Blessings

Protection – Salt

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SaltBowl

 

“How do Wiccans protect themselves?” Kristen asked.

“That’s a big topic. What do you want to protect yourself from?” I asked.

“I recently graduated, and I’m temporarily living with my parents. They have a couple of friends who are negative. I want to keep my own room protected from their negative energy.

In today’s post, I’ll share how to protect yourself by using salt.

[In the next few posts, I will share a number of ways to protect yourself. From House Blessings to guarding yourself from energy vampires, I’ve got you covered.]

We’ll begin with one of the main techniques: using holy water. The Priest or Priestess takes sea salt and spring water and mixes them together. Then, the person blesses the mixture. A number of Wiccans say this: “I cast out all negative energies from this water, and I bless this pure water in the names of [pick which Deities].”

Then this mixture is used to cleanse spaces, objects and people.

Why do we use salt? Our ancestors noticed that adding salt to meat made it last much longer than if it was left alone. Although they didn’t know it, the salt killed bacteria and germs so meat was kept edible.

But salt isn’t just for a physical cleansing. Salt provides for a spiritual cleansing, too.

Bad energies and negative spirits don’t like salt. So we use salt to cleanse the Circle we cast. We get rid of the nasties that may be lingering around. Think of salt as spiritual soap!

In the next post, we will talk about how Wiccans use the Circle for protection.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.

 

For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Goddess Has Your Back

Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal

 

 

 

And

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Book

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Book

 

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You

 

 

 

 

And

Real Magick

Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magic: How You Can Remove Blocks to Prosperity, Happiness and Inner Peace

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The Importance of Ritual Bathing

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Candle

Candle

 

The Importance of Ritual Bathing

Imagine you could enhance your magick working with a simple process. How? Your ritual bath. It’s important because it puts you into the right frame of mind before you perform ritual. Secondly, you physically clean your body of the dirt and grime of the day. Finally, ritual bathing cleanses you of the psychic garbage that clings to you.

You can choose any soap (a required part) that you prefer. Wiccans appreciate handmade soaps, especially if they already contain the herbs or essences one already uses in magick work.

How do I make my bathing a ritual bath (or shower)?

Bless and consecrate your soap and shampoo. Set these aside for use only during your ritual baths.

How to make a sachet with cleansing herbs for a bath:

Use a stocking or cotton cloth, and place inside selected cleansing herbs. The total amount of all herbs will be one tablespoon.

If you use a cotton cloth, gather the corners and tie them with a string. Make sure the sachet is closed and secure. This keeps the herbs from clogging your drain.

Place your sachet in the bath water then sprinkle in some sea salt and let steep for 5 or so minutes. Then enjoy.

 

Making a cleansing shower tincture:

If you will be showering, place your sachet in a large container of hot water to steep. Sprinkle sea salt and dissolve it into the mixture (the tincture). When the water cools to a comfortable temperature, then take into your shower and wash with soap, envisioning all the psychic garbage leaving you.

 

Then pour the contents of the tincture over your head and rub it in. In this way, the contents help you complete your cleansing. The residue flows away, down the drain.

 

Add a blessing

I also add a blessing at the end of my ritual bath. I’ve added some modifications to a popular blessing.

 

Wiccan Blessing

Starting at your forehead say as you touch you third eye say:

I bless myself by the Goddess,

(Touch your right breast)

By the air that is her sweet breath,

(Touch your left shoulder . . . [you are actually forming a pentagram with these movements].)

By the earth, that is her fertile body,

(Touch your right shoulder.)

By the waters that is her life giving womb,

(Touch your left breast.)

By the fire that is her bright spirit,

(Touch your third eye.)

May I be blessed, so mote it be.

Upon completing  your ritual bathing, you’re now ready to enter circle to honor the Gods respectfully. Not only will the Gods be happy but your fellow practitioners will be grateful, too. (Trust me.)

Are there particular rituals you like to do prior to entering circle? Let me know in the comments section below.

 

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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How You Can Feel True Security

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 Security

How You Can Feel True Security

Security—what is it? Is it a home, a job, or family? If that’s security, what if these things are taken away? What then?

My friend Bob lives with his parents. He is disabled and so he can’t manage to live on his own. He also needs the support of his family to help him with day to day activities such as cooking and cleaning. To him, his living situation with his family is a place of security. However, last week he was told by his father that he had to move out. This pulled the rug of security right out from under him.

Bob was terrified.

Here’s another example: Janet has to keep her Wiccan faith a secret from her family who subscribe to another religion. One day, at a family gathering her pentacle pendent fell out of her blouse. Aghast, her mother called her father and together they yelled and drove her from the gathering. Her parents and other relatives disowned her. That was their word, disowned.

Now, Janet cries–at different times during the day. Sometimes, she flees to the restroom, when she’s at work. She used to believe that her family was her bedrock. No more.

What happens when our sense of security is taken? Where do we go? Did we really lose security?

I say security isn’t a place. It’s not a thing, and it’s not a family tie. The truth is: Things change. We can’t rely on these things for our security.

So where is security found?

True security is found in our hearts and minds. It is found in our faith, and it resides with the Gods who walk beside us everyday.

The Gods do not waver. They are constant, eternal, all encompassing.

So let’s face it. Security is not in the material. True security is in the spirit.

You can call on your true security anytime and anyplace. The great thing about being Wiccan is that you can create your temple anywhere by casting your circle.

More than that, you can recite a blessing in your own thoughts.

Here is a blessing that you can recite to yourself:

Gods to enfold me, Gods that surround me.

Be that peace and serenity for me.

 Lead me on my path, far and wide,

Traveling with me, by my side.

Never will I be alone,

Evermore you’ll be my home.

Ever safe and secure I will always be,

Never bowing defeat upon one knee.

 Lord and Gracious Lady be,

mine for all eternity.

So mote it be.

Remember your true security with the Gods.

Blessed Be,

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Overcoming Yuletide Blues

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Candle

Candle

Overcoming Yuletide Blues

 

Are you less than jolly this time of year? Tired of hearing how happy you’re supposed to be during the holidays? Do you just want more peace during this stressful time?

Some of us find it a hardship to see relatives who don’t share our spiritual beliefs.

Many Wiccans and Pagans stay in the broom closet (in hiding) from family and friends. Why? Rejection. Some families even banish pagan relatives. This banishment would result if they discovered our hearts and minds are with the Gods. It’s just too much of a risk of loss for many to bear. In some communities, one may even fear retaliation by one’s own family.

I know some pagans who don’t face such consequences and who practice freely. These fortunate pagans told me that the others are “cowards” for hiding. It bothers me to witness such lack of compassion for others’ pain and problems.

How do we cope with such adversity?

Being in the broom closet is not a bad thing. For some, it is a necessity for keeping their job and family.

So how do we keep the peace in our own hearts this holiday season while in the closet? How do we still honor the Gods during the holidays with family? Here are a few suggestions:

  • Wear a pagan pendent under your shirt. (Just make sure that it can’t fall out and be seen by unfriendly eyes.)
  • Light a candle (while saying a silent prayer) and place it on the mantel or other place of prominence in your own home.
  • Take a ritual bath before a gathering and honor the Gods. You’ll feel better.
  • Bring a bottle of your favorite drink (mead is mine) to a gathering.
  • Anoint yourself with sacred oil and keep your intentions of love and peace for the Yule holiday close to you.

These actions can be done in the broom closet and need not require permission from any unsympathetic family members.

And for that extra touch of magick here is a simple blessing you can say for yourself for holiday gatherings.

By the Gods and the four quarters might,

May this blessing be just right.

May the Gods love be in my heart,

May my heart be the center for my kindness,

May my kindness be a guide for my compassion,

May my compassion be an action of love in this world,

And may my action of love in this world bring peace to all at this time.

So mote it be.

How do you plan to celebrate this Yule Sabbat? Are there any ideas you would like to share? Let me know by using the comments box.

Blessings,

Moonwater

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I wanted to take a moment and pass this vital message on to you from one of my mentors, Patrick McCollum. What the Patrick McCollum Foundation does is truly important to our community and around the world. If you think you can help, please contact Nell Rose.
Patrick leads march for preserving the Ganges and the Planet. 5000 children participated

Patrick leads march for preserving the Ganges and the Planet. 5000 children participated

“Patrick is quickly becoming one of the foremost voices in our world on the topics of creating world peace and sustaining all people. His message inspires audiences to recognize our inherent interconnection through a common narrative, which gives us greater access to envisioning and creating a common goal: a world that works for everyone. Patrick talked about some of the incredible things that have happened to him over the last 3 and a half years and I wanted to take a moment to review these once again:
  • Buddhist spiritual leaders in Thailand have named Patrick the “World Inner Peace Ambassador”.
  • He was an honored guest speaker at the World Culture Forum in Kazakhstan 2010 where he spoke on the importance of our harmonious connection with Nature and with each other.
  • He has been initiated as a Saint in India and given the name ‘Babaji’, meaning ‘Revered Father’
  • He has also been honored as the ‘King of Peace’ by renowned Tibetan Buddhist Rinpoche’s in our world, among receiving other titles of similar caliber.
  • In 2011 he was honored with receiving the Mahatma Gandhi Award for Religious Pluralism.
  • Last January, Patrick was invited to lead the opening prayer at the Maha Kumba Mela in India, a spiritual gathering that attracted over 100 million people.
  • In February, Patrick will be giving a blessing and be a part of the Maha Yaga in India.
  • In March he will be doing a workshop in Maui with Ram Dass.
Patrick’s teachings have helped many seekers make sense of the world and deepen their connection to Mother Earth and the Universe with an open heart in the wholeness of Love and Reality.
We are currently in an active fund raising program to help further Patrick’s work. We are attempting to raise $100,000.00 to create a digital media library to preserve the teachings of Patrick, and other like-minded spiritual teachers, update our web site, and help cover the cost of travel to the many events Patrick will attending and spreading his massage in creating peace bridges between countries and people, to help him to continue inspiring youth, to support women’s rights, religious equality and to continue to archive his spiritual practices and teachings, and for general overhead to help support and build a stronger Foundation.
  • We are also currently running an indiegogo campaign for Patrick for his upcoming Maha Yaga trip. If you could please send this to any list or social networking sites that you may be a part of to get the message out.
If you can contribute financially in some way that would be wonderful. Please contact me so I might provide further details on our Fundraising Goals and how you can help.”
Blessings, Light, Love, Peace,
NellRoseSigPic

A Blessing for Success and Strength

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What Path Do You Walk?

A Blessing for Success and Strength

Are you walking the path you want to be traversing? Would you choose a different path? We’re all walking a path at the moment. But the question is: Is this the path you prefer?

Years ago, I felt I had no control over the path of life I was walking on. I felt like I was just dragged along, whether I enjoyed it or not.

Many of us feel like that, at least some of the time. How do we take control of our path? One thing that helps is meditation. This clears the mind of the distractions and helps us focus on the important elements of life.

For a little extra help you can say this blessing upon yourself.

A Blessing for Success and Strength

I call upon the power of the Gods and the mighty ones that I may be blessed.

Blessed be my mind, that it be clear of all distractions. Focused on its sacred purpose.

Blessed be my eyes, that they see without hate, and that they see my correct path.

Blessed be my lips, that they speak with strength, beauty, kindness and truth.

Blessed be my voice, that it be clear and strong and that it not shake in fear from adversity or from facing closed minds.

Blessed be my heart, that I always have love and compassion for myself and others.

Blessed be my arms, that they carry my burdens with strength and ease.

Blessed be my hands, that they work and create with purpose, steadily and honorably.

Blessed be my knees, that they not tremble with fear when hardships come my way.

Blessed be my feet, that they do not waver, but walk on the sacred path of light with surefootedness and purpose.

I have found that using empowering words in meditation is so helpful to turn the direction of one’s thoughts.

What words do you use to empower yourself?

Blessed Be,

Moonwater

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Remember to give the gift of The Hidden Children of the Goddess this Yule.

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Book

The Hidden Children of the Goddess Book