Friday, June 14, 2013

Day 14: Chanting

So I was going to just write a filler post here (I even started writing one), because my brain wasn't cooperating and then it hit me like a broom to the face. Chanting. Chanting is a perfectly witchy thing to do. I could say my brain is allowed to be absent during it, but that is totally not true. Chanting is one of those things that raises power, but if you are anything like me, and there is a chance that you might be remotely like me, words don't come out right. Or they refuse to leave your mouth the way they are supposed to and you are left fumbling a word so bad the person you are talking to looks at you like you have fell off your rocker and started whacking yourself with it. Yes the hubs has given me that look. I like chanting as a way of raising power because it does not require me to dance, bang a drum, or something. I can't dance, and I don't have a drum. Chanting is also a step a way from singing (in my mind it is), which I do every day even when I sound awful. The hubs' bleeding ear drums are proof of that. Anyway, there it is. Chanting. Yep.

Off to ice my bruise from the broom... Laters. <3

Day 13: Charging Crystals

I love crystals. I really do. They are so pretty and they are like nature's batteries. Great for learning how to feel energy and stuff. Anyway, I was at this wonderful second hand store a few weeks ago and I found this beautiful little rose quartz. I had to get it. It screamed at me. I've been waiting for full moon to charge it, however there are many different ways to cleanse and charge crystals, so I might as well do it tonight!

Isn't it purty!? (It is rose quartz... terrible lighting.)

So I totally had to look up ways to cleanse a crystal that didn't involve the moonlight. I had to rule a few out, seeing as I don't have natural source of water handy. I don't really think the tap counts, and well I live in the desert. Oh look I can use a bell! I have 3 bells... I think I will use my triple goddess one and hope I don't wake the hubs. He might smother me in my sleep when I finally get to bed.

Love the triple goddess symbol.
Okay so the instructions say to ring the bell with the crystal as close to the origin of the sound until I feel the energy of the crystal become clear. Alrighty I am on it! (I do not suggest doing this late at night. It's like making popcorn in the middle of the night... Sounds super loud even though I am sure it isn't that loud.)

Crystal cleansed and charged. Time to go curl up under my warm blanket and cuddle a little with my human heater.

Peace, love, and apple sauce. <3

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Not A How To

I just want to point out that when I am doing this 100 days thing, it's a personal challenge, not a how to. I am not doing this to show other beginners, or anyone else how to do this. I am doing this and blogging about my experience with it. This is like my online journal, and it is helping me with staying with something. Maybe when I feel like I have more experience with this religion, and forming my own rituals, spells, and whatever else, I could feel comfortable in teaching others. However, this is just a blog about me trying to keep up with my faith, and showing my take on things. I just wanted to clarify what it was about. I apologize if this post makes little to no sense because my brain is slightly fried, and I am still tired despite going to bed early last night.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Day 12: Dream Interpretation ::Updated again::

I am laying on the couch watching Survivorman on Netflix wondering what to write about today. I start to doze off and it hits me. Dream interpretation. I am going to go to bed and record my dream when I wake up. I'll come on here and tell you guys about it and try to interpret it and see if it makes any sense. So I am going to go put a journal and a pen next to my bed.

I do love me some divination. <3

Time for me to get on my assignment. Night night everyone.

::Update::

So I put my pad of paper and pen next to my bed and went to bed. I woke up. I could not remember if I had any dreams at all. I have vivid dreams every single night yet no dreams I could remember last night? I will do this again tonight, and update this post again.

::Update x2::

Okay so I managed to remember one dream that I had. I even wrote it down! I am sure it is incomplete because I had rolled over and went back to sleep after I woke up from it.

I dreamed I was trapped in a dark room, and there were 2 groups of people around me. They kept talking about getting out of that room and the two different groups took two separate ways of getting out. One took a hidden door and another took a hidden passageway. I refused to go with either of the groups and I didn't think they could get out so I don't think I wanted to try. I was looking out the slats over a window and I saw them outside and I screamed for them. One group came over and told me to go through the passageway they went through, and to just keep going through the different rooms until I got out. I get through the passageway into the next room and it had a dog in it. It was happy and wagging its tail. I gave it a pat and moved on through a door. The next room was like a childhood memory but it wasn't actually one of my memories. A child was sleeping on a dirty couch peacefully. I couldn't get out of the room and I found a compass that was like Jack Sparrow's. It showed you  the direction of whatever you wanted. I glanced back at the child and then went through the passage way and into the sunlight for the first time in what seemed like days to my dream self.
Symbols:

  • Trapped - To dream that I am trapped means that I feel confined or restricted.
  • Dark Room - This means that I feel trapped or repressed.
  • Groups of people - The groups refere to the merging parts of myself.
  • Locked Door - This signifies opportunies that have been denied to me, unavailable to me, or that I have missed out on.
  • Passageway - A passageway is a symbol for a new opportunity, new relationship, or even a new attitude in life.
  • Looking through the window - This signifies my outlook on life, consciousness, and point of view. I also may be reflecting on a decision.
  • Happy Dog - This suggests that my strong values and good intentions will enable me to go forward with my life and bring me success.
  • Door - Since I am entering into this door, it signifies new opportunites that are presented towards me. I am entering into a new stage of my life, and moving from one level of conciousness to another.
  • Sleeping Child - I cannot find anything that ties to this direct symbol. I believe it means I am leaving a part of me behind. A child means innocence. Maybe I am leaving some innocence behind?
  • Compass - A compass means my subconcious is showing me the way.
  • Sunlight - This means peace of mind, enlightenment, tranquility, fortune, goodwill, and insight.
I guess this dream, in a very simplified way, means that I felt trapped, and I watched as different parts of me were escaping the darkness, while I refused to try. Then I found the way out, and pushed through to a new phase of my life.

Day 11: Using my Tarot

So I decided to do tarot today. I usually can't think of anything to ask while doing tarot but today I managed to think of three things. I usually do a 3 card spread to answer a yes or no question.

Anywho, here is a picture of my tarot deck.

Its the Tarot of the Cat People

Then my cat decided to help with my tarot reading.

Pet me. Now.

After I petted her and got her to move I started shuffling the deck with my mind on my first question. 

Should I go running tomorrow?

Aren't those little kitties cute?!
The first card (reversed King of Pentacles) means peril or danger, the second card (Page of Swords) means Vigilance, and the third card, (reversed Five of Swords) means a chance of loss or defeat and weakness. Well I took this as meaning, if I do decided to go running tomorrow (well later today) that I should be vigilant, or I may hurt myself or be too weak to actually get through it. Since it is an overwhelming amount of negativity for this one, I am going to go with an overall no for the answer to the question.

My next question was: Should I redo week 4 of the C25K?

All reversed... hmmmm..
The first card (reversed Fool) means faulty choice and bad decision, the second card (reversed Nine of Wands) means that there would be adversity and delays, and the third card (reversed Queen of Cups) means inconsistency of honor. So I interpret this to mean that if I go ahead and do the week over again, that I would just be adding more adversity and delay to my running, as well as it being a bad decision. I should just continue with the program as written. So the answer to this question is a no.

The third and final question I asked t his evening was: Should I do the 5k at the end of the month?

They are all right side up!
 Well this certainly looks like a very positive reading right off the bat. The first one (Six of Swords) means, success after anxiety, the second one (Eight of Swords) means turmoil and domination, and the last one (Six of Pentacles) means gratification. Well I always have anxiety about anything I do, and I feel like this is telling me that I will do it even though I have anxiety about it, and despite the turmoil, I will dominate myself, and be gratified with the outcome. So all in all this one was my first and only yes of the evening.

I love tarot because it is open to interpretation, and the cards are so beautiful. I started tarot in high school with a Rider-Waite deck and LOVED it, but I either gave my deck to someone or lost it after I bought this one. I am a huge cat person, so this deck is great, however I don't have the same connection to this deck that I had with the Rider-Waite deck. I think I just need to spend more time with the cards. Anyway, you can find this deck here.

Anyway, off to bed with me. I need to take the oldest wee one to school in the morning! <3

Monday, June 10, 2013

Day 8, 9, and 10: Spirituality

First off I would like to apologize for being absent for the last 2 days. I did a 5k... even though I walked most of it, it was still hard on me since I walked faster than I have ever actually walked before. It completely wiped me out. So without further ado I would like to present my take on spirituality.

Spirituality to me is supposed to be easy. Anything that doesn't feel natural to me just doesn't happen. My body and brain blocks it. My brain flat out refuses, and I just don't feel it. I can't force myself into believing in spirit or in any kind of divinity if I just don't believe. Spirituality flows like water through me. I was in the shower a week or so ago, and I was thinking about the deities I believe in and what deity that I wanted to desperately believe in but I couldn't. As soon as I accepted that I couldn't force myself into believing or following this deity, I felt relief. I felt a wash of relief all over my body that made me feel great for acknowledging what was hindering my spiritual growth as an individual. I was forcing myself to include and pray to a deity that I just could not feel or follow. That deity was not my life, or in my life. I stopped my spiritual growth by trying to include a deity I was told to worship. Well that just didn't work.

I just let go. As soon as I stopped forcing my brain and my body to try to feel something and see something that wasn't there, my heart opened up to the deity I felt and saw and embraced in my every day life. I see my  deity every single day in every single thing I do, and see, and be a part of. Even playing video games, or scrap kit making, or anything I do as a hobby. My deity is the Goddess. I know her by no other name other than Goddess. She is my light and dark, and even though I have problems embracing the darkness again, it is still a part of her, and me.

When I talk to my hubs about things that go on in my head, I don't quite know how to tell him about them, and he doesn't quite know what it's like to feel these things either. I never felt these things when I embraced the darkness in my head, instead of shying away like a little rabbit to scared to realize the darkness isn't infinite. There was a time when I was consumed by that darkness and it took me a long time to reach the light, and when I did, I really didn't want to give it up. I am still trying to find a balance. The Goddess has been helping me find this balance between the two. My self destructive behaviors have dropped dramatically. I am not going to elaborate on the self destructive behaviors and just leave those sleeping dogs lie.

Anyway, I guess what I am trying to get at, is don't force belief, and don't force faith. When it's time to believe, to feel, or to have faith, the divine will be waiting to embrace you. And if it's not a divine being, then it's whatever you find to be a source of divinity. Be it plant, machine, or even a person.

<3

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Day 7: About my "practice"

I've been thinking for a little bit about my general practice and what I associate with and so on and so forth. I  did post an introduction, which is here if you haven't read it, and I never really got into the nitty gritty shit that some people get into about their religion. I am not a super serious kind of person, and I originally started this blog to be funny, and well whenever I start something with the intent for one thing, it usually fizzles out pretty damn fast. It does that because I limited myself to one topic and I quickly ran out of ideas because I blocked myself off from my creative area. If I try to force something, my brain shuts it off and starves it until I just let it go. I've been writing these witchy posts for the past week and my anxiety peeks every time I hit publish. It peeks because I am afraid that someone will come screaming at me that I am not doing something right, or that I am not a real witch or pagan or whatever. Not that anyone has done that yet, but I am still afraid that it will happen.

I still consider myself a novice and I am not a expert on any part of the craft or paganism or Wicca. I know that Paganism is an umbrella term that incorporates a lot of different ideals, traditions, and even religions. I know what Wicca is as I have researched the shit out of it. I took up this challenge of 100 days to push myself into being a better pagan and to be more active in my spiritual growth and religion. Just like I am doing the couch to 5k to make me better. I have started this transformation physically, mentally, and spiritually and I really want to see it through to the end. I have come to the point in my short life that I am tired of letting shit pass me by because I am too lazy to get up and go for it. I feel so dumb for wasting part of my life wallowing in the self pity "woe is me" party that I created and am dragging myself out of.

Anyway, what I believe in is that everyone has faith in something. Science, god, the president, the pope, whatever. Everyone has faith and I feel that everyone should respect that faith that people have. I love religious freedom and I used to love debating religion with people. I used to love it because it was food for the mind and soul and people need to be passionate about what they believe in. I stopped loving it because of how people would put me down for playing the other side of the field to keep it interesting. Why debate when people are so quick to jump on the name calling wagon and act like toddlers.

The deity I follow is the Goddess. Just her so far because I have felt no other god like presence. I feel her there when I reach out for her and she answers my prayers. Even in ways I don't really want. I barely do rituals. I don't enjoy them at all because of my anxiety about it not being perfect. I rarely do spells for the same reason. I love divination and my tarot deck. I really love my crystals and I am amassing a large candle collection because I keep saying I need candles even though I hardly use them. I like Silver Ravenwolf despite the hatred spewed about her and I know that her history is inaccurate. (Funny thing about history though, it's written by the winner and it always has something made up in it.) Anyway I love Scott Cunningham and his writing style. I'm passionate about animals. Especially cats. I want to be that crazy old cat lady when I grow up. I read somewhere that cats were conduits to the gods. Not sure how true that is but they seem to think they are. I believe in the power of thought and that positive thinking will get me through most situations. Sometimes even I forget this and the hubs has to remind me not to be so serious or to take things to heart so much.

Anyway I have a 5k to do tomorrow so it's an early bedtime for me. Good night or morning and hope your days and nights are blessed.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Day 6: Calling the corners/quarters

Calling the corners/quarters. Which one do I call it? I've seen it called both. I have it written down as quarters in my Book, but I didn't know if people would understand it that way, and I have issues with anxiety about that kind of dumb stuff. I get anxiety about the weirdest things. Anyway, I have written my own corner callings because I like writing stuff and it seemed pretty basic and easy to do. Remembering it is a whole other story.

I know which way is North, and you can expect the dominoes fall into place from there. Anyway, every time I have gone to call the quarters I always forget what I am supposed to say. I resist the urge to say "Hey you, yeah the one who represents this side, get over here, and play with me." I say shit backwards and in the wrong order. Half the time I think the guardians of the quarters are laughing at me every time I bumble a word.... which is just about every single time. So I am sure you all see why I really need practice with this. I don't want to drag my book around with me every damn time I walk around the circle calling the quarters because my brain refuses to remember a few short sentences. My corner casting is basic. Nothing fancy at all. I just need to devote time to sitting down and memorizing the lines as if I was in a play.

Anyway, I might as well share my easy simple (yet totally beyond me) corner castings. (Also which way do you really start from? North or East? I have seen it both ways!)

East:
Hail to the guardians of the watchtowers of the east, powers of air and intellect, bless this rite with your presence tonight.

South:
Hail to the guardians of the watchtowers of the south, powers of fire and passion, bless this rite with your presence tonight.

West:
Hail to the guardians of the watchtowers of the west, powers of water and emotion, bless this rite with your presence tonight.

North:
Hail to the guardians of the watchtowers of the north, powers of earth and balance, bless this rite with your presence tonight.

Here is my "dismissing" the quarters thing. (I don't like saying dismissing. I don't own them, or command them to do my bidding. They are just there to play with me, and then they go to wherever they go to.)

North:
Guardians of the North, powers of Earth and balance, thank you for your presence tonight. Stay if you will, go if you must, farewell and blessed be.

West:
Guardians of the West, powers of Water and emotion, thank you for your presence tonight. Stay if you will, go if you must, farewell and blessed be.

South:
Guardians of the South, powers of Fire and passion, thank you for your presence tonight. Stay if you will, go if you must, farewell and blessed be.

East:
Guardians of the East, powers of Air and intellect, thank you for your presence tonight. Stay if you will, go if you must, farewell and blessed be.

P.S. I can keep saying I am sorry for posting so late, however I am a night owl so I suspect this will be the norm for my witchy posts.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Blog Clothes

I have finally finished tinkering with my blog cloths. There are still things I want to fix and tinker with here and there but now there isn't construction dust and weird colors everywhere. Yay me for coding a blog for the first time and not using a program! Wooooo! I thought for a second there I was going to toss my computer out the window... That would have been bad....

Now to figure out what I am going to do as my witchy thing today.

Day 5: Prayer

So I have been doing this Couch to 5k thing and I have an app on my phone that is designed specifically for this. In case you don't know what the Couch to 5k thing is, click here for more info. So the reason I have been doing this program because I want to change my life for the better. I am a fat girl, and I am not in any kind of shape at all. Anyway, I did Week 4 Day 3 today, and I was having a really hard time getting through the second 5 minute strait run. My mind flirted with stopping mid run and going strait to the walking section and I was even about to press the button to lower the speed until I caught sight of my faith symbol bouncing against my bosom (yes fancy way of saying boobs). Instead of focusing on how tired my legs were or on the cramp creeping it's crampy way into my right calf, I just thought instead. "Thank you Goddess for the strength you have shown me to get through this." I repeated this in my head over and over until I got through the last 2 and a half minutes of the run section.

There is a reason why I didn't ask for strength to get through it, and a reason why I thanked for the strength that I already had seen inside of me. I didn't ask for strength because I knew I already possessed it. Asking for more strength is asking for more weight to help build it. I knew I could do it, and I just had to get through it. People use prayer for many different things, and I mostly use prayer to express how thankful I am that She is in my life, and how I feel Her helping me. The Goddess is with me, as well as within me.

(Pardon my disjointed thoughts, they are still on designing not on writing.)

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Day 4: Meditation

Meditation is key for a lot of things right? Relaxation, developing psychic abilities, communing with deity, etcetera.

Well I suck at meditating. It takes me a little bit to shut off my mind and get into the flow of stuff. It's not recommended to listen to music with lyrics and so on and so forth. Well I have a nice little website I go to for soothing rain noises and it instantly relaxes me.

I am implementing meditation time into my pre-bed routine because it does help me relax enough to go to bed. I've been a bit tense lately and I am sure this is going to help me feel better and sleep better. Just need to get better at it. Meditation doesn't have to be boring right? Anyway off to meditate end then go to bed.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Day 3: Circle Casting and Visualization

The concept of working with energy is still a hard one for me to grasp sometimes. What does energy work really mean, and stuff like that you know? Sometimes it can feel real spacey and new agey to me, however it can also feel very natural and flowing. Talking, or even thinking about feeling the natural resonance of plants or people sometimes gives me pause still. Creating energy buy chanting, dancing, visualization, and stuff like that still makes my logical brain snort with laughter. Silly logical brain, everything isn't completely logical.

What I plan on doing tonight is creating a circle, a bubble of protection around magickal working (I spell magick with a k because I like the way it looks so nener nener) or even to just feel safe.

Now while I sit and think about working with energy tonight, silly things go through my mind and even scenarios. What if I go the wrong way? Will it create an anti-circle that will suck out my soul through my butt? (See silly things.) Then I think, well which way do I actually go? Clockwise right? Yeah that sounds right. Well which way is clockwise? Lets look at the watch.... well shit, it's digital. Then I struggle to bring up the face of an analog watch in my head. My brain draws a blank and boy do I feel like a dork.

Now I have yet to start trying to cast a circle because I am afraid of doing it wrong. Yes I know it's really hard to cast a circle wrong, however, doing shit wrong is my specialty. My little perfectionist, and OCD parts of my brain are screaming at me to do it right, and to be perfect or to not do it at all. My brain hypes it up more than it really needs to be hyped up. Circle casting is basic, and easy. Don't really even need an incantation. Just a little energy and some visualization to get it going.

So I went to do my circle. I thought of what to do, with my last minute brain screaming in my head. It goes like this: "WAIT!! Finger or palm? RIGHT OR LEFT!?!?! Oh fuck it, just do it."

And I did do it. It felt tingly, and warm. I was surprisingly more awake than when I started this blog post. Anyway, thanks for going through day three with me.

Warm snuggles, and fleece blankets.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Day 2: Book of Shadows

Hey everyone! Tonight I am going to work on my book of shadows. It's not going to be a fancy thing just one of those composition books full of my thoughts and stuff I find cool, interesting, and other random shit.

I had some inspiration the other day on spiritualism and what it meant to me, so I think that is one of the thighs (things haha autocorrect) I will write about in my book. I have already done a book blessing and I have written in my book. I just haven't been faithful to keeping it up, which is my usual thing. 

Now I must get a move on!

Tomorrow on With a Pagan Twist, I have no idea what I am going to do but I at least have a list!!

Later taters.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Facebook Page!!

So for the first day of 100 Days of Witchy Ways, I have finally put together my Facebook page. You guys can totally get your daily fix of me on there. It's where I'll post random things that I find hilarious, and what not. Before you ask, yes making a Facebook page and setting it up is TOTALLY witchy, because it was a freaking miracle I actually got the banner and avatar done today! Potty training the youngest. Totally hard work.

Here's my page, run over and give it a like.

So some stuff I have on my list are:

Work on my Book of Shadows
Make a Potion
House Blessing
Candle Magick
Make a Moon Chart
Make a Goddess Symbol
Practice casting circles and calling quarters
Practice with my tarot cards
Charge a candle for magickal workings
Cord Magick
Charge a Crystal
Scrying with a scrying bowl
Learn to use runes as a divination tool

Yeah I know it's less than two weeks worth of stuff, however, I am sure I will come up with some more stuff and I am always open to suggestions! So go pimp me out to your Pagan buddies and get me out there! I'll do some pimping myself when I finish up with this post.

Hugs, kisses and kitty licks!

P.S. I just thought of another one!
Mediation
P.S.S And I thought of another couple!!
Commune with nature
Prayer (Yes prayer, because crafting an effective prayer is important when speaking to the deity (that auto corrected to dirty hahaha) that you believe in.

June First.

Oh my gods I have been busy the last couple of weeks! I hardly knew it was June first until I checked my calender. Anyway, I am getting ready to kick off 100 days of Witchy Ways even though my list is hardly complete. I have a lot of good starter ideas and as this goes on I hope I will get more stuff to do. I will post my partial list later on, as well as what I am doing to day as starter for the 100 Days Of Witchy Ways event.

Peace, love, and puppy dog hugs.

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Blogger on the go!!

So I got me the blogger app for my iPhone a little while ago to update this blog on the go. I am just now getting around to checking it out. Unlike kids nowadays, I type far faster on a keyboard than I do with my thumbs. However the blogger app interface is pretty cool for it being a free app and I get automatic spelling corrections from autocorrect.

Being that its me that I am talking about I will totally leave in the more hilarious autocorrects if they happen during one of my phone in days. Haha phone in days. So I have been thinking off and on about the 100 Days of Witchy Ways off and on today because it slipped my mind last night. I am totally open for suggestions on stuff to do for my list and I am thinking of starting on the first of June to give ample time to compile a 100 day list.

I am going to start my list and marinate on what to do. Now here is what I need you guys to do. Start thinking of stuff for me to do as well. All of this includes candle making, making potions, tinctures, and other things you can think of. Leave it in the comments section or on twitter. I am currently working on a Facebook page for the blog and I will let you know when it is done so you can pimp me out on a regular basis.

Hugs, loves and puppy dog tugs.

P.S. Hope all you mommies have a great mommies day!!

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Star Gazing

So I saw on the I fucking love science Facebook page that Venus and Jupiter were going to be visible last night (and tonight too!). So I was at my dad's house, and he has wide open spaces, and a clear view of the western horizon. I totally wanted to see the planet/Goddess that ruled my Sun Sign, and add in the king of the gods on top of that? I was all over it like stink on a wet dog. So I waited. Sun was going down, got a beautiful picture of my sons sitting in the doorway, and watched the sunset. I made the hubs bring the binoculars to see her in her glory.

Sun goes down, stars start coming out, Jupiter looking amazingly bright, and still the Goddess of Love and Beauty still didn't show her darling face. I was disappointed! I thought maybe the distant mountains were in my way from seeing her. The darling hubs insisted that I calm down and wait a bit longer while checking out the other early stars that came out to play, and we did. We enjoyed it so much the hubs actually said we should do it more often. I told him if we did we totally need to get a telescope, because that would make it so much more awesome. 15 minutes pass by and I spot her. She was at least a thumbs width above the mountains and I squealed in happiness. It had been a long time since I stopped and checked out the stars and planets. It was amazingly beautiful and I was ecstatic.

Peace, love, and star sprinkles.

100 days of Witchy ways.

What better way than to get rid of a little writers block than to come up with something to do daily? So I am struggling with ways of keeping up with my projects and I keep feeling like I am overwhelming myself. No longer! I am going to start scheduling things, and do them when they are scheduled.

I have started to train for a 5k next month, by doing the Couch to 5k program. I know only a month of training isn't going to have me running the whole 5k, but it's giving me some motivation to keep it up. I wanted to do the Color Run in Reno, but I don't know what happened to it. It disappeared off the Color Run website. Anyway, if I can schedule runs, then I should be able to schedule other things.

Like maybe 100 days of Witchy Ways. I've seen things like 100 days of clean eating, other 100 day challenges. I don't see this as a challenge though. I see this as fun. Just as I see the couch to 5k program. So far I am enjoying it so much I want to do it every day, even though I woke up this morning a bit sore.

So what should this 100 days of Witchy Ways start with? How about a house blessing? I need to do one of those. I am going to commit some time to making a list tonight and post it tomorrow.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Sigh

I have writers block. All kinds of block. I missed Beltane, and I feel just bleh. I am going to start listing a ton of topics to write about and hopefully start writing some more.

I had submitted a short story to a publisher for an anthology, but I was rejected. I am completely okay with that. It actually hurt a lot less than I thought it would. I know my story wasn't up to par, but soon I will get it there, and resubmit. Maybe even make it into a full length novel.

I am going to start eating an all natural diet, and I have started growing my own sage. My oldest son brought home a tree, a bean sprout, and some corn sprouts as part of his pre school project, and I am going to try to keep them going. Growing things always makes me feel pretty awesome because I always thought I couldn't grow anything. Makes me feel one with nature.

I got a necklace to symbolize my faith. It's gorgeous and when I saw it, I swear it demanded me to get it. It reminds me to thank the Goddess and God every day for my many blessings in life.

This is me signing off. Sometimes serious, all the time weird.

Oh and you can follow me on twitter too. I update that about as regularly as I update this blog!! I'm working on being better. I promise.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Full Moon!

It's that time of the month again! No I'm not talking about that. I am talking about it being a full moon!! I have been feeling so energized lately it's awesome. I see my little moon widget over on the right hand side and thing "Oh that's so pretty." I really think the full moon is amazing and gorgeous. I think I am starting to get a rhythm going on this, because I am starting to feel the energy returning and building. I have no idea what to do for this full moon. I know, you're not surprised. I read on the Domestic Witch that it would be a good time to sew some seeds. Well, maybe I should sew the seeds for me to be more organized, and be able to plan better. That sounds like a good idea.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Ostara Pictures!

So I totally took pictures of my nature walk and of my Ostara alter. Anyway, here are some pictures of the awesomeness that was Ostara. I know this is a little late but I kept getting side tracked every time I went to do this post! Anyway, here we go.

General windy desert splendor. That is the first sighting of that mysterious rock wall.

A picture of my dog, Mark.

Another Mark picture.

The rock wall, which I have no idea what it is or was. Just that it looks like it caved in.

Another picture of a different angle.

My boys, and Mark.

Another of the boys and Mark.


One of the hubs and my boys.
No there are no pictures of me... all pictures of me get digitally burned. Actually didn't think of taking a picture of me out there. Anyway, my nature walk with the family was fun, even the boys loved it. They keep asking when we are going back out there for another walk. So I guess it's going to be sooner rather than later.

Oh and before I forget! My Ostara Alter.


My eggs are awesome.
So thanks for tuning in for this picture post and I'll be back later with some witty commentary on something. Maybe.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Ostara

(This was supposed to be posted on Monday.... blogger didn't post it... bad blogger no cookie.)
So Ostara is coming up. Excited? Yeah! I get to crochet some Ostara eggs. I know it is so exciting! Shush, crocheting is not just for old ladies. I have some awesome self striping yarns and it's going to be really cool. I'll be sure to get some pictures and upload them for you guys to see. I am not sure what else to do for Ostara. I should probably consult my books and come up with a good plan.

I should just do some more research besides seeing how Easter eggs came to be. They are a sign of fertility you know. Yeah I am sure you did know that. I'll add more to this post when I figure out what else to do for Ostara.

(Today: 3-20)
So I made some Ostara eggs, and I am going to crochet some Easter eggs for the oldest boy's class. Since I am not so newly converted to Wicca, I don't really see a problem with my children celebrating Easter, as in a "Lets get a shit ton of candy and fight each other over eggs" kind of day. Which is how we actually celebrate it anyway. Even when I was younger it was never really religious, and it was more about seeing what the Easter bunny shit out on the sidewalk when he left our baskets. So anyway, both my boys got an Ostara egg, because they thought mommy crocheting little eggs was so awesome, and they kept telling me they wanted eggs. On a tangent: Did you know that crocheted eggs are really aerodynamic and are really accurate when thrown? I didn't either.

Anyway, so my plans for today is going out for a walk in the desert. I normally don't do nature walks and I am sure the hubs is going to look at me like I have gone completely bonkers when I suggest it, but he will still be happy none the less. He likes going for walks but not when he is alone. Because you know when you are alone the werewolves will get you.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Bleeeeehhhh and Spook

Sorry I haven't updated for a while. First I was busy and couldn't think of what to write, then I thought of something I could write, then I got sick. Which is where I am currently. In the land of Sicktopia stuck on the island of Abdominal Distress. I looked my symptoms up on Web MD this morning and it told me that I was having a heart attack and I should dial 911 right away... then I kept reading and it could be abdominal distress which heart attacks are frequently mistaken for, so I am just going to go with abdominal distress since I am still alive now. If I read that last night when I thought I was dying, I would have probably forced the hubs into taking me to the ER. I am not going to go into details about my abdominal distress, but I can say this, I would not wish it on my most terrible of enemy. (I currently don't have a most terrible enemy so I guess that point is moot, right?)

So before I got sick my post was going to be about the spooky and nearly shit myself story about an angry male spirit yelling in my face. So on the morning of Feb 27, I was scared out of bed by a very angry male spirit screaming in my face "Watch it (or "out"), mother fucker!" I immediately sat up, woke the hubs up to see if he heard it. He didn't. I couldn't lay back down. I was thoroughly freaked out, so I went into the kitchen and made some coffee and huddled around it until I could stop freaking out. See that was the scariest spirit experience I have ever had. I have never been yelled at by any spirit ever, and with that level of anger that came of that dude. I shudder even thinking about it. Anyway, so being the smart person I am, before I go to bed I decide to go and take a picture of my side of the bed with my digital camera. Well, that wasn't smart. I look at the picture and I swear I see a pair of eyes looking at me over my side of the bed. I freaked the freak out. The next day, after sleeping so poorly the night before, I convinced the hubs to give me some money to buy a sage stick. I went on my favorite magickal website, and ordered me a smudge stick, a smudge pot and a black feather. I got the sage with sweetgrass. The smudge pot was smaller than I expected, but I didn't really read the description either, so that one was on me. Anyway, so I got it in the next week, and I waited for the right time to smudge. Which presented itself a week later when the hubs took the children to the park.

I light the stick... I light it again.... and again.... and again. What in the actual fuck? I get it to light for two seconds and it goes out, produces little smoke and then goes out completely. Just before I got frustrated, I managed to get it lit and I do a walk through. My nose is a little stuffed this day because this is when I am starting to get sick, so the smoke smells like marijuana to my stuffed nose. I thought for sure one of my neighbors in the complex or maybe even the apartment manager was going to run up to my apartment and bang on the door, wondering why I am smoking it when there is a clear no drugs policy. As I am walking through my apartment I am saying, "If you are nice, you can stay, if you are mean, get out now." I grew up with nice spirits never bothering me, every once in a while getting a little spooked by the odd shape in the corner, but never a full out scream in my face. So I finish the walk through, and I am tired at this time. I snuff my smudge stick and let the smoke drift through the apartment. All windows and most doors are open. Couldn't have the front door open because I don't think my neighbors would appreciate my dog running around and jumping on them while desperately trying to get them to play with him. That dog is a people attention whore. I veg out in front of the computer for a little bit, then I close all the windows and do a happy jig because I can finally go into my bedroom without anyone else. The mean spirit I felt was gone and now I am no longer afraid.

Not sure how to end this whole thing... maybe if you get the shit scared out of you by an angry spirit, tell them to get out and smudge the shit out of your place. Oh and don't Web MD any symptoms for anything. According to them your death is immediate.

Peace, love, and hot dogs.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Talking to a crow

So this morning I dragged my ass out of bed, dragged my ass into a shower, then dragged my ass to take the dog out. (After I got dressed you sick perv.) You can totally assume that I was dragging ass this morning. Anyway, I have the dog on his leash, we are on our way out side, when I notice that had rained. I was halfway down the stairs before I realized it was still raining. The dog was too far downstairs and I didn't want to drag him back up so I just kept going. Crazy lady walking her dog with wet hair and no sweater. I'm hardcore like that.

So anyway we walk across the complex, walk across the parking lot and I let the dog do his business, and a crow lands on a tree across the street and starts cawing.

Me: Hi. How ya doin?
Crow: Cawcawcaw
Me: Oh yeah I know I should have gotten a sweater.
Crow: Cawcawcaw
Me: You know if anyone came out here and saw me talking to you, they would think I'm crazy... Of course I probably am... unless your Morrigan. Are you Morrigan?
Crow: *silence*
Me: Okay well, nice chatting with you Morrigan.

I tell the hubs about this and he looks at me and says "Please don't tell me you are turning into that person who post shit like: Okay I'm sitting down. Having a cup of coffee now." I respond with, "No of course not, I had a conversation with a goddess. It's pretty relevant to my blog."

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Full Moon: Healing

Tonight was awesome. I had a great ritual tonight, and the apartment is laced with sandalwood still. I like that smell. It's yummy. I feel blessed, and I am glad I didn't lazy out of the ritual tonight. I had much to be thankful for and I got to thank Her for it. She filled me with new ideas and hope. I have accomplished much this moon, and I feel better for it.

This girl is tired. It's past her bed time. 

Shitting Crow signing off for the night.
(hehehe still cracks me up)

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Full Moon

So I was taking my pooch for a walk because he gave me the "I will pee on you" look, and I saw my shadow. It being night time, and it was a fuzzy shadow I knew it could only mean one thing. Full moon is coming. I looked up at the lovely Lady in most of her glory, and I smiled.

I got the bright idea that I shall use this blog for accountability. Push myself forward with new things and make a note to post every full moon, and new moon with my plans of what I am doing that night, or what I have done that night.

Oh and totally random, I found a Pagan Name Generator and I just about died from reading the description. So I had to try it.

Lorelei Bran Crow

Yep it says Bran Crow.... first thing I thought of: Shit. Because bran makes you shit. Great, I am Shitting Crow. I am howling with laughter. Anyway, this is Shitting Crow signing off. 

P.S. Before I forget: Pagan Name Generator

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Fox News and their bad Wiccan Humor

I normally don't get super riled up about things, because you can't really fix stupid, but when ignorance and intolerance are broadcasted on a national news station, something needs to be said. Now I realize that a lot is being said already, but the more voices saying the same thing the quicker we will get heard.

One thing I have to stress is, don't respond with hate. I joined this religion because of the open mind mentality and because it was the best for my beliefs. I have seen so much hate from such a peace loving community about this issue, it's actually makes me sad. Stand up for what you believe in, but don't take it to a place of darkness. Remember negativity breeds negativity.

When I first watched this broadcast hours later on the internet thanks to The Domestic Witch, I was outraged, then angry, then sad. Outraged because I couldn't possibly believe they said those things, angry because they couldn't take the time to do their research before they started spewing their ignorance, then sad because they didn't know any better and were probably taught from a young age that anything but what they believe in is silly and frivolous. I agree we should demand an apology, and it upsets me when I see so many people saying "It's Fox News. They will never say sorry." That is just an excuse to keep you from doing something about it, and you give up before you even tried. Would you rather say you tried to do something about it or say that you didn't have the courage to say anything?

So go to Twitter, Facebook, and even Fox News itself and demand to be heard. Demand an apology for what they have said. They need to be held accountable for what they said, and learn that it's not okay to say that kind of stuff on national television without consequence. They should know better, and they should know they are not immune. So go out and peacefully tell them how wrong they are, and if you are angry, take a moment to calm down before answering and come from a place of good.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Book Review: Wicca For Beginners

So I am thinking I am going to write reviews for books I snag from the library, and possibly buy later. (Buy if I actually like it.)

So in the small town that I live in, the library is small, and has a small selection of everything. Except for Janet Evanovich novels... they have them ALL. Which is great because I could get like 6 Stephanie Plum novels every week until I finished the series at 18.... What? It's an addiction. (Yes I know 19 is out now. I just don't have the funds to get it right now and I haven't trolled the library to find it either...)

Anyway, last year I was in the non-fiction area of the library looking for ghost story books because the hubbs just loves those books and I stumble across Wicca For Beginners. I thought what the hey, might as well grab it and read it. I was introduced to Wicca in my youth and I enjoyed the concepts, the philosophies, and the fact that there was no central church saying what you can and can't do and if you don't follow you are going to hell or whatever bad place bad little witches go. The downside is that there is no accountability for me because I don't have anyone into it where I live, and if there is I have no idea how to talk to them. I want a coven, and a teacher, and someone to talk to about this stuff. I want reassurances that I am not going to screw it up and end up cursing my own ass if I say something the wrong way. Not that I would mess with curses or anything. Anyway back on topic, so I snag the book and take it home. We were living with my dad at the time who is a conservative Christian in his head, and I didn't think he would appreciate the book so I read it when he was at work or asleep and quickly hid it when he came home from work. Which is exactly what happened when I was a teenager. I am a grown married woman, with two children and I am hiding my secret book from my dad just like when I was a teenager. If there is no irony in that, then I have no idea what irony is.

I read the book in two days, and kept revisiting it over the two weeks I had it. It is very good for beginners, and gives an amazing intro on the subject. It gives a basic run down of rituals, the sabats, esbats, and a rundown on the theologies. It encourages you to keep going with learning the craft, and even gives recommendations on where to go from there. Overall it is fabulous for beginners and I found it easy to read and it has easy to follow directions. I also love how the author doesn't talk down to the readers, and keeps it real. She encourages people to go out and get more books on it, and to keep moving forward with it, if that is what they want.

So I recommend this book for people who are just beginning and want an introduction to Wicca, and it's many facets.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Facebook Evangelists

Much like Televangelists, there are those people who feel the need to preach their version of religion on Facebook like it makes it easier to get into their version of heaven. The more conversions the more points towards divine ascension into the perfect afterlife. Golden clouds of gooey pleasure, sprinkled with pixie stick crack. I get onto my Facebook, and within 3 minutes of scrolling into what I missed, there is at least one person on their Facebook stage telling the unenlightened masses that Jesus is the one and only true savior, and that through him is the only way into heaven. Well, going through him would be a little hard without a knife, and then you'd have to scrub the blood out of your outfit. I know bad joke. Anyway, normally Facebook preachers don't bother me. The times it does bother me is when my news feed is completely covered in bible verse, and when someone uses those bible verses for hate/bigotry.

I know, maybe I should get new Facebook friends, or maybe block those comments from my screen. The thing is, I generally like the people who spew the verses, because most of the time they don't spew them. The ones who use the bible for hate and bigotry, are usually deleted right after I read their disgusting posts. Sometimes I give them a piece of my mind, but most of the time I don't really bother with it. I also really hate the "If you don't follow my God, you are going strait to hell, you devil spawn." Those make me giggle snort, because we totally quiver in fear of going to a place we don't believe in, and to be tortured by Satan, whom we also don't believe in.

There is one friend on my list in particular, who is particularly awful about it all. He is a very devout Seventh-Day Advent, and constantly remarks about how he is not celebrating pagan sexual whatever when it comes to a holiday of some sort. Drives me up a wall. I don't hate Christians, but this one guy says how much he hates paganism with every post about killing pagan Easter bunnies, and not celebrating pagan sexual rites. (He said that Valentines day is a pagan sexual rite... Sorry hun, do your research, it's purely Catholic in origin.) He doesn't want to be judged or persecuted for his religion or his beliefs, then why judge others? Why tell others if they don't follow his religion that they are going to hell, and they are going to burn? Makes no sense at all.

There are so many parallels between the religions of Earth. Other religions adopt parts of others to help people convert. Most (not all) of the Christian holidays are pagan in origin, even the current calender is pagan in origin. (Wow this blog post turned more serious than I originally intended it to be....)

Tell me what you think about it in the comments section.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Dreams

So I was getting my Ghost Adventures fix last night, and it was a couple of Season 7 episodes dealing with demons and shit. Oh man I was thoroughly creeped out. Creeped out enough to not want to leave dear hubby's side long enough to go pee by myself. To me all of that stuff is not only really possible, but it is actually true. You just don't fuck with that kind of darkness, or even invite it into your life. It is like a hard disease to get rid of, and it clings to the soul like tar. It's why I firmly plant my pagan ass on the light side and don't even try to venture into the grey or black. Curses, hexes, or anything like that, no way. Not touching that with a 1 million foot magickal poll. I don't even want to touch an Ouija board because I've seen too many bad things happen with those.

Anyway back on topic, so I was having weird dreams last night, thanks to my Ghost Adventures fix. I was being chased by people, and I hid in this house, which turned out to be their safe house. (wtf) I found this little kid in there and the kid was taken by them. So the kid and I hide in this thing, and of course they find us in there. I wait until a lull in their activity and we run. It was at this point that I woke up.

Weird. o.O

Friday, February 8, 2013

Twitter Is Anti Pagan

I have come to realize that Twitter is anti-pagan. It actually suggested that I follow Reverend Al Sharpton.

Yes that did happen.
What in the crap?! I follow pagans, wiccans, witches, and random celebrities (only one of which I have actually internet stalked to the point I creeped myself out...). So from this I deduce with no factual evidence, Twitter is anti pagan and actually doesn't like my choice of religion or politics and wants me to follow this guy who would be so against everything I have to say... Except for maybe no more racism. Because that shit sucks.

Intro

So this first post I am going to put up here is going to be a quick intro to me, and to what I hope to accomplish (if anything) with this blog.

Here I am, quirky, slightly sarcastic and entirely full of shit. My name is Nichol, and yes it is a different spelling, which some people have a hard time remembering. Like my high school English teacher. I love her to death, and she was one of the biggest influences in my life, but that woman could never remember the spelling of my first name. Especially since I had her for all 4 years of various English/Creative writing classes. I have been into Wicca and Paganism since I was a teen, and just recently as in last year, I started to try to practice it. I say try only because I suck at follow through on things, and planning ahead is really not my strong point. I am a fly by the seat of my broom kind of person. See what I did there? Yeah I used a pagan reference. That totally gives me pagan points. My life is fueled by peanut butter sandwiches, cartoon movies, and a mainline of some sort of caffeine into my system. My two wonderfully awesome, yet psychosis inducing children are the reason why I can make peanut butter sandwiches blindfolded, and recite nearly all cartoon movies by heart. My oldest, 5, has Autism, it is high functioning, and it's not a crutch for him, and no I don't hate it. It makes him unique in that fabulous one of a kind way. My youngest, 3, is as strange as they come. The other day he told me he was a Vampirate, which is so utterly fantastic and hilarious, there is no way he can't be mine. My husband and main squeeze, some how puts up with my random outbursts of weirdness, and loves me despite it. He takes me with a grain of salt, and two xanexs. Actually that last part isn't really that true, it's only one xanex and a large jack n coke. Okay fine, he doesn't take xanex and he rarely ever drinks and if he does, it's just a beer.

Onto what I hope to accomplish with this blog... I am not sure I hope to accomplish anything except put out my brand of humor and throw a random pagan twist onto things. I don't really take a lot of shit the wrong way, and I am sarcastic to a fault. I really enjoy tongue in cheek humor, and pretending to take things the wrong way just to make a fuss for no other reason than the entertainment value, and to see people's reactions. Some people are just too serious. Seriously.

In closing, I am witty, hilarious, and awesome. Even if it is in my own mind. So if you feel up for it, join me in my struggles to find the humor, and throwing a pagan twist on just about everything. <3