Recommended List

Merry meet everyone and I apologize for my short leave of absence. With the current lack of feedback about this blog, I got a little discouraged and went on haitus for a bit, but I have now returned. A little inspiration from my mentor, Aslinn and a new Craft book to add to my little library were just the thing to get me writing again.

Whoever may be reading out there, from here on in, this is for you... Contact, comment or not, just please keep reading.

Now to brass tax. You might be wondering, where the blazes does a book come into this? (Other than the fact I just bought a couple.)

Well, I was thinking every Craft blog needs a recommended reading, listening, ect list. Mine certainly is no different. I'll focus on authors and musicians, but I'll throw in a selection of useful websites as well, some of which I have used consistently in my own studies.

Authors-

Scott Cunningham

Raymond Buckland

Christopher Penzcak (A very wise, semi-scientific, electic witch and teacher)

Patricia Telesco

Deepak Chopra (Founder of the Alliance for a New Humanity)

Ellen Dugan

Michelle Blanger (Expert on vampirism and death magick)

Janet and Stewart Ferrar (Elders of the Alexandrian tradition)

Doreen Valiente (Gerald Gardiner's high priestess)

Sir Frazer (author of the Golden Bough)

Alester Crowley (Founder of the Thelmetic system of magic)

John Dee (Founder of the Enochian system of magic)

Most of these are authors of good books I own. Others are authors of books I wish to own.

But just to name a few, for both advanced and beginning witches, I recommend these writers...

Music-

Gaia Consort

Inkubus Sukkubus

S.J Tucker

Wendy Rule

Kelliana

Flight of the Hawk (Did an awesome, shamanic, neoPagan album)

To list my favorites....

Podcasts-

A Witches' Primer by Ariel (Anything by him is good, honestly. But I learn a lot from this podcast that is actually centered around beginning witches. In my opinion, there is intermediate to advanced content in this podcast as well.)

Ariel's Meditations (Again, very good)

The Infinite and The Beyond by Christopher Orapello (Very entertaining and informative podcast worth catching up to.)

Pagan Chaos Magic by Kia Dragon (Contains loads of info!)

The Moonlit Road Podcast by TMR (Not pagan, but tells a couple tales of the supernatural worth listening to)

I'm not huge into podcasts. I don't stay on top of my subscriptions or anything, but these I've gotten a lot out of.

Websites-

www.witchway.net

www.sacred-texts.com

www.paganspace.net

www.magic-spells-and-potions.com

www.spelldust.com/graphics

www.witchvox.com

www.wicca-chat.com

Again just to name a few....

Enjoy!

Brightest Blessings Be

Sutble Spells, Crafty Crafting

This is going along the same lines as my last philosophical post, but with an important difference.

My last major post was concerned with the essence of magic that exists in all things. My primary focus this time is how exactly to tap into that magic in your every day life.

How much of a challenge this is really depends on the witch. For me, despite my intuitive inclinations (more on that later) and creative viewpoints, it has been enormously difficult. I have met other witches who share this struggle and I have met a couple who don't. I really think it depends on the person and how you were raised.

I was raised with the idea that the sacred stays in "church" and the mundane or normally exists everywhere else. I had no idea how much that thought process influenced me until I got toward an intermeditate level of my Craft practice, where integration of magic into the mundane is vital for mastery and true understanding of it. I'm still working on it, to be honest. I don't require many tools to create a sacred space, but what tools I require, like my prayer shawl, for example, are absolutely NECESSARY for me to tune myself into more sacred energies.

It's all about mindset really. I realize now the extent to which magical and divine energy extends, but I still need a little push to recognize it for purposes of a ritual or spell. I think most of us are like that.

As to how exactly pull this mundane/magical integration off, here's some tricks I've figured out or have had given to me:

1. Use a specific piece of clothing for ritual, casting, divination, ect. The more you use it this way, the more the vibrations will become more visibly sacred. You will view it and feel it as such and it will invoke sacred feelings. My best example is again, my rainbow colored, Celtic designed prayer shawl.

2. Find handy magical methods for little problems.

Example, the astra's energy from a previous post was given to me by a mentor to help with my physical energy levels at work.

3. Make magical reminders with a purpose. Mandalas, sigils and pentacles are great for this.

ie. A sigil I made and hung on my wall for the purpose of averting poverty.

4. Find some good pagan/wiccan music.

(I'm a nut about this. About a third of the music on my iPod is spiritual in some way or form.)

5. Start a witchcraft blog.

(That was one reason why I started this thing. Actually, I've tried to do this a couple of times.)

That's only a few I've used.

My point being, all things are magical and should be viewed as magical. How exactly you fix your perception of this wholly sacred world is up to you. As long as you acknowledge the truth and celebrate it, you ought to be fine.

Brightest Blessings Be

More Useful Recipes and Spells...

I'm having a bit of an off-day so I'm just going to post some more useful BOS info. I promise I will return to the deep spiritual musings eventually, once I get out of this rut I'm in:

Angel Invocation-
(From John Dee's Enochian Keys)
Eee Nu Rah
Eee Nu Rah
Eee Nu Rah
Zay

Astra's Energy
(Recipe given to me by my mentor, Aslinn Dhan Dragonhawk)
3 drops cinnamon oil
12 drops olive oil
12 drops lemon oil

and recite this charm:
"Energy of the world unite in me,
Bring energy and life to me,
help me get through the busy day,
as I with strength go on my way."

Broomstick Blessing
by Yours Truly

Bless this broom with this charm
Witches' tool of old
May you be charged
Bright and bold.

The ocean's might
The wind's flight
The fire's light
The Earth's height
All these elements their powers be yours,
Blessed be...

*Cleanse spiritual working space with newly charged broom*

*Once done chant*
I may not ride you as legends tell
But I still use you well
Unexpected company comes when you have fell

Yours is the gift of the hearth
That is how I see your worth
A symbol of a woman's place and power
And of sabbats at the the midnight hour

I ask that you serve me well
As I softly weave this spell
And honor your sacred place

So mote it be!

P.S. If I post anything that is yours without giving due credit, please message me or email me.
You can email me at setlahseafox@yahoo.com!

Brightest Blessings Be

Full Moon Rite Via Chatroom

http://www.chatzy.com/607835349055#

For those from wicca-chat or any other interested pagan, wiccans or witches, here is the link to special chatroom I set up for our full moon ritual.

The ritual will take place on Monday, March 9th at 6:00 PM Central Time.

See you there!

Blessed be

Spells and Recipes for Spring

Okay, it's ironic to be typing this when it's snowing outside, but here goes;

Faerie Invocation

written by yours truly

Faeries, faerieland folk I pray,

Shide, Gnomes, Brownies, Pixies,

Join me here so we can play,

Dryads, Elves, Nymphs, Sprites,

Grant your magic to aid me this day,

You are always welcome in my home,

Blessed wee folk, spirits of Earth, blessed fae,

Accept my offerings spirits of light,

Blessed be and merry meet.

Come See Me Oil

One drop cinnamon

Three drops rose

Six drops sandalwood.

Charm to Banish Anger

again by yours truly

Raging tempest, burning flame,

Anger be gone in Jesus's name,

Rose petals, silk lace,

All will be calm in Mary's embrace

((Requires rose oil to dab on temples and wrists))

Greed in the Craft

I have to address this because it is something that is near impossible to get away from, so much so that it is downright irritating.

Commericalism has infected the Craft like a disease. It has been that way for years, as long as I have been involved in it and long before.

It is degrading to what we do and it removes from its point.

Now, granted, I do have a little spell and tarot service up on myspace, but I am unbelievably cheap (Think single dollar amounts here.) But charging fifty dollars for candles and some sage or over a hundred dollars for an advanced Wicca course that is only recycled garbage is a bit much.

But yeah, I'm picking on you Magicka School and Sacred Mists. Lay off on the prices dude. Some of us want to practice the old ways in the old way, through apprenticeship and free exchange.

Brightest Blessings Be

The Essence of All Things

This by far was one of the most difficult lessons for me to learn as a witch; magic exists in all things. The concept I understood and made use of to some degree, but it took some time before it seeped into my daily life. For me, it took some serious perception changes before I realized everything has the capability of being sacred and magical.

I'm curious if any other witches have this problem starting out. It seems to be a prevalent issue, particularly with ceremonial based practices. It is this concept that helps eliminate much of the unncessary complications from the spirituality of the Craft. Without a solid foundation of it, some, from my observations, tend to get caught up in the "things" and not the "essence" within the things, which magic is all about.

You can talk in vague metaphors and wave a sword around all you want and not get the basic idea that makes all of this possible.

There's no need to make such a simple thought so complex. The same applies to several other foundational beliefs of witchcraft, such as polarity and subsitution.

That is one reason why I have a difficult time buying into some of these people peddling "ancient lost secrets" and "the hidden knowledge of the ancient mystery schools." What can they possibly share that is not an expansion or overcomplication of these principles?

Also, speaking to my fellow college witches, how else can we practice our Craft all without acknowledging the inherent divinity in all things? Dorms do not allow athames and candles. For us community college folk, most parents strongly dislike the symbols of the Craft in general, such as the pentacle. We are forced by necessity to seek outside traditional methods to practice our art. This concept allows us that freedom.

There is magic inherent in all things.

I shall continue on later about other important principles, principles that should be expressed in the most basic of ways for the sake of all those learning and practicing them. These shall range from Heremetic Principles to Wiccan beliefs,often these being one and the same.

Brightest Blessings Be