What Can a Redwood Tree Teach Us about Life and Wicca?

October 27, 2013October 28, 2013 / Moonwater / 4 Comments

RedwoodTree

What Can a Redwood Tree Teach Us about Life and Wicca?

Have you noticed that certain small things can grow much larger in your life? Think of a seed that eventually grows into a mighty redwood tree.

Decisions are like seeds. They have the potential to grow into something so much bigger.

I remember an important seed in my life: my decision to learn about one particular word—Wicca. From there I grew in my practice to become a Wiccan priestess.

My first decision, like a seed, grew into my life path.

Think about your decisions. What have you grown in your life?

Further, imagine looking at a cross section of a redwood tree. You’d notice the rings of the tree that reveal its lifecycle.

Now, think of these rings as different layers just like your life has different layers or stages.

At each “ring” or life stage, we’re making new decisions.

Some decisions make us resilient like a redwood tree. When there’s a fire in a forest, a tree may be damaged. After the trauma has passed, the redwood tree may bear the scars. But this tree can bounce back and become bigger and mightier than before.

You can, too! In Wicca, we use the tools of meditation and the Gods’ guidance to become that mighty redwood.

In the recent couple of days, I have been camping among redwood trees. A park ranger told me that the cones of a redwood tree need the heat of a forest fire in order to open and release their seeds. What a vivid image. Trauma can be used for new life.

A major trauma in your life can create new growth for you personally. With each wrong choice or even a disaster, we have the potential to grow to our mightiest form.

Redwood trees teach us much about personal growth, and they can teach us a great deal more.

Blessings,

Moonwater

How You Can Use Something Better Than an Affirmation

October 20, 2013 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

Candle

How You Can Use Something Better Than an Affirmation

What do you want? Have you tried to coach yourself to change your own behavior?

Some people attempt to push themselves with statements like: “I’m a thin person.”

Well, I’ll tell you the truth. When I tell myself, “I’m a thin person,” my brain yells at me: “Oh, yeah! Look in the mirror!”

The phrase “I’m a thin person” is called an affirmation. In essence, a person tries to “affirm” something that currently is not true.

No wonder so many people say, “Affirmations don’t work for me.”

This bothered me so I came up with some new ideas before I gave my recent workshop on October 19th. The tool I created is a Pattern-Affirmation. (In discussion with my friend Tom Marcoux, he gave me two labels “Pattern-Affirmation” and “Wish-Affirmation” to add to my thoughts).

In essence, a Wish-Affirmation is truly a standard affirmation that people try to use, often with disappointing results.

A Wish-Affirmation is: “I’m a thin person.”

On the other hand, a “Pattern-Affirmation” is: “I eat like a 130 lbs. person.” Or better yet “I have a lifestyle of a 130 lbs. person.”

Do you see the distinction?

A Wish-Affirmation is something you aspire to.

Instead, a Pattern-Affirmation is something that can be true right away. You can exhibit a different behavior now. Your very next action can contribute to your healthy lifestyle.

You can even apply the Pattern-Affirmation process to having financial abundance.

For example, a Wish-Affirmation could be “I am wealthy.” On the other hand, a Pattern-Affirmation could be: “I’m careful with my personal budget like a prosperous person.”

Now, I’ll share a helpful process.

The Pattern-Affirmation Ritual

Here are the steps:

Gather a Seven Day Candle and a Circle Script
Pick your Pattern-Affirmation
Do the Pattern-Affirmation ritual.
Do Cakes and Wine
Close your circle

The process is as follows:

First, be sure to pick a suitable Pattern-Affirmation. Remember, it needs to address a pattern of behavior you want to instill.

Here are examples:

I eat like a 130 lbs. person
I study one hour a day like a good student.
I listen to my daughter’s thoughts and feelings like a good father.

Now, when you begin your ritual, cast circle.

Cleanse and consecrate your candle. Sit and hold your candle and meditate on your Pattern-Affirmation for five minutes or more.

Take the candle and place it on your altar. Say aloud your Pattern-Affirmation as you light the candle. Visualize that you’re guiding energy into the candle.

(Repeat the following process for seven days in a row:

Let the Seven Day Candle burn one knob per day. Each day, repeat the above process of meditating on your Pattern-Affirmation for five minutes or more.)

On the first day, after the first knob has burned down, do Cakes and Wine and then close the circle. Repeat the candle-lighting and knob-burning down for six more days.

Using this new tool of a Pattern-Affirmation Ritual, we will grow in new and exciting ways.

If you try the Pattern-Affirmation Ritual, please let me know about your results. Thanks!

Blessings,

Moonwater

When You’re Down, A Way to Climb Up

September 15, 2013 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Climb Your Way Out of Depression

When You’re Down, A Way to Climb Up

So what have you heard about the burden of depression?

If you’ve experienced it, you know what an oppressive malady it is. If you have not experienced it, it’s hard to convey the essence of the pain.

Ever since I was little, I’ve had feelings of hopelessness and unworthiness. Abuse in the form of beatings from my brother and neglect from my parents, intensified my hopelessness.

I never knew when abuse would fall upon me. There was no rhyme or reason. Abusing a little girl is inexcusable. But what was worse, as that little girl, I felt a torrent of twisted thoughts. I believed the abuse happened because I deserved it.

I’ve heard a number of times that some people had perhaps a teacher that provided the support they didn’t have at home. But I wasn’t that lucky.

I did what I could to survive. I avoided people.

To me, depression was living in a deep, deep hole. A dark place where I was alone. I felt that I deserved this dark place. I had no hope, no love, no respect. I felt worthless. My chest hurt. Just cold putrid rotting meat inside me. The depression made it move and writhe like a carcass filled with maggots. There was more: tar, shards of broken glass, rusty nails.

Escape! That’s all I wanted. At eight years old, I tried to hang myself.

The Gods intervened. The cord broke. Not just once, but every time I tried to commit suicide, the Gods saved me.

They poured their light into a places I never thought any light could reach. My heart and soul. When that happened it was indescribable. It was beyond an epiphany. It was beyond life and death. It was so miraculous I can’t describe the event. Only that it was life-changing in every way.

It changed my thinking, my speaking, my body. It changed my world. It changed me. I was not me anymore, and yet, I was. My memories were the same, my environment was the same, my story was the same.

I knew who I was, and where I had come from. But now it was all different. How I experienced life was completely new.

I still have depression. I no longer identify myself as “a depressed person.” I am a spirit who deals with depression systems. I take medication and I have a helpful therapist. Each day I have good moments. I reconnect with the Gods on a daily basis. Even as I write this, my altar gleams with a glowing candle.

The Gods gave me a gift of self-love. I want to show you the way to it. I can’t walk this path for you, but I can show you my own path and walk side by side with you on yours.

Here is a chant you can recite to yourself when you’re hurting:

By the Sun and by the Moon,

Let the Gods’ light be my boon.

Shining deep and shining far,

May I be healed by every star.

I saw it then, I see it now,

Darkness be gone right here, right now!

You can use this short chant whenever you are feeling low. For example you can use this chant during meditation, lighting a candle or as a prelude to a meditation.

As always, let me know your experiences using this chant by using the comments box below. I would love to hear them.

Blessed Be,

Moonwater SilverClaw

Wiccans Handle Stress and Prejudice

July 21, 2013 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Bring Peace to Yourself

How Wiccans Can Handle Stress and Prejudice

We all deal with stress in our lives. However, members of a minority religion face additional stressors. Many Wiccans and Pagans in general have experienced some form of prejudice and some have even been the victims of hate crimes. These and other terrible acts upon us can really take a toll.

Although I am fortunate to live in the San Francisco Bay Area where there is more acceptance of people with differences, I have still faced prejudice. I have lost friendships and suffered the actions of intolerant people.

So how can we combat the stresses of such actions?

First, assess the situation. Can you educate the offending person? I have been in situations when the offending person thinks he’s right and will hear nothing that differs from his beliefs.

Make sure no one is being harmed. There is a big difference between offensive words and physical violence. One may need to take action. Maybe you need to quickly get to a place of safety. One might even have to call 911 for police intervention.

Take care of your own feelings. Before I get caught up in an aggression tornado, I remember to simply breathe. Concentrating on your breath is a great way to help yourself calm down. Then you can take control of the words that come out of your mouth. You can’t control what they say, but you can control what you say and do.

Find your way to compassion. The Gods and Goddesses love their children (all of them) so become the Goddess in her nurturing state. Let her energy flow within you. Let the Goddess help you select your words. Avoid words that sting, instead say something constructive and nurturing to the conversation. How would this sound? One way to respond is: “I heard what you said. That’s not what my life is about. I’m leaving this room.”

When I say compassion, I do not mean let them walk all over you. The idea is to make space in yourself to understand those who are ignorant of your beliefs. They don’t know what they are talking about. To take their words personally gives them power. Do not let that happen. Do not give these untruths any power.

Renew yourself. Once the incident is over, take some time to do a Breathing Meditation. I know how much it helps as a salve to the wounds their words have left.

Find a quiet place where you know you will not be disturbed. Silence your cell phone or home phone. Get comfortable and relax. You can burn some of your favorite incense and light a candle. I find dimming the lights to be helpful.

Here is the process:

As you relax, close your eyes and concentrate on your breathing. Breathing in and out deeply, envision a beautiful white light shinning down and surrounding you. Next, deeply breathe in that light, pulling in the beautiful cleansing properties of it. Hold this breath for the count of three.

When you breathe out, picture a black smoke made of those toxic words, actions and emotions. You expel the black smoke from your body. Imagine the black smoke absorbed and purified by the light around you. After your exhalation, hold your breath for a count of three. This is where you acknowledge the transformation of energy.

Continue this process until you feel you have expelled all of the negative comments/feelings/energies that were placed upon you. Finish this meditation by thanking the Gods for their shinning light.

May this meditation renew you and free you of any negative effects created by prejudice.

Once free of toxins, you can experience the blessings of life with the Gods and Goddesses.

Blessings,

Moonwater

The Quick Mood Pick-me-up for Wiccans

July 7, 2013 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Sitting in a field

The Quick Mood Pick-me-up for Wiccans

A short time before a 4th of July fireworks display was set to start, I sat in a field watching children running, jumping and playing nearby. Their joyful shouts rang in my ears. And an idea arose in my thoughts: I wish I could just let go like these children and be free from the drudgery of life.

We all have our moments of sadness, some more than others. Oh to be carefree and happy like a child!

So I came up with the Quick Mood Pick-me-up for Wiccans. As some of you may know, I battle depression everyday and these techniques can be a lifesaver when in a downer mood. It may not make you as perky and carefree as a happy child, but it will certainly move your mood in a better direction to help you get out of a low mood.

The Quick Mood Pick-me-up for Wiccans

A) Lay down in a field of living grass

Laying in grass is relaxing. Further, it’s easier for some people to let go when they have more bodily contact with the earth. The process is simple:

Concentrate on the ground beneath you.
Let any negative energy flow from you into the ground. Imagine the ground is a sponge, sucking the negative energy from your body and cleansing the body.
Take deep breaths and let your body relax.

Let Goddess take away all your worries and fears.

B) Light a candle

If you have racing thoughts, simply light a candle and concentrate on the flame. This can ease your mind.

Cast a circle and place the candle in front of you. You can bless and consecrate it. Make your ritual as simple or as elaborate as you prefer.
Relax and watch the flame.
Breathe slowly and imagine sending your thoughts into the flame to be cleansed from your mind. In this way, you empty your mind of your troubled thoughts.

C) Hug a tree

I know this must sound a little silly, but hugging a tree is a great way to shunt negative energy into the earth. Any tree will gladly help you.

Wrap your arms around the tree.
Take three deep breaths in and let the tree absorb your negative energy. The tree will do the rest.

Trees naturally shunt energy into the earth. This makes them a great resource for our imbalances in life.

D) Take a walk in the woods

This is one of the easier practices and it’s great exercise. Remember what I shared about trees. In fact just being around trees (and nature) reduces stress. Fear not city dwellers, a park will work just as well. Take deep breaths and relax. Look at your surroundings and see the Gods in all the flowers and trees. Know that you are not alone in your walk, for the Gods walk with you. They support us when no one else can–and even at those times when you might not believe in yourself. The Gods want the best for you.

E) Talk to a friend

Some people find that they allow being busy to deprive them of actually talking with a friend. Don’t let that happen. Talk with a friend and often things appear clearer. Expressing yourself can wash away the stress and pain of the drudgery of day to day living. If you have a High Priest or Priestess talk to him or her. They are there to support you in your journey. This can be a great bonding experience for both of you.

So if you find yourself in a low mood, remember the Quick Mood Pick-me-up for Wiccans techniques. I hope they help you as much as they help me.

Blessed be,

Moonwater SilverClaw

Wicca Celebrates Sex!

June 23, 2013June 23, 2013 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Sex and Lovemaking

Wicca and Sex

Have you noticed that many mainstream religions seem to have major hang-ups about sex? These faiths have many rules regarding sex. They tell you when you can and especially when you can’t have sex. They often say sex is “sinful” and “dirty.” They even suggest that the “truly righteous completely abstain from such deplorable practices.”

These rigid mindsets have twisted much of society concerning sex. Although sex helps us feel happy and healthy, so many religions deny their practitioners of fulfilling this fundamental need.

On the other hand, in Wicca, the Gods show us sex as a beautiful part of life. Not something to be ashamed of or avoided. Just notice how sexuality and sensuality are celebrated. You have Aphrodite, a joyful, sexy goddess. Think of the randy energy of Pan. How about the stories and songs about Venus (yes, another name for Aphrodite)?

There are many forms of sex, for example, the activities shared by some friends. Here I’ll be specific and talk about lovemaking. Wiccans have understood the precious gift of lovemaking from the beginning. They see it for what it truly is: something sacred. To make love is a pure act and to Wiccans we are reenacting the divine ritual between the God and the Goddess. This ritual can be for procreation or for pleasure. Whichever one chooses, the act itself is a powerful and sacred bond that connects the participants to all of creation.

When I hear of some religions’ intolerance of certain forms of lovemaking and certain partners, it deeply saddens me. Such intolerance denies the beauty of creating and cherishing another. Such intolerance creates separation and the chained people are separated from the wholeness of the universe.

Wiccans revere the sexual act as deeply sacred. We see it in its rightful place among the other cycles in the turning of the wheel.

Sex is not evil. Lovemaking is not dirty or sinful. It is a part of our sacred lives. Practiced by caring, loving, consenting, of age people, it is a part of human nature, and a gift from the Gods.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

Candles and Healing

April 14, 2013 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Hands Focusing Energy

Healing Spell

Healing can be done in many ways. You can use herbs, colors, candles and more.

The simplest way to do healing is to light a candle for a sick person. Wiccans use two parts to the process: Dressing the candle and stating the purpose for the use of the candle.

To dress the candle means: The process of putting your desire into the candle. As you clearly envision your wish, rub anointing oil (olive oil will suffice) on the candle. Spread the oil from the top of the candle to the center, and then from the bottom back to the center. Rubbing from each end of the candle to the center draws or attracts a desire to you. If you wish to repel something, for example an illness or bad luck, you would rub from the center out to each end of the candle. This pushes away what you wish to repel.

For the second part, you state the purpose of using the candle. Here is an example:

“I send healing energy to (name of person).”

A quick note on ethics and magick: When doing any spell work for another person you must ask for their consent first. If you do not ask, you may be working against their will. So always ask first.

What you will need.

Your altar
You need to add a fireproof surface (perhaps, a plate) on top of your altar
Your tools
Your written script of “words of power” (perhaps, a small prayer or rhyme talking about how the person is now healed)
A script to cast your circle
One blue candle
Dressing oil (you can use plain olive oil if you do not have any)
Cakes and wine or juice for the ritual
A fireproof container
a photo of the sick person

To cast a candle spell:

1) Cast your circle.

2) Take the photo of the sick person. Asperge (sprinkle with holy water) and cense (waft incense smoke around) it. Be carful with the photo, I suggest asperging it on the back so the image is not ruined. Also asperge it very lightly.

3) Take the blue candle and asperge and cense it.

4) Dress your candle (see the discussion above).

5) Charge the candle with its task. (Send healing energy into the candle by holding it in your hands and drawing energy up through the earth, through you and into the candle. The process of drawing energy up consists of visualizing energy (you might imagine energy strands) rising from the earth into your feet and so on.

6) Take the photo and place it on the pentagram on your altar.

7) Place the candle on the photo. Use the taper to light the candle from the working candle.

8) Look at the flame of the candle while concentrating on your desire to heal the person. Take your time with this step. This is a great time to chant any words of power (if you have written some). Remember, these words of power could be a small prayer or rhyme talking about how the person is now healed.

9) Keep focusing that energy into the flame of the candle and into the photo under it. (Focusing energy means keep concentrating on the flame and focus you thoughts on the intention that the person be healed.)

10) You will be letting the candle burn down completely. Warning: Be sure to place it in a safe place (perhaps, in a bathtub or sink). And make sure you do not burn the photo! Use a fire safe container for the candle to be in. Be sure to avoid leaving a candle unattended. That is, do NOT leave the room while your candle is burning down.

11) After the spell is finished, do the cakes and wine/juice ritual.

12) Close your circle.

Doing a healing ritual is empowering for the sick person and it is also an uplifting experience for the practitioner. It feels good to be able to marshal the healing energies of the universe to bless the life of person who needs healing.

Blessed Be,

Moonwater SilverClaw

http://thehiddenchildrenofthegoddess.com/