses. Horses generally represent feminine energy, water, west, and beauty, but they also mean nightmares, war, and terror.

And if I could be any animal I would be a DRAGON. Okay, so not a 'real' animal. At least not one in a science book. But I do think dragons exist and I believe they represent our challenges and goals. Dragons are all about magic, wealth, and adventure. To me those are very important.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Odds and Ends

This is my new bottle tree. Based on my previous experience of having all my bottles stolen out of the tree, I made a few changes. First, I bought a 'tree'. It's metal and made by a local artist. Second, my tree is very small, around 3 feet, thus making it portable. 3rd, I placed it behind the house where it is unlikely to draw attraction. It resides in the corner of the storage room and the sewing room.

I spent a good hour making my bottle tree. I pulled up weeds and laid down pine straw. Since I wanted the area to feel like a garden I placed container behind the tree. In the pots are fruit tree seeds that need the coldness of winter to sprout. I probably won't actually plant anything in the ground because it's very rocky and ant infested in this spot.

I passed both tree and bottles through incense smoke. I did another new thing, I bought new bottles. They were half off and I made sure I got pretty ones. All the bottles aren't new. At the old house I had a few bottles hanging on the stair rail and those bottles didn't get stolen. I think having old and new is important. And that blue globe is an old humming bird feeder. Reuse and recycle! Also I each time I placed a bottle on the tree I asked for a blessing. I left a few prongs empty so I could add things in the future. 

Another new thing- I dedicated this tree to Oshun, Oya, and Oba. You probably can't see it in the photo, but I placed a cauldron behind the tree for offerings.



And my mini roses have decided to bloom again. I have another red bush which is loaded with buds but haven't opened yet.

Yesterday I didn't post a card, so today I owe you two- actually, we only got 3 cards left, so I'm going to give you all 3. They are:
chameleon
hippopotamus
cobra
Now remember, the whole point of posting daily cards was so I could work through the deck and make sure I connected with all my cards. I'm going to do a totem animal post so I can talk about how animals act as messengers and how to draw their energy into your life. I thought about posting regular tarot cards each day, but that's 70 odd cards. I may just do a tarot post or two and let that be it. If my scanner was actually compatible with my new computer I could put pics of the cards on the side. I'm not sure my camera will pick up the detail, it's not good on close-up shots (making it hard to list items on etsy). I'll think about it more.

I'm almost done with the pink baby quilt. Yay! I need to get paid and I am tired of working on it.

And one more little witchy thing- I bought a cauldron for sewing. I know that sounds strange and probably you can't think of any possible way to use a cauldron in sewing. The idea here is the ultimate recycling project. See, nothing can be wasted with fabric, no matter how small. A use can be found for every single scrap. So I decided to save my 'waste'- scraps of fabric left from the pieces I cut, and ends of threads after I tie off a knot. I can either make this an offering to a fabric goddess and place it in my compost pile, or when the cauldron is full I can make scrim. Scrim is a lot of little jibblets sewn between gauze and regular fabric. Scrim is very colorful and can be used to make textile art. Most fabrics, thread, ribbon, and yarn can be used in scrim. I was thinking about scrim dragons. If I sell any scrim dragons I'll donate the money to a charity. That it's still an offering. Some people think offerings are bribes to appease deity, but what an offering should be is positive energy, unselfishly given, with the intent to create good in the world.







Saturday, October 9, 2010

And Baby Makes 3

This is a very personal post and I debated for a long time about publishing it...

For a long time I didn't want children. I felt like it was hard enough to take care of myself, let alone another person. I do not get along with my mother and she's not the best mom in the world, so I worried that I might be like her. She used to take her anger out on me and I was terrified I would do the same to my child. Then too, there were trust issues. I've dated a lot of men, but none who I felt I could completely open up to.

I really should of had children when I was younger. Now I think it would have made me a better person and probably I would have grown up sooner. But I'm still young and I still have time. Or at least that's what I thought before I became diabetic.

Doctors used to tell diabetic women not to have children. Ever. Now things are better and they know more about the disease so it's no longer considered impossible for a diabetic to have a baby. But it is a lot of work and there's still an element of danger so most health care professionals will say forget it.

Kevin and I have talked about it and we decided we would like a little girl. Kevin told me he thought I would be a good mom (how sweet the man is!). But we have another problem besides my diabetes- Kevin had a vasectomy.

Yes, they're reversible. But there are no garuntees I would get pregnant. I don't want him to go through a lot of pain for nothing. And we still haven't done anything about my diabetes. We seem to be stuck.

I prayed to Isis for help. She is a very gentle goddess and every time I've worked with her everything works out just right. Isis' husband was murdered, his body chopped up and the pieces scattered all over the world. Isis found every piece, put him back to together, and brought Osirus back to life. But she couldn't find his penis so she made one for him and then she got pregnant with Horus.

I figure Isis can overcome any obstacle so she is the ideal goddess to help me. She's traveled the whole world, so no matter where I am she can hear me. Isis gets things done.

I prayed to Isis to bring me a baby. Then I opened my deck of animal cards and the scarab beetle fell out. The scarab is a creation animal and it is sacred to Egyptians. I prayed to an Egyptian goddess and I got an Egyptian card.

I started seeing Egyptian things every where. I found a pendant showing Isis holding Horus. I was in the pharamcy one day and I suddenly noticed an Eye of Horus on the wall. The wall was lined with dipolmas and there in the middle was a beautiful, detailed Eye of Horus on real parchment. Nationl Geographic must of shown something about Egypt every hour for days. I saw statues of Isis and books on Egyptian gods.

I know my prayer has been answered. I know I am gong to have a baby. Sometimes I can almost feel her in my arms. This makes me long for a baby even more.

I'm trying not to worry about the how. Because when I try to figure out the how I think I'll never have children. I'm trying to trust in Isis. Everything always works out exactly right.

Friday, October 8, 2010

13 Witchy Things

1. I am a self dedicated witch. For years it bothered me that I hadn't been initinated into a coven. I read a lot of books trying to find the 'proper' way to be a witch. Then one day I realized I was born a witch and I did not need anyone to validate me.

2. FreeDragon was my user name on AOL a long time ago. I've changed my magickal name a lot. Before I was FreeDragon I was Northwest Solstice. I've also been StarBreeze and Isiswing. I started using FreeDragon because I want to be free to make my own choices and live my own life.

3. I was born during the Year of the Dragon. For years I thought I was born during the Year of the Snake. But the Chinese New Year comes in February and I was born in January so I was born on the Tail of the Dragon which I think is the best part. This has nothing to do with witchcraft, I just think it's cool.

4. I'm not a cat person. I know witches are supposed to love cats but I like dogs.

5. I like the idea of astrology but I'm too lazy to do the math.

6. I don't tell people I'm a witch because when I do I get one of three responses- 1.) Witches aren't real. 2.) You're going to hell. 3.) Can you put a spell on someone for me?

7. I come from a witch family, but they won't admit it. My mother can predict the gender of an unborn child and her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother were all psychic. The great-grandmother had visions and talked to 'the little man.' I think the little man was a household spirit. He stayed beside the fireplace.

8. I keep my wand hanging on the bedroom wall.

9. I cast really good circles. Every time I do magick with a group I am always asked to cast the circle. Finally I asked why and I was told my circles are be felt and somewhat seen. I was told when I close the circle the world seems farther away. I can't see my own circles. But I can feel a difference in temperature. My circles are hot.

10. I'm pretty good at weather magick but I don't do very often because I worry about upsetting the natural balance.

11. I have a coyote skull on my altar.

12. I have a goddess suncatcher in my living room.

13. My favorite power- calling the wind.

Today's card is beaver. 'investing in home comforts provides security and family togetherness.' Yesterday I stayed home and I was very happy. I wish I could stay home every day. Tomorrow- waiting for my wish to come true.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Her Name is SeaStar

Yes, I named my ball. Eventually all of a witch's tools has their own energy, almost as if they live. I realize the tools of my trade are not magic in and of themselves, they just hold the energy I have poured into them. Except for the crystal ball. She seemed alive from the moment I first saw her. SeaStar arrived via the postal service and I opened the box in the driveway. I remember it was a hot day and as I lifted the box lid all the heat seemed to be concentrated in the box. My crystal ball is the most expensive thing I have purchased for Witchcraft, but it is also the best investment. The ball brings results.

Color doesn't matter. Mine is green. I used to have a blue ball. It worked the same. The ball doesn't need to be perfectly clear. SeaStar is not, she has three very small bubbles. The bubbles actually serve as a focal point. Size is a bit of an issue for scrying as you need enough of a surface to gaze on, but size doesn't matter for manifesting which is what I focus on.

By now you should have figured out all spells are designed to focus the mind. When your attention is wholly involved you create. You create best when your mind is both engaged and relaxed. This is the whole willless will thing pagans are always talking about. Some describe it as not caring whether or not you receive your heart's desire. That's bullshit. Of course you care. If you didn't care, why bother? A better way to describe it would be work without pressure, that feeling of knowing you can achieve anything; failure is not an option because you forgot about it.

First you need a crystal ball, or failing that, a piece of real quartz. Theoretically you can use water but I've never tried it. Glass will not work. I haven't tried lead crystal so I can't say if it works as well as natural quartz. Polished or rough makes no difference.

You should establish a bond with your crystal. Carry it around, sleep with it (yes, I kept it under my pillow for a week and got results astral projecting btw), make it yours. Here is where quartz is better than a ball- you can choose from lots of rocks and easily get another if the first one does feel right. You rarely get to experiment with a ball for you buy and after, well, you're stuck it with.

The ball needs to be free of imprints. Imprints are the energy patterns you mind leaves on the ball. You need a new imprint for each manifesting secession. Wash the ball in warm water with mild soap. Rinse well. Dry with a soft cloth and leave in sunlight for one full day. That's it.

To imprint, hold the ball and focus clearly on what you want. That's all. No words, no candles, no nothing. Easy.

You can add things to help you focus. Sometimes I write my wish on paper and put the paper under the ball. Every time I pass by I think of my wish. This works well for big things. For healing I like to have a picture to help me focus on the person. I've used my ball to help plants grow by looking at the plant through the ball.

If you begin manifesting things on a regular basis you will find it becomes easier to get what you want. Eventually you won't have to put forth any effort. I got a really nice jacket that way. I saw a leather jacket I wanted but couldn't afford. It was really nice with a fur lining. I looked longingly for a while, but I never said anything because it was $200 and I wasn't going to ask for anything so expensive. A week later my mother gave me a nearly identical jacket. The one she bought is shorter and the pockets are slightly different, but otherwise it is the same. She got it on clearance. For $20. She had no idea I wanted a leather jacket. She just saw that one, thought I would like it, and hey, on sale, why not?

Today's card is bear. Bears have been popping up lately. This card says, nurture creativity and return to the sweetness of life. When we're done with the cards I'm going to do a big totem animal post. Tomorrow- 13 witchy things about me.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

You Know I Love You, So PLEASE Love Me Too!

When I was about 21 or so, I met a guy that seemed right for me. We were just enough alike to click but different enough to keep things interesting.


He had married a girl he had dated on and off for four years. They did the whole I-hate-you-we’re-breaking-up-but-I-love-you-please-one-more-time thing. Finally after one break-up they decided if they got back together they should get married. Which, in my opinion, is the dumbest reason to tie the knot.

Of course it didn’t work. If you keep dumping your boyfriend he’s not good husband material. If the man irritates you to no end he will not change his ways just because he said ‘I do.’ So after they had been married less than a year he decided it wasn’t working. Then he met me.

I knew he was married but I thought they were SEPERATED. Meaning they did not live together and were in the process of getting a divorce. So there we were flirting with each other every day and he seemed to be dragging his feet. Obviously he found me attractive. Clearly he wanted to sleep with me. But for some reason we were not getting in the sack. So I decided to give him a little push.

I cast a simple love spell with one heart shaped candle and four red tea light candles. I placed all the candles in a shallow dish with the heart in the center (representing him) and the four tea lights representing the 4 quarters. I lit ‘em all up and thought about how badly I wanted to sleep with the man.

The candles burned brightly. They got really hot and soon the dish had filled with wax which caused the heart shaped candle to float. It floated to the North Quarter candle. I decided that was a good sign because I am a Capricorn and ruled by earth.

I felt smug. I was a powerful witch and I could cause men to fall hopelessly in love with me. Now that I am a little older and wiser I can’t believe I did something so dumb. I imagine you’ve already figured out what happened and you are now laughing at me.

They were NOT separated. The day after I cast the spell he told me his wife thought she was pregnant and he needed to stay with her. I was really annoyed that the man lied to me and angry about trying to make a relationship with someone who had no intentions of ever being with me. I felt like he had been stringing me along for his perverse amusement.

I stopped talking to him. I didn’t see him anymore. I thought we were done.

Except every once in a while he calls. Somehow he gets my number and he calls to see if I will met him somewhere. Sometimes he calls or emails co-workers/friends to ask how I am and what I’m doing. He now lives across the country and he still calls. I am 33 and he is now 36. It’s been 12 years and he’s STILL asking about me.

About 2 years after I broke it of, I did a separation spell. As far as I can tell it had no effect. Sometimes people will start talking about him and I think that means he’s trying to worm his way back into my life. Surely he knows by now I’ve aged. I don’t even look the same. I’ve moved on. I have different interests now. I’ve lost track of many men I’ve dated since then. And I know he knows I live with Kevin now so WTF?! Move on, you loser!

I don’t cast love spells of any kind now. I’m very careful about even invoking lust for a romantic night with Kevin. I don’t play matchmaker with other people and I won’t even do a non-specific spell to bring love. I would rather summon demons.

Today’s card is bee. We have 5 cards left. Tomorrow I’ll tell you how to manifest with a crystal ball.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Car Spells

I used to have a little red Nissan Hard Body Truck named Roho. I loved Roho and drove her everywhere. I put over 300,000 miles on her. She never let me down. I now have a Nissan Titan named Hecate. I sold Roho to a friend and he sold her to his cousin. Occasionally Roho passes by. She looks great and is obviously running well.

I used to keep a piece of quartz on Roho's dash. It was my car protection charm and when the quartz began to slide around on the dash I knew it was time to renew the spell. I was dating M at the time and he always said I 'put way too much faith in a rock' but even he was amazed by the fact that the crystal stayed in one place. He even relocated it a few times thinking eventually it would tumble into the floor as soon as I took a sharp turn. My crystal never fell off and M had to admit that I did have some power after all.

The average renewal time was about one month. I made a travel pouch for Hecate with tiger's eye and I don't renew it as often as I should. What you use for a protection spell doesn't matter as long as you believe in the symbol you are using. I made a herbal bag for Kevin's car after someone shot at him. Yes, someone actually shot at his car and hit the rear driver's side window. He thinks it was a gang initiation because there was another car behind the SUV taking aim and both vehicles took off after the shot. He was unhurt and he got his window replaced for free. He was driving his neighbor back to town and the neighbor said if they hadn't been going back for a spare set of keys the shooting wouldn't have happened. The neighbor thought they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I think they were unhurt because of a protection spell I already had on Kevin. He's a truck driver and I asked for protection 'whenever he was driving.' It didn't occur to me those words cover the regular car as well as the big truck.

Another spell I use often is the expand my gas spell-
Gods of fuel, expand my gas and expand it fast.
I say this when I worry about making it to the gas station, or when I am low on cash and still have a few days til payday. The needle on the gas gauge seems to stop moving.

I have a parking spell- Great Goddess Squat, find me a parking spot! It sounds funny, but when I say it a space usually opens right in front of me.

And since I'm usually in a hurry, I have a time freeze spell-
Time stand still, I order you,
Time don't move until I am through
Doing what I need to do.
I have to warn you, if you use this spell time DOES slow down, but later it seems to speed up again, like it needs to balance itself. So don't be surprised if you have a slow day but your night zips by. The last time I used this spell I was meeting someone for lunch and I had a long drive. I left late and amazingly enough I got there early. Then suddenly my afternoon was over and I had to rush home or be late for supper.

Another spell I've heard of, but haven't tried, is asking Dorris Day to find a parking spot because in all her movies she pulls up to a space in front of whatever building she enters.

Today's card is Baboon, I hope this doesn't mean I'll have to show my ass today. Tomorrow I'll talk about the love spell that still going despite my best efforts to ditch the guy.

Monday, October 4, 2010

The Internet & Astral

The astral plain is something that I couldn’t quite understand when I became a new witch. I didn’t get the everywhere/imposed over this world thing. I didn’t understand time happening all at once with past and present existing together. Shouldn’t a thing be over and done with after it happens? If the past is occurring right now then how did we get to right now? The more I tried to think about it, the more confused I got.


Then I read a book wherein the author likened the Internet to the astral plain. A light bulb went on. The Internet is everywhere and nowhere. We all use it. We can’t touch it. And what happens on the Internet can have a direct result on the real world, whether it is true or not. Some examples would be viruses, Internet scams, breaking news stories, and seeing something you don’t like on a Facebook page.

I don’t have the book anymore and sorry, I don’t remember the title. I remember it was Astral something and the author was J.H. Brennan. I read it in the 90’s just as the Internet was starting to take off. I remember the book because I was fascinated by the possibilities it proposed. I got rid of it because I felt like those possibilities were beyond my magical capabilities. Maybe if I were reading the book now when people carry the Internet everywhere they go via smart phones things would be different. Now the Internet isn’t a bunch of computers linked together, it’s a realm in its own right.

There’s even technological witchcraft. Not only can witches all over the world exchange ideas, they can perform spells together without worrying about everyone in the coven being in the same physical location. High magicians once met on the astral plain to perform secret rites. Now they can agree to log on at a certain time in a chat room, perform the ritual in an exact sequence, see what each other did, and not have to worry about being unable to project, travel time, transporting ritual supplies, or being caught by the local authorities in the woods on private property. (There’s never a good explanation for carrying a sword on a cold dark night.) We witches say that when we are in the circle we are between the worlds but of course it doesn’t look that way to your brain. Your eyes see the living room coffee table. You can pretend all you want, but you’ll still feel the carpet under your feet and hear the neighbor’s dog bark.

The Internet solves that problem. I might be sitting at my desk with a candle burning, but my words appear in another country. My presence is recognized half way around the world without me leaving my house. I’m here and there at the same time without actually going anywhere. I can connect with witches I’ve never even met and we can do full moon spells without standing under the light of the full moon.

Technological witchcraft goes by the names of Computer Pagans/Witches, Techno Witchery, Computer Magic, and Virtual Magic. A lot of people laugh at it. Don’t. Magic is not lessened by a new format. What makes spells work is the spell caster’s intent, will, and focus. How those three things take form are irrelevant. We think nothing of using a photograph as a way to direct Magick toward a person. But did we feel that way when photography was first invented? How long does something need to be a part of a culture before it is considered valid?

There’s much debate on what the astral plain is, whether it’s a complete world, several worlds, all of time and space existing at once, or simply the sum of the collective human unconscious. I don’t know what the astral is, but I do know what the Internet has become- a more tangible astral plain.

We need the astral plain. This is where our dreams are born. This is where we can be ourselves. This is where we can think and invent. Unfortunately, we were losing our magic. We were losing our connection to our true selves. We did not know how to articulate this, but on some level we knew we had to get it back.

The Internet started off as a data exchange. Now it’s a source of information. It’s entertainment and socializing. It’s art. It’s science. It’s the latest and newest while preserving our past. I can research my family tree online. The Internet can show me who I am by showing me where I came from. This is the other side of the Akashic Records coin, that great hall on the astral plain which shows me my past lives.

We can’t resist the astral. We go there every time we dream and if we stop dreaming we begin to feel lost and disorientated. We cannot ignore the lure of the Internet and that’s why we have email, twitter, and blogs. We’ve got to stay connected. A lot of people say the Internet is nothing more than a toy. The same can be said of the astral. You can do some pointless things on the astral plain. But it’s the witches who use both the astral and the Internet with focused intent to achieve goals in the real world.

Today's card is mouse. Mouse has been showing up a lot lately. I heard a mouse Saturday and last night when Kevin and I came home we saw a fox. Kevin said, 'he's hunting mice' When both the prey and the predator come together balance has been achieved.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

The Dumb Supper

The Dumb Supper isn’t stupid. The name comes from not being able to speak. (Like deaf and dumb) It is a meal prepared for the dead, and I am thinking about inviting my grandfather to dinner on Halloween night. He died when I was 8, so I haven’t seen him in 25 years.
The Dumb Supper is something I’ve been wanting to try ever since I first heard of it. When I was a young witch it sounded like ‘real’ magick, something with tangible results that I could see. Unfortunately, no one wants to have dinner with a ghost and it seems like a lot of work for just me. And my guest of course.

The Dumb Supper has lots of rules. No talking, all the plates must be black, and the meal must be cooked backwards, which seems impossible to me. I just don’t think it would be possible to cook an entire meal while walking around the kitchen backwards. I might remember the backwards thing a couple of times, but eventually I will forget and mosey over to the stove facing forward. I understand the point is probably to create a different mindset so that there is no doubt this is a special supper and not an ordinary meal.

Supposedly the meal goes like this- two people prepare the favorite foods of the deceased. The two may not talk. They must walk backwards any time they take a step. The plates, silverware, napkins, tablecloth, and candles are all black. Three places are set, two for the cooks and one for the deceased. When all the food is ready the candles are lit and the cooks wordlessly begin to eat. After a while the fork for the dead person will begin to move. The serving spoon will move across the table as if unseen hands are putting a helping on the plate, but no food will leave the bowl. At some point the utensils stop moving. Then it is thought the dead has eaten his fill, left the table, and the meal is over. That is the spooky version.

Another, less scary version of the dumb supper has the black plates and the no talking rule, but a picture of the dead person is set on the table and their presence may be felt, but there’s no forks and spoons moving about. This one requires the food to be brought to the table with the server walking backwards. There’s no mention of how many cooks are needed. This one also allows as many living people as can fit around the table, so long as one chair is left for the dead.

Here is what I’m thinking about- my grandfather smoked Camels. I still have the ashtray I gave him for his birthday. Kevin uses it now. I’m going to set the ashtray on the table and light a cigarette. My grandfather used matches so that is how we will light it. If the cigarette goes out, I’ll relight it.

My grandfather liked coffee so I’ll brew a pot. My mother used to keep instant coffee for him, but that was because she only made coffee in the mornings. I don’t mind brewing a whole pot for the evening.

We’re going to eat peaches and cream because that was his favorite desert. Peaches and cream and coffee. We must use mugs because my grandfather didn’t like dainty little cups. There’s a funny family story about him breaking every single cup of my grandmother’s good china because he couldn’t get his fingers in the handles. I will attempt to find black mugs, but I’m not going to worry about it if I can’t.

I’m using my plates because these are the plates my mother used when I was a child so he will recognize them. I am not cooking a full meal because my grandparents usually visited us in the evening after they ate at their house.

I will put some pictures of him on the table along with some of his personal items that I have. I’ll have his things, his pictures, his ashtray, his matches, and his cigarettes. I’ll firmly say who I am inviting in, I’ll light my black candles, and then that’s it, no more talking. We’ll eat in silence in the dark with my grandfather. After coffee and desert, I’ll announce that the visit is over, thank you for coming, but you must return to the other side now. I’ll blow out the candle, turn on the lights, and clean up. Any time you perform a rite, ritual, or spell it is vital to remove everything when you’re done so nothing can linger.

I’m not looking for an experience to validate my beliefs. At 33 I am old enough now to understand I can believe without evidence as long as I believe truly in my heart. All I want to do this Halloween is honor my grandfather.

Today's card is owl. 'Seek out deeper knowledge to see through deception.' We have just 8 cards left. Tomorrow's post will be understanding the astral plain by understanding the Internet.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

New Goal

Before I became diabetic I always said I was going to live to be 100. Since Halloween deals with the other side, I thought now would be a good time to determine if 100 is a good goal. After much thought I’ve changed my mind. I’m going to live to be 103.


Today's card- porcupine.
 
Now for today's witchy tip-
 
Broom Magick


The veil between the worlds are thin now. Ghosts can be more readily seen. Things that normally can’t cross into our world can now pass with ease. Fear and doubt can become living things. Lots of strange things happen in the fall that defy explanation. For this reason I sweep negative energy from the house each day.

As you can see, I have a special broom for this task. It’s really a Halloween decoration and it cost me about $2. I bought my broom several years ago and the main reason for the purchase was the purple ribbon. But it is a Real Witch’s Broom because I use it as such. I cleansed and blessed my broom, and the ONLY thing I use it for is the removal of negative energy. There was originally nothing special about the broom, the Magick it welds comes from me. Now it is magickal in it’s own right because each time I use the broom some of my magick stays with it. It is a powerful tool because that is how I treat it. People who come to my house are afraid to touch my broom because it has an otherworldly essence.

To make your own witch broom, you first need a brand new broom that has never been used. It can be any kind you like, but I personally feel one made of natural materials work best. The broom must be cleansed with incense smoke. Light a stick and let the whole broom from handle to bristles pass through the smoke three times. Take the broom outside at noon and point it at the sun. Ask the sun to fill the broom with light. At night point the broom at the moon and ask the moon to fill the broom with power.


Now the broom must hang in a special place and it can never be used for mundane cleaning. If you like, once a moon you can lightly spray with bristles with salt water to keep them stiff. You can also decorate your broom with ribbons, feathers, or charms if you think that will help to make it more powerful. Choose your additions carefully and do not add anything just for show.

To use the broom hold it over your head and announce your intentions- to purify your home. Make wide sweeping motions in the air. With each sweep see white light following the broom. Sweep the air in each room making sure that the broom does not actually come in contact with anything. Pay special attention to the space in doorways, and in front of windows and mirrors. These are all ‘between places’ that can act as portals to the otherworld.

Your broom can also guard your home if you place it across the threshold. It can prevent nightmares if placed under the bed. If you wish to communicate with the fae, look for a mist surrounding the bristles. This means your message has been received. Should the broom ever fall to the floor, a visitor is coming. This does not always mean that the visitor is nice, so be alert.


Use your broom once a month to keep your home peaceful, more during times of stress, when the veil is thin, or if your household has experienced much sickness or disagreements. It can also sweep away problems, but this must be done diligently every day until the desired outcome is reached.

Tomorrow's post- the Dumb Supper.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Eeek! Witches, Ghosts, & Spells! Oh My!

Today is the first day of my favorite month- October. And it falls on a Friday, meaning I have the whole weekend to transform my house. Oh joy and happiness!

The first weekend of October is when I get out my decorations. I have hand made ghosts to hang in the trees. I have a skeleton to grace my front door. I have a giant spider web, lots of pumpkins, and a witch's boot. I have more Halloween decorations than Christmas.

Since this month features the Big Holiday, I think I'll post a spell or witchy tip every day. Today's tip- buy a new broom. Brooms need to be replaced once a year even if they are just regular household brooms. Never ever carry a broom with you when you move to a new house or you will carry your old troubles and bad luck with you. For that matter, I always replace my mop and trash cans too. And I throw these things out, I never leave trash in my old house because it annoys me when I have to clean up someone else's mess.

Today's card is humming bird which reminds me, I've got to take down their feeder for the winter.