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

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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

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