Magicka SchoolAugust 7, 2007 2:43 am
The JourneyJune 11, 2007 3:17 pm
I would like to lovingly direct you to my new Pagan blog. I decided that WordPress is much more easy & fun to manage 
Book of Clouds 12:48 pm
I just woke up from another one of my interesting recurring dreams.
I actually woke up about an hour earlier, but decided I wanted to sleep a little longer, and I’m very glad I did because this dream was a very interesting one.
In the dream, I was conscious of having the dream before; however, it was aware to me in the way that I’d explored this place before with some of my friends, which seems common now among UE dreams.
Anyway… there’s, like, an abandoned junkyard with a path that leads up to an abandoned mansion. It was dusk on a cloudy, cool day. I was there with about 6 other people; the only people I know for a fact were Jamie & some guy who’s a bit older than us. As we walked through the junkyard, I was reminiscing about where certain interesting cars that we’d played in/around last time- specificly a 60’s sportcar with a greenish-greyish color & rust-colored windows and a Mystery Machine replica, which we’d apparently shot at with paintballs for some reason the last time we’d visited. We also noticed from a distance a (what I call) "bubble car" (once of those newer, tiny little 1 person cars w/ 3 wheels & big windows all around) with blue tinted windows. We all made our way up the 15 or so steps into the big, dark house (3 or 4 stories high, & quite wide; I’d assume this was the back of the house - details in a min.) Once in the house, we walked down te hallway & stepped into a nearby room (which I’m assuming was now the front of the house) & decided we wished we’d brought flashlights (it was almost pitch black) & a knife (in case any weirdos were inside). I kept getting the feeling that someone else was in the house, but I kept that to myself. Suddenly, someone jumped out from the doorway we’d just entered through & started yelling like a monster & what not, & I screamed at the top of my lungs. It was the older guy we were with. I punched him in the arm a lot, lol. He pulled out 2 flashlights & gave me one. We examined the decrepit room we’d wandered into, noticing the wall in the corner was half fallen such that you could see into the next room from over there. We all noticed a clock high up on the wall across from the door; it was a pendulum clock, & it was still working but it seemed stuck at ?:30-ish. On the wall beneath the clock, the wall was stained as though something had dripped out of the clock, along the wall, & to the floor. The floor directly beneath the clock & the stain had a small hole (about 1/2 ft in diameter) where the floor was just falling apart. Someone in our group mentioned that they thought it could be a secret stash spot or something, even though the hole was obviously nature-made & not man-made. As I walked over to that side of the room to feed my curiousity, I heard the muffled sound of a dog barking. I noticed that there was a window next to the stain on the wall, but somewhat buried behind the debris from the fallen wall. I pulled the yellowed curtain open enough to peek outside, & saw a rot in the neighbor’s yard, chained up, & barking toward their backyard. I then looked down the street, which looked like a nice neighborhood along a small highway, leading to a large lake fairly far off in the distance. I then shined my flashlight through the hole in the floor & saw another rot in the basement, seemingly chained up. It didn’t look up at me. I told my friends that I saw it in the basement, & they asked if that was what was barking, & I said no. Next thing I know, we’re in a dim but lit up room, sitting around a big table eating a meal. The older guy was wandering around the room. I remember there being green beans on Jamie’s plate, & she asked me if I thought they were still good, & I said I thought they were but wasn’t completely sure. Then we heard a noise that sounded like a dolphin sound & I started freaking out & telling everyone to grab their stuff & get going. Apparently that noise meant the thing that lived in the basement was awake & angry, lol.
And so I awoke, excited from my movie-like dream
The JourneyJune 5, 2007 8:55 pm
The Top 10 Ways to Quiet Your Mind
Is your mind awash in all kinds of debris–trivia, worries, "to do" lists? If your are (sure) and it is (awash), read on. Here are ten ways to quiet the mental noise.
1. Meditate on a "mantra".
A mantra is a nonsense word or sound such as Ahhhh, Ommmm, or Hmmmm. It doesn’t mean anything but, repeated over and over, it lulls the conscious mind into a restful state where slower alpha waves replace the faster waking beta waves. Generally, it takes from two to four minutes to begin feel the effects. After that, you simply drop deeper and deeper into a meditative state. For some people, mantric meditation works fine. For others, it seems to be an opportunity for the subconscious mind to dredge up everything it’s been wanting to tell you for weeks! If that’s your experience, i.e., it ISN’T peaceful, you may want to skip the mantric form and move on.
2. Follow your breath.
There is another way to meditate, and it produces somewhat different effects than the mantric form above. Both methods will enable you to relax and shift into a different state of consciousness. In the event that the mantric form proves too difficult, you may want to try this. Get in a comfortable sitting position. Inhale through your nose, hold your breath for perhaps a second or so, and then slowly exhale from the lower abdominal region by gently forcing the air downward and out. Continue breathing this way until it feels natural and easy. This can take some time, maybe several sessions of ten to twenty minutes each. With practice, however, you’ll find that this form of breathing relaxes both mind and body. You remain awake, aware (not "tuned out" as in mantric meditation), and relaxed. In this state, it’s very likely that everything seems distant and nothing bothers you. Before long, you will find it comfortable to breathe in this manner and then simply "follow" your breaths, particularly your exhalations. With practice, you’ll discover that it is a powerful way to quiet both mind and body.
3. Focus on the "one point".
Your "one point" is a point about two inches below the navel where, according to Zen lore, everything balances physically and psychologically. If you want to know more about this concept, you may want to look at Top Ten List #30, "Tops Ten Ways to Develop Positive ‘Ki’ (Energy)". In any event, simply directing your mind to this one point can have a powerful calming effect. As an assist, you can find your one point by looping your thumb around your belt buckle (assuming you’re wearing one) and allowing your large finger to touch your navel. The point where it touches is your one point. A bit of pressure there can help you focus. Incidentally, this is an excellent technique for regaining your composure, say, in a stressful meeting. Also, the act of focusing tends to regularize your breathing and lower your heart rate.
4. Find a safe harbor.
A safe harbor is simply a mental "place" to which you can retire whenever you choose. It may be an image of a childhood hideaway, a memory of an especially peaceful scene, or a "picture" of your own creating. Whatever you choose, it’s a place where you can go just by closing your eyes and visualizing it. It’s a place where no one else can come. That’s why it’s called a "safe harbor."
5. Chew slowly.
Yes, that’s what it says! When you become stressed, there are numerous side effects–your heart rate increases, your head starts pounding, your palms sweat and, if you’re eating, you begin chewing faster. Chewing slowly can become a kind of meditation. So can digging in the garden, dropping pebbles in a pond, or petting your dog or cat. So, while chewing slowly is a healthful act in itself, it’s also a metaphor for all those things you can do to gently SLOW DOWN.
6. Avoid stimulants.
If you’re an inveterate coffee drinker, you may not like this one, but drinks that contain caffeine are not conducive to quieting your mind. Yes, they help you stay awake and may enhance your energy, but they are not quieting.
7. Reduce your fat intake.
A high fat intake can slow down your mind, but it will tend to leave you sluggish and groggy rather than energized and clear. Wonder why you’re sleepy after a big dinner? You guessed it: fat. Reducing your fat intake helps regularize the entire system, including your mind. If you’re dreading a day-long car drive because you recall others times them you’ve had to fight to stay awake and you arrived exhausted, try driving right past fast food resturants. Instead, stick with fruits, vegetables, water and juices. You’ll be amazed how different you feel at the end of the day, AND your mind will be rested and quiet too.
8. Act deliberately.
There’s a tactic in the martial arts in which you purposely adopt movements that are opposite to those of your opponent. If he/she moves quickly, you move slowly, and vice versa. The principle is not to adopt a particular pattern, but rather, to act deliberately, to use your opponent’s movements as a way of defining your own course of action. Sounds paradoxical, I know, but it works. Outside the martial arts arena, the principle is more general: make your every move a deliberate one. Deliberateness by itself quiets your mind and infuses oneself with a sense of inner control.
9. Sit out under the stars.
When was the last time you sat outside in the dark and gazed at the stars? I don’t mean when you last studied the constellations or went for a vigorous night walk. The star-gazing I’m referring to is the kind that allows you to "feel" the immensity of infinite space. It’s a quieting and, at the same time, invigorating experience. If you haven’t tried it recently, tonight may be a good night.
10. Create easily accessible benchmark rhythms.
Use the sights and sounds around you. If you’ve ever slept on a train, you know how hypnotic the repetitive sound of the wheels on the tracks can be. There are literally hundreds of sounds around us each day that can be employed as a kind of consciousness mantra–the Pachobel Canon, a favorite piece of music with a steady measured tempo; the hum of a motor, the sound of the printer next to me, a clock ticking rhythmically on the wall, a gentle rain. Capture the rhythms of these sounds and use them to become quiet. If you’re attentive, you’ll discover them almost everywhere, and you’ll realize that life can be a lot more peaceful than it often is.
Copyright 97, 98, 99, 00, 2001 CoachVille
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The Journey 8:43 pm
Living A Spiritual Life
Throughout the journey from birth to death, many people choose to question life, strive for improvement, seek out knowledge, and search for the divine. Simply put, this is the essence of spirituality. One’s spiritual practice can take on many forms, because embracing the spiritual is a very personal pursuit. While many people do relate their spirituality to a God or Goddess, this quest for the divine, or oneness with the universe, always springs from within. It doesn’t matter where you find your spiritual path. We are all fundamentally spiritual beings and the essence of that lies in knowing one’s true self and finding a peace that comes from within rather than the outside world. It is in remembering this that we awaken to our personal path.
The spiritual path springs forth from a daily routine that reaffirms our personal connection with a purpose or a way of life. Practicing compassion, gratitude, appreciation, forgiveness, generosity, meditation, and taking care of one’s wellbeing can all be a part of one’s spiritual life. If you are new to exploring your personal spirituality, remember that this is a process. You may want to spend a few moments each day giving yourself a spiritual gift. Try a new form of meditation, visit a sanctuary, or explore a specific deity.
Accepting the importance of spirituality can be a healthy decision, because a spiritual practice tends to include habits that promote healthy living. Take the time to carefully determine the action, thought, and ritual that most speaks to your soul. Remember that your most profound spiritual experiences may also come from the simple intricacies that make up your life. See the interconnectedness of all things. As you explore your "inner work," you will be walking your spiritual path and feeling your oneness with the universe.
The Journey 8:41 pm
Tips on Saving Money for Witches
Tips on Saving Money for Witches
The Following tips are to save money making tools and supplies for beginners in the Craft and those of us that cannot afford to buy expensive costly items brought from Occult shops.
Altar cloths:
Use old sheets cut to appropriate size. Or go to a fabric store and search through the remnants. These are often at least 1 yard in size, and cost 50% or less of their original price. Sheets and remnants can be embroidered, appliquéd or painted (fabric paint) with symbols and other designs. Make sure the fabric is washable though.
Incense:
Check the spice and herb shelf at your grocery stores and Health food shops. There are many dried whole and powdered herbs and spices that can be used individually or in combination for incense. Save your money to buy those which are not available through the grocery store (I.e. frankincense, myrrh, copal). Same idea applies to herbs for magickal use. you can grow things like lavender and sage and thyme and many other herbs and flowers in pots or in your garden. Try steeping herbs in a virgin olive oil or nice base oil for like Jojoba or a few weeks and make your own oils. Also try the Body shop for low cost oils and base oils.
Censer:
Shops charge a pretty penny for censors (I’m talking of normal
censers, not the little cone ones), so don’t buy them there. Check discount stores, jumble sales or flea markets and garage or boot
sales for suitable containers. I bought a heavy brass bowl which is on a pedestal and has handles for about £6.00 / $12.00. If money is tight, try using a deep natural seashell or even aluminum pie pans.
Fill with sand or cat litter and set on a hot pad or a trivet (just to be safe). The charcoals used for burning incense get *very* hot, so be careful with choosing what you will use….some materials have very low heat tolerance/resistance. I have a little copper bud vase to hold my incense/joss sticks. It was second hand and very cheap and polished up was lovely. I hot copper and brass candle sticks and holders by keeping my eyes open. Polished up they are really something to look at.
Chalice:
Have you a nice goblet or wine glass at home? Use that. No need for anything fancy. If you keep your eyes open, you can find a nice crystal or glass goblet fairly inexpensively at stores such as Boot sales, Jumble sales, Charity shops and Second Hand shops ; or garage sales if you are American try Wall- Mart and Kmart, kitchen shops, flea markets. You can buy a glass engraver tool or use silver or gold enamel paint or special silver or gold pens from craft shops to inscribe pentacles and decorations, Wicca blessings or chants ect.
Candle holders:
Fill jars with sand and stick the candle into the sand. You can paint symbols on the jars if you like to represent the elements, etc. The small votive candles can be burned in small aluminum pans (pot pie size…I’ve even seen custard cup size for sale in grocery stores). Even some of the larger pillar candles can be burned in these pans. Candles can also be burned in seashells and cans of appropriate size.See above for candle holders brought second hand in brass and copper. Make your own candles from kits. Amazing moulds can be made from wet sand lined with Clingfilm. I have also used unraveled toilet rolls inside of glass jars, the cardboard is peeled away easily after the hot wax hardens. Wax crayons can be added to make different colors. Buy white candles and prick them all over, now add a mixture of sea - salt and food coloring and dip the candles to get any colour you wish. it`so the vibrations of the colour the spell is requiring and it saves raised eyebrows about you having so many coloured candles.
Robes and sandals:
Not essential. What you wear is a matter of choice, unless you belong to a coven that specifies what you wear. In solitary practice, it’s just you and the deities. I wear whatever I happen to be in at the time, and for certain occasions a long skirt & chemise. You can make a robe from a dyed or bleached sheet or buy a caftan type of garment kept just for rituals. Of course it simple and it`so often recommended for witches or be sky-clad (naked!)
A friends wears a long white shirt she pinched from her husband! She has Wicca symbols embroidered on it! Covens tell their members to make their own ritual robe and to bless each magickal stitch they sew. They are supposed to only be worn for ritual use. Scour the shops for jet and amber beads to find beads to make a priestesses necklace to wear. You can look for cheap beads to sew into a Mandela to meditate with.
Athame:
It will take time to find the right one for you. It can be the
traditional style, or it can be a dagger or knife that has special meaning to you. Go to pawn shops, flea markets, and garage sales to keep the cost down. Look for letter openers and things like that!. Before buying, handle the knife. If it doesn’t feel right, or if it doesn’t call to you in some way, it’s not the one for you. If you’ve handled a knife and still aren’t sure about it, don’t buy it right away…go back and handle it several times over a period of a week or two. Until such time as you find *your* athame, any dagger or long bladed knife will suffice. New-Moon has a very inexpensive athame
which is discounted now. The handle may be painted white or black or left in it`s natural wood effect.
Wands:
It’s best to make your own. Take walks in parks, along beaches or in the woods. Keep your eyes open for branches laying on the ground. Handle the branch and see what impressions come to you. If it’s meant to be a wand for you, you’ll feel it. My wand was from a willow tree (female life-force) blasted by lightening. I have taken off the bark and sanded it down and then with a silver and gold pens inscribed Wicca symbols and my magickal name in the Theban witches alphabet. I have an oak one (male life-force) when I chose a branch thanking the tree. With a heated sharpened nail I burnt into the stripped and sanded down wand the Viking runes. I then varnished my wands and attached a crystal to the first at one end with super aend a small length of copper pipe at the bottom end. I have feathers and shells on the oak one. You can add the skull of an animal personal to your coven . The thing is to personalize it and to keep the natural life-force to maximize the energy .. My altar patent is a dried out starfish but these can also be made from painted tiles or a baked salt bread recopied with a pentacle marked on and painted and varnished in the same way Christmas tree decorations are made sometimes by children. Wicca [protection balls are made easily from Christmas tree clear ornaments and silver paint. Scrying mirrors are also easily made by spraying any ordinary glass black with a spray enamel paint and setting it back in an attractive metal or wooden frame you can make look Magickal with emblems and symbols painted on and herbs put inside the "scrying mirror" to make it special and personal
The same method applies to finding other useful items such as seashells, stones, etc. Feathers can make magickal quill pens or are handy to waft incense smoke or represent the element of Air. Seashells hold water and salt and can represent the element of North as can stones. a Lava stone or pumice stone can represent the element of fire.
Staffs:
See wands …..just use a bigger branch. Try a Do it yourself shop to find a sturdy wood rail you can chop to size. A small piece of dowel can make a wand, A copper wand filled with herbs is a good conductor Magick.
More on jewelry:
Sometimes there is no helping the expense of this if you want
quality. Jewelry is not essential, but if a piece is especially
meaningful, it can be a useful tool (at least in the sense of your mainframe or mindset). Of course, you can find good jewelry at good prices at flea markets, pawn shops and garage/estate and boot sales and second hand shops. See where I put about beads.
More on Altar Pentacles:
You can make one out of flour "clay" and paint it. You can make one out of a square of wood, and either paint or burn the pentagram, or even carve it.. At many hardware and larger home repair supply stores, you can find a tile and paint it. The cost of any of these will be a fraction of a pentacle ordered through a catalo or bought in most stores.
ON SAVING MONEY
The main thing to remember is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money. Take a good look around your home, and look at things with the idea of making it a useful tool. Use your imagination and creativity.
Even if you don’t have the money, frequently visit your favorite
shop and look through catalos. This way, if something goes on sale, you’ll have a good idea whether or not it’s really a bargain price. And haunt the discount stores…there’s no telling what useful items you will find at great prices.
Also remember that not every tool or item you read about in the books is essential. Before buying or making something, ask yourself "Do I really need this in order to practice my beliefs?"
If you save money on tools and at the same time create things that are beautiful and personal they will be far more magickal than any brought item. The money saved an go towards things like Amber and
Sandalwood resins, gums and incenses and herbs and barks that you
cannot grow yourself. Remember to consult the herbal and incense
correspondences you have as it`so possible to substitute different herbs in spells if you have not got one or two of the things
stipulated! Many are just props the real Magic is in you!
The Journey 7:30 pm
Invite your intuition to help you find the answers that are best for you! Quickly scan the list below and watch for any items that grab your attention in some way. If you are open and receptive, your intuition will flag items that deserve your attention. Mark the items that ‘resonate’ with you, then logically pick out the top 7 of them for further exploration.
Manifesting Tips - A List of Choices
General
We are always manifesting, walking our talk and having our prayers answered.
Manifesting and intuition require peace of mind, a need and action.
To change consciousness, change thoughts and do something in support of them (intuit and do it).
Spirit, essence and purpose are causal and filtered and coloured by the subconscious. Therefore clear out old patterns, beliefs, reactions and habits.
Energy follows thoughts.
Manifesting is influenced by natural law, mass consciousness, your higher self (purpose, cycles and need), your subconscious mind (character and beliefs), your strength of will, archetypal energies (essence), peace of mind, actions (process) and your energetics (magnetism).
Manifesting must not be a goal in itself; instead, love, serve and be responsible to the whole.
Spiritually
Anchor yourself well in your own divinity.
Know your own essence, purpose and needs and stay in alignment with them.
Connect with the essence and symbol of what you are seeking to manifest through meditation, writing, art, song, ritual.
Use intuition regularly and ask for guidance for the next step.
Internalize and identify with the archetypal energies that are involved.
Maintain a loving and harmless attitude.
Comply with laws of universe, planet, humanity and your higher calling.
Mentally
Rid mental blocks - rationalizing, lack of willpower, worry, problematic thought patterns, judging, lack of imagination.
Reprogram subconscious using meditation, visualization, affirmations, ritual, senses, feelings, repetition, authority.
Purify non-supporting belief systems in the subconscious mind that are more powerful than your intention.
Do not stand against anything, but for something.
Know your essence, values, qualities and what you stand for. Most of us are here to integrate higher qualities and virtues.
Be curious, ask questions.
Change negative thoughts into loving thoughts.
Apply repetition, authority and need to your thoughts, mental picture and words.
Be aware, open, flexible and sensually acute.
Focus mostly on the now, a bit on potential or the future, but not on the past.
Creatively visualize clear-end results (especially the essence).
Regularly review the big picture.
Develop your will power.
See a gain for more than yourself.
Purify your perceptions (judgments) as they create your reality.
Believe in miracles; expect them.
Understand that we get more of what we need than what we want or ask for.
Use subjective support from others to fortify your thought forms (Mastermind Team).
Affirm statements of truth and need and not wishes or wants.
Ask, give thanks and release all expectations for results.
Create an intuitive symbol or image for the manifestation and meditate on the symbol.
Practise concentration, one-pointedness and focus to form precise images.
Be accountable and know that you are the product of your manifestations to date.
Keep your thoughts, words and actions congruent.
Trust that all will work out.
Ultimately, just know that your needs are fulfilled, there is no need to ask.
Emotionally
Rid emotional blocks - fears, anger, sadness, attachment, guilt, resentment.
Keep purifying your emotions.
Maintain a strong desire and expectancy.
Be passionate about what you love.
Physically
Detach from the form and the how.
Practise spontaneity - doing things differently and doing different things.
Manage the dead space, lull, transition, void or integration period.
Magnetize your personal environment with flowers, talismans, an altar, aromas.
Be in nature often.
Rid physical and energetic blocks to manifestation - distractions, addictions, low energy, little sleep, sickness, poor physical condition, poor nutrition, inertia.
Monitor results as they are directly consistent with your thoughts.
Act as if it is done.
Think it and ink it - write it down.
Balance the male and female energies.
Keep the etheric vital energy body active and balanced.
Track synchronicity and miracles as signs of magnetizing.
Impress your intentions into water (the most impressionable and absorbing medium) and drink it.
Breathe deeply - the in-breath energizes thoughts and the out-breath releases thoughts.
Risk more and act more. Be in motion. Only in action does synchronicity happen.
Help others get what they want.
Find a social need and fill it. Do most good to all and harm to none.
Give what you want to receive.
Do a collage of the essence of your manifestation.
Create space to receive, pay debts, tithe, clean house, rid messes, complete things.
Do what you love to do.
Do more than you are paid to do.
Keep money circulating, love paying bills and letting money go.
this comes from a website called Higher Awareness.
- Morning Rain
