Wiccan Pentacle Added To Approved VA Gravestons 2007

One this day is 2007 the Wiccan pentacle is officially added to the list of VA approved emblems for gravestons. Veteran's Pentacle Quest is a project led by the folks at the Lady Liberty League and Circle Sanctuary.

It's the name given to the effort to have symbols of Pagan religions allowed on the headstones of fallen veterans. Although the pentacle has finally been approved by the Veteran's Administration, there are still many issues to be looked at concerning the Veteran's Pentacle. Here are some of the headlines we've seen here at Pagan/Wiccan About.com.

July 3, 2008: Ellen Evert Hopman and Selena Fox on the Awen Symbol

August 30, 2007: Update: Stewart Gets Call from President

August 29, 2007: Wiccan Widow Dissed by the President

July 19, 2007: A Hero Denied: Stewart's Widow Speaks Out

May 8, 2007: Justice at Last for Deceased Pagan Soldiers

-The Crafty Witch

Do Pagans Celebrate Earth Day? By Patti Wigington

Question: Do Pagans Celebrate Earth Day?

I know that there are eight Pagan sabbats during the year, as well as a bunch of Esbats, but I also notice you've got Earth Day on the calendar. Is Earth Day even a Pagan or Wiccan holiday?

Answer:

Well, no, it's not, but then again neither is Tartan Day or the anniversary of Bewitched, but those are on the calendar too. It's important to note, however, that many Pagans and Wiccans view the environment as something really important. Although it's not an "official" Pagan or Wiccan holiday, if you've sworn to be a steward of our planet, then Earth Day is as good a reason as any other to honor Mother Earth.

The first Earth Day celebration was held in 1970, and sponsored by the Earth Day Network. This annual celebration is a time when people worldwide honor our planet and (hopefully) take a few minutes to try to make a difference in the world.
Some things you can do to make a difference in your own space? Try one of the following:

• Turn off the lights you're not using
• Pick up some garbage that isn't yours
• Ride a bike to work instead of driving
• Plant a tree
• Use cloth grocery bags instead of paper or plastic
• Recycle your stuff
• Plant a garden of your own, or buy from local growers
• Build a birdhouse
• Adopt a stream
• Shut off appliances that don't have to be on all the time

Regardless of how you observe this day, even if it's just for a few minutes, take the time to thank the earth for her gifts, and take a moment to be glad we're part of it.
For more information, visit the Official Earth Day Homepage, and be sure to read up on 10 Ways Pagans Can Celebrate Earth Day.


Patti Wigington

-The CraftyWitch

What is NeoWicca?

Sometimes you may see the word "NeoWicca" used at About Pagan/Wiccan. It's one that appears often in discussions about modern Pagan religions, so let's look at why it's being utilized.

The term NeoWicca (which essentially means "new Wicca") is typically used when we want to distinguish between the two original traditional forms of Wicca (Gardnerian and Alexandrian) and all other forms of Wicca. Many people would argue that anything other than a Gardnerian or Alexandrian tradition is, by default, NeoWicca.

Much of the publicly available material labeled as Wicca in books and on websites is in fact considered NeoWiccan, simply because Gardnerian and Alexandrian material is generally oathbound, and is not made available for public consumption. In addition, to be a Gardnerian or Alexandrian Wiccan, you must be initiated - you cannot self-initiate or dedicate as a Gardnerian or Alexandrian; you have to be part of an established coven. The concept of lineage is also important in these two forms of traditional Wicca.

In general, someone who follows an eclectic path of magical practice, in which they incorporate practices and beliefs from a variety of different systems, would be considered NeoWiccan. Keep in mind that the term NeoWicca is not meant to imply any inferiority to these two original traditions, simply that a NeoWiccan is practicing something newer and therefore different than an Alexandrian or Gardnerian.

Many NeoWiccans adhere to the Wiccan Rede and the law of threefold return. These two prinicples are not typically found in Pagan paths that are not Wiccan.

reblogged
-The Crafty Witch

The Wand & The Chalice

 The Wand

One of the four elemental tools, the wand is traditionally made of wood cut from one of a number of trees, depending upon the use to which it will be put. Willow, elder, oak, apple, hawthorn, peach, hazel, ash, blackthorn, cherry or nut bearing trees are all possibilities. A wand is made from a branch the length of the distance from the elbow to the extended middle finger. It is cut from wood of the current year, preferable with one stoke. It may be carved, painted or written on in any of a number of ways depending upon the tradition. The bark may be removed and the surface smoothed and polished or the wand may be left in it's natural state. The wand represents air in most traditions, however in those who assign the athame to air the wand is consequently assigned to fire. Hazel or ash is good for an all around wand with perhaps a venusian wood for magic regarding love, fertility, prosperity and such. Apple, cherry, peach or any of the fruit bearing trees is good for this second wand. You could theoretically have a wand of an appropriate wood, with appropriate crystals and markings for each planet. Suit your own needs, but one wand is enough for most.

There are a number of styles of wands, with crystals at one or both ends, with painted or carved designs, or with written or engraved symbols or runes. A wide variation in materials and decoration or lack of it exists. In ceremonial magic there are designs painted in the planetary colors and tipped with silver or lead caps at each end. These may be made from dowels or from straight tree branches
about the thickness of your index finger. For certain Sabbats a more male wand is used, a nut wood wand tipped with a pinecone or acorn and wrapped with black and white ribbons interwoven like the snakes on a caduceus. A traditionally designed Ceremonial magicians oak wand which has been painted black and tipped at both ends with silver caps was the inspiration for the stage magicians magic wand that we are familiar with today.

It has become popular to use silver, copper or pewter wands with crystal tips. Some have natural quartz points or other semiprecious stones, others have cut glass crystals. They are attractive, but somewhat expensive. Many of these come with velvet or silk wand cases, drawstring bags which may be decorated with pentagrams or other symbols and which protect the wand from scratches. Silver
and pewter are both subject to scratching, and copper and silver tarnish so some care in handling is appropriate. Some are lacquered to prevent tarnishing so read the information that comes with the wand before you go at it with silver polish or you will remove the laquer in patches and have a real mess. The lacquered ones may be cleaned with a soft, damp cloth. Store your wand in it's
pouch for protection from dust and marring.



The Chalice

Pronounced as chal-ess and also known as the cup. The last of the four elemental tools, the cup or chalice is used to hold water, wine or juice during the ritual. It represents water and is the primary feminine symbol on the altar. It is symbolic of the Goddess in several rituals of the calendar. The chalice may be made of silver, brass, copper, glass, alabaster, soap stone, wood, porcelain,
earthenware; any material you like. It is unmarked in most traditions where it is used. The cup is used to hold water, either plain or salted, when consecrating tools, amulets, etc.

This is one of the easiest tools to find at thrift stores, and antique shops. Many of them started out as wedding goblets. If you plan to put wine in the chalice be sure that the material is safe to drink out of. Wine is acidic and will leach contaminates from the container easily. Not all earthenware has food
safe glazes and unlined metal chalices should be re-tinned by a silversmith to make them safe. If you will only be using it for water and salt to cast the circle this will not be a concern.

In Ceremonial Magic the cup is used as well, in which case it is engraved with the Archangelic and Godname of the element water and is made of silver or copper, with glass as an acceptable substitute. The cup may be jeweled or decorated using correspondences to it's symbolic water and feminine
connotations. It is symbolic of rebirth, reincarnation, wisdom and immortality. Venus is the appropriate planetary correspondence. Valiente states that the cup is symbolic of the Cauldron of Cerridwen, and she places the emphasis on it as opposed to the cauldron. Cunningham reverses this and places much more emphasis on the cauldron referring to the chalice as a small cauldron on a stem. Valiente includes the cup in her list of coven tools rather than an individual tool.
Buckland does not mention the chalice at all.

Traditionalists whether Norse or British may use a drinking horn or two handled cup instead of the wine glass style chalice of Wicca. On the left is an Anglo Saxon style drinking horn with stand, on the right a reproduction of a Viking style drinking horn.


*author unknown

-The Crafty Witch

Channeling

Channeling can basically be defined as the process of receiving and relaying information from an outside entity while in an altered state of consciousness. The consciousness level varies from individual to individual, from deep trance to a very light meditation-like state. It appears that the channeler must go into this altered mental state to get in "synch" or reach a compatible vibrational level with the entity to be channeled. Entities that people claim to channel are as varied as the channelers themselves - angels, demons, spirits, aliens, higher dimensional entities, dead relatives and friends, and even living people in some cases - the list is long and quite individualized. As virtually all of us have some psychic abilities to some degree, most of us are perfectly capable of channeling with a little bit of practice if we are so inclined.

Channeling can take many forms and is not just a trance-like state with someone lying on the couch and talking in a foreign language - which is how most of us picture it. Many of the psychic tools we are familiar with are actually forms of channeling, including psychic healing, automatic writing, séances, and ouija board usage. As anyone who has heard a ouija board horror story knows, channeling by inexperienced people can be a dangerous proposition. Having said that, a primer on how to prepare and seek out an appropriate entity is in order here.

To begin, there are two main types of channeling. The first is Trance Channeling, and involves basically going to sleep, relinquishing control of the body, and letting an outside entity take control, usually by speaking through the body and voice of the channeler. Upon awakening, the channeler has no recollection whatsoever of what transpired while he was out, and for this type of channeling to be effective, a 3rd party or a tape recorder should be at hand to record the material. The material that comes out of this type of channeling is generally quite clean and elegant, as there is little ego on the part of the channeler to interfere with the information being presented. Edgar Cayce provided us with a remarkable long-term example of trance channeling, as did Carla Rueckert, whose work resulted in the fascinating Ra Material.

The second and most prevalent type of channeling is Conscious Channeling. This is the origin of the Jane Roberts/Seth material, a compelling modern-day example of channeling. With this type of channeling, the channeler remains conscious and allows expression to be processed through his body. This is not the cleanest of ways to channel, as the material can be edited at will by the conscious channeler, but it is certainly safer than Trance Channeling, especially for beginners. Ouija boards, psychic healing, most seances, and automatic writing all utilize this type of channeling.

An important note here is that there are a lot of ways to connect with a spiritual higher plane. Anything you love doing and find that you are good at could be a form of channeling. Who is to say that Michelangelo or Einstein weren't tapping into some higher consciousness as they worked in their fields of expertise. If you love playing music, by all means try music as your way to communicate. If you love reading, try automatic writing (computers and keyboards work just as well as pencil and paper). If you love dance, cooking, sports, painting, crafts, gardening, or any other creative endeavor, feel free to modify the guidelines here to fit your situation and open yourself to a higher plane while you enjoy the activity of your choice. There are as many ways to channel as there are individuals on this earth, and we have all experienced the feeling of "drifting off" as we go about our daily lives. This is the stuff of channeling!

As with all worthwhile endeavors, channeling takes a little time and practice to produce results, so don't expect to get a Seth or Ra quality right out of the gate. Your goal is to put mind, body, and soul into a peaceful meditative state in order to "connect," and this does take some practice. Once you have read the general guidelines below, try to go to your place every day at about the same time and devote at least 15 minutes - this is to establish a ritual, much like your cup of coffee in the morning or brushing your teeth every night. If you have to miss a day here and there, that's perfectly okay - you want this to be a short, pleasant break - not an annoyance.

Start by finding an quiet area in which to relax and prepare. This can be anywhere inside or out, but it should be the same every day. You can sit on the floor with legs crossed meditation style, or on a comfortable chair. It is not recommended that you start practicing by lying down on a bed, especially at first because the relaxation techniques are a recipe for falling asleep. Take a hot bath or shower before starting for cleansing and relaxation if desired. Go to your place and light a scented candle or incense stick to set the mood. For the first few days, just go sit in your place and try to clear the mind as much as possible. Breathe in deeply a few times, mentally pushing out all the clutter with each exhalation. As thoughts try to creep back in, focus again on your breathing to dispel them.

Once you are comfortable with the above procedure, you can start trying to contact others through channeling. A little known rule for all channeling is that you have to agree to let the entity in before it will come in and start relaying information. If you are not comfortable with what you get, you can ask the entity to leave, and it must do so upon request. A common mistake with Ouija boards is that the users get so rattled by what is coming through that they never demand that the entity leave, opening the door (and leaving it open) to all kinds of weird occurrences. The same thing can happen with channeling, so do remember to close any session and listen for a like response.

So, you are sitting in your quiet meditative place, and you have practiced clearing your mind for a few days. When you are ready, watch for the signs. You can either ask (mentally or aloud) for entities to speak, or you can listen for them to ask you for a connection. Believe it or not, this will come once you have got your basic relaxation techniques in place. You can ask for someone specific or just ask for the highest beings of light you are capable of communicating with and see what you get. Again, if you are not comfortable with what you get, do not hesitate to ask the entity to leave.

When you do connect with an entity, you will know it. You might feel a numb or tingling sensation - or you may just be dimly aware of a "presence" and get messages and images telepathically. You will be aware of your own body and surroundings in varying degrees day-to-day. Until you become practiced, many of these messages received will be muddy, broken, and even inaccurate, but with time they will become much clearer. The key is learning how to get into that relaxed state and recognizing and acknowledging the input when it does come knocking.

On a last note, you can only channel what you are capable of channeling. If you tend to be money-oriented, greedy, or dishonest, expect your entities to be of like mind. If you try to be honest, loving, and live life in an ethical way, you will attract the same sort. Your inner strength in either case is what determines how high in the realm you can go, and there is a limit for most of us.

Happy Channeling!

Elemental Correspondences

The elements in this case refer to the four basic elements of alchemy, Fire, 
Earth, Air, and Water, rather than to the elements of chemistry. Historically, 
in the west, it was believed that all things were made up of various proportions 
of the elements. Each of the elements was studied to determine it's nature and 
characteristics which were set to writing by the early alchemists. Each of the 
four correspond to various traits, feelings and purposes. In Wicca each of the 
cardinal points is associated with one of the four elements, as is each of the 
points of the pentagram, with the addition of spirit for the uppermost point.

The designations of the elements are somewhat different in the East, in China 
they are Metal, Wood, Fire, Water, and Earth. Wood dominates in spring and the 
East, Fire in summer and the South, Metal in the autumn and the West, Water in 
the winter and the North. In India the elements are Earth, Water, Fire, Air and 
Ether. In Tibet they are La - vitality, Sok - life potential, Lu - bodily 
health, Wangthang - personal power, and Lungta - wind horse.

The following charts outline the nature of each of the elements. Elemental 
correspondences may be invoked in ritual by representations or symbols of the 
elements. A candle or oil lamp may represent fire, incense may represent air, a 
bowl or cup of water may represent water, and sand or a stone may represent 
earth. In ritual the elements are also represented by the ritual tools; the 
Athame, the Pentacle, the Wand, and the Chalice; the attribution of these and 
descriptions of their use is on the Ritual Tools page. Choose the element that 
corresponds best to your ritual intent. Elemental Correspondences Western

 

Symbol/Color & Element

Fire - Red

Earth - Green

Air - Yellow

Water - Blue

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-The Crafty Witch

Key Elements of Successful Spell Casting

Spells are not to be taken or considered lightly. Before performing any spell, there are certain key elements you must meet in order to bring your spell to fruition. 

--------------------
1. Faith and Certainty. You must be absolutely certain in your mind that what you want to happen WILL happen as a result of the spell. You can have no doubt; you know it, so it becomes...."So Mote It Be".

2. Like Attracts Like. Be absolutely SURE and CLEAR about what you want. What you focus on is what you attract in the positive or negative. It's all about INTENTION.

3. You. You are a key ingredient to a successful spell. Your intention, energy and focus determine the outcome of the spell....or not. THE TRUTH IS IN YOUR HEART, SPEAK IT.

4. Cast Your Own Spells. Since YOU are a key ingredient in your spells, cast your own. Many people approach me and ask me to do spells for them. While you can do spells for other people, the outcome is more successful when a person does the spell himself of herself. Doing your own spell works best because your energy is closer to the outcome than anyone else.

5. Harm None. Never look to go against another person's free will. We all have the right to choose for ourselves. You cannot make someone love you and never wish revenge or suffering on another. We do not curse. It is all in how you ask for something. For example, You can do a spell to attract a love interest into your life, but you cannot make a specific person love you. Also, if someone is evil person and harms others, perhaps consider a spell asking karma to come a bit quicker (it is up to the Gods what that karma will be), along with sending out protective and healing spells and energies for victims of such a person. If you are unsure whether a spell is considered harmful, check with others in the craft. The statement, "Be careful what you wish for", is very, very true in spell casting and spells should not be taken lightly.

6. Rule of Three. As I stated above, be careful what you wish for. If you go against the right of another or spell cast/curse against another person, the wrath of the spell will come back at you at the magnitude of three times of your wrongdoing.

STUDY, LEARN, and CONSULT with others in the Craft before taking on spell casting. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. The more you understand the key elements and the more you practice them, the more successful your outcomes will be. This has been my experience.

-The Crafty Witch

Autumn Equinox

It is the time of the autumn equinox, and the harvest is winding down. The fields are nearly empty, because the crops have been plucked and stored for the coming winter. Mabon is the mid-harvest festival, and it is when we take a few moments to honor the changing seasons, and celebrate the second harvest. On or around September 21, for many Pagan and Wiccan traditions it is a time of giving thanks for the things we have, whether it is abundant crops or other blessings. You may want to take a moment to read up on:

Depending on your individual spiritual path, there are many different ways you can celebrate Mabon, but typically the focus is on either the second harvest aspect, or the balance between light and dark. This, after all, is the time when there is an equal amount of day and night. While we celebrate the gifts of the earth, we also accept that the soil is dying. We have food to eat, but the crops are brown and going dormant. Warmth is behind us, cold lies ahead. Here are a few rituals you may want to think about trying -- and remember, any of them can be adapted for either a solitary practitioner or a small group, with just a little planning ahead.

--------------------

Mabon Magical Herbs

Rue, yarrow, rosemary, marigold, sage, walnut leaves and husks, mistletoe, saffron, chamomile, almond leaves, passionflower, frankincense, rose hips, bittersweet, sunflower, wheat, oak leaves, dried apple or apple seeds.

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Incense

Pine, sage, sweet grass or myrrh you can also mix

marigold, passionflower, and fern, using

frankincense or myrrh as a resin for Mabon incense

--------------------

Mabon Magical Stones

During Mabon, stones ruled by the Sun will help

bring the Sun's energy to you.clear quartz,

amber, peridot, diamond, gold, citrine, yellow

topaz, cat's-eye, aventurine.

Mabon is a good time to cast spells of balance

and harmony. It's also a time of change.

Protection, wealth and prosperity spells are

appropriate as well.

-------------------- 

Holiday Fare

Mabon is the Witch's Thanksgiving, a time to

appreciate and give thanks to the Goddess for

her bounty and to share in the joys of the

harvest. Fall fruits, squash, gourds, pumpkins,

grains, nut breads, vegetables.

A magickal Mabon beverage: hot apple cider.

Apple rules the heart, cider alone is a self-

love potion. By spicing it with cinnamon, ruled

by Jupiter and the Sun, we are in essence,

ingesting the sunlight.

Sample menu #1: Mabon Wine Moon Cider, Roast

Chicken Rubbed with Sage, Basil, and Thyme,

Acorn Squash made with Sweet Butter, Cinnamon

and Honey, and Apple Bread.

Sample menu #2: Wine from the god and beans and

squashes from the goddess. A hearty multi-bean

soup with smoked meats (optional), including

such as cut-up mild sausage like mild Italian

or Polish.

--------------------

Mabon Wine Moon Cider

4 cups apple cider 1/2 tsp. whole cloves

4 cups grape juice additional cinnamon sticks

2 cinnamon sticks for cups, 6 inches long

1 tsp allspice

In a 4-quart saucepan, heat cider and grape

juice. Add cinnamon, allspice and cloves.

Bring just to boiling. Lower heat and simmer

for 5 minutes.

Serve with ladle from a cauldron. Makes 8 cups.

--------------------

Mabon Activities

* Make grapevine wreaths using dried bitter-

  sweet herb for protection. Use ribbons of

  gold and yellow to bring in the energy of the

  Sun, and decorate with sprigs of dried yarrow

  or cinnamon sticks.

* Make a Magical Horn of Plenty.

* Make Magickal Scented Pinecones.

* Make a protection charm of hazelnuts

  (filberts) strung on red thread.

* Collect milkweed pods to decorate at Yuletide

  and attract the faeries.

* Call upon the elementals and honor them for

  their help with (N-earth) the home and

  finances, (E-air) school and knowledge,

  (S-fire) careers and accomplishments,

  (W-water) emotional balance and fruitful

  relationships.

* Make a witch's broom. Tie dried corn husks or

  herbs (broom, cedar, fennel, lavender,

  peppermint, rosemary) around a strong,

  relatively straight branch of your choice.

* Make magic Apple Dolls: Apples are sacred

  symbols of the witch. Our holy land, Avalon,

  means Apple-land or Island of Apples. Slice

  an apple through the midsection and its seeds

  reveal the sacred shape of the pentacle.

  You will need two large apples, one for Mabon

  and one for Modron, 2 pencils and 2 dowels

  about 12 inches long, a paring knife, a glass

  or bowl of water to wash your fingers, a plate,

  and a towel to wipe your hands. Peel and core

  the apples. Carve a face in the apples. Place

  apples on a dowel and stand them in a jar

  to dry (start now). Then charge in a magick

  circle. After 2 or 3 weeks, they should look

  like shrunken heads. Make them into dolls. Use

  wheat, dried herbs or doll's hair for hair.

  Dress them in tiny robes and bring them into

  the circle, asking god/dess to charge them with

  their light.

 

  Hang these Mabon and Madron heads on a Witch's

  cord or a Mabon wreath.

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From "Celebrate the Earth" by Laurie Cabot, Green Witchcraft by Ann Moura, Llewellyn's Witches'

Calendar 1998, and The Witches' God by Janet and Stewart Farrar.

-The Crafty Witch