I’m 13 years old, and my red hair was a striking gift from my Scottish grandfather. He’d call it a gift. But as I walked past John Gill Elementary School, the bullies (some mean boys) used my red hair as a target of ridicule to smash my self-esteem.
Day after day, they teased me.
What was I to do? Would I dye it purple? Would I hide it beneath a baseball cap?
Actually, I wasn’t thinking of hiding my hair at all. Instead I wished that I did not have red hair.
The teasing caused a whirlwind of anger to rise up in my chest until it was a full-fledged storm of fury. I ran toward the fence and kicked it. Then I shook that fence. The boys just laughed at me from the safety of the other side.
But then something shifted in my thinking. There’s got to be another way I can walk home from school. So I found another way to walk home. I finally got those boy’s taunts out of my life.
Today, I was talking with a friend about walking our Wiccan Path.
As Wiccans, we often have to walk a path that includes the taunts of non-Wiccans. These people, fueled by lies in the entertainment media, are misinformed and uneducated. Like those boys, they are NOT worth our time.
Whatever you do, avoid letting yourself fall into a trap of failing to honor your own spiritual truth.
I understand that, as a 13 year old, I wanted to not have red hair—a target of teasing.
Still, now as a woman, I know that I am strong enough to own my red hair and my Wiccan Path.
I invite you to consider how you can gather with like-minded people.
You can enjoy your path home.
Blessed Be,
Moonwater
P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.
Looking for gifts?
See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:
Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path
Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal
Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path
“It bothers me that some films and television shows use the pentagram to symbolize ‘the bad guys’ or simply ‘the occult,’” my friend Allison said.
“We know the truth. We know that the pentagram is the main symbol of Wicca. It represents the Goddess, life and the elements,” I replied.
All Five Elements are represented by each point on the pentagram as seen below.
Every being from humans to cats (for example) has the Five Elements as part of his or her makeup.
Air represents the direction East.
The sun rises in the East. Associated with the time of dawn, air belongs during the morning. East means new beginnings. So anything that begins or “dawns” is of the Air symbol. Air represents thought, and new ideas dawn in our heads all the time. East is a male element. This is not to say that females don’t have the Air element in them. But Air is considered to be a masculine element.
Air reflects thought and intelligence. Simply put, Air is pure thought. We use the attributes of Air to figure out our problems. The skill of problem solving is Air’s strength. Think of math and science as subjects ruled by Air.
Things that represent Air are feathers/birds of all kinds, clouds, dust devils, wind chimes, and incense smoke to name a few.
The sylph is the Elemental of Air. Some artists have depicted sylphs as human figures with wings. Sylphs are often seen in cloud formations. Note that an Elemental is an entity that embodies one specific element.
In many Tarot decks, swords represent Air. Since Air is the element of thought and intellect, Tarot swords represent ideas and other qualities of Air. But just like a real sword, thoughts can cut two ways. They can be freeing or debilitating, just as having a life-altering epiphany is to having depression.
Fire represents the direction South.
Fire is associated with noon, the hottest time of the day. As with Air, Fire is seen as a male/masculine element. Fire is action! Fire represents your will. It is the spark that sets you into motion. It is the energy that moves you to finish your housework. Fire is represented by embers, the sun, hot chili peppers, and a flame from a candle.
Salamanders are the Elemental spirits of Fire. The Fire salamander is seen as dragon-like. Like flames, they are shape-shifters. They are sometimes depicted with wings and human faces, much like sylphs.
In many Tarot decks, wands represent Fire. Whereas Air is the beginning or the plan you start with, Fire sets that plan into action!
Fire also transforms. It changes whatever it touches, consuming it and converting it into something new. The Phoenix is a good example of this. It is consumed by fire and then rises from its own ashes as something new. In a sense, it is being reborn out of its own destruction.
Water represents the direction West.
Water’s corresponding time of day is at sunset. Water is associated with the moon and with birth, death, and rebirth. It also has to do with feelings and emotions. Water connotes strong feelings such as love, desire, hate, joy, and sorrow. Water is seen as a feminine element. Things that represent water are seashells, seaweed, water, sponges, and fish.
Because of its association with death, Water is also associated with the Summerlands (afterlife). Many folkloric traditions include a journey over a body of water to reach their afterlife.
The Undine is the Elemental spirit in water. Undines are water entities that can manifest themselves in many forms, from mermaids to the sirens of the sea.
In many Tarot decks, cups represent Water. In Tarot, cups represent emotions. Cups are also associated with birth, death, and rebirth.
You may recall that my name is Moonwater SilverClaw. I chose this name because I feel connected to water. My mother still tells tales of how, as a child, I’d find any puddle in a two-mile radius. To this day I enjoy the water whether I’m snorkeling or doing undersea helmet diving.
Earth represents the direction North.
Midnight is the time that is associated with this element. Earth stands for stability, foundations, and commitment. The greatest image of Earth is Mother Earth or Gaia herself. Earth is seen as a feminine element. Earth is also stillness. Earth is represented by rocks, crystals, dirt, and fossils.
Gnomes are the Elemental spirits of Earth. Gnomes are strong and squat. Their skin is the colors of the Earth with its many shades of brown to black.
In many Tarot decks, Earth is represented by coins or pentacles. Coins in the Tarot connote physical labors and the fruits of those labors. They often refer to physical possessions, such as money, cars, and houses.
Spirit does not have a specific direction or a specific time in our twenty-four-hour day. That being said, Spirit is what creates the life within us. It is literally the divine spark that we all need to be alive. There is no Elemental associated with Spirit.
What we call the “soul” is in fact a piece of the God and Goddess, or “The All.” Every one of us has this element within us. It is the element that makes all living things divine.
This above recipe creates a whole living being.
Think of it, we even have the Five Elements in ourselves as a microcosm.
Water is our blood which contains 85% of the salt in the human body. In a way, our blood has similarities to ocean water. Fire manifests as the body heat that arises from glucose produced by the liver. Earth is the solid body—the bones and flesh. Air fills our lungs. Spirit animates all of the elements into the living being you are.
You need the Elements of earth, air, water and fire to create a vessel for the spirit to reside.
The pentagram is the representative blueprint for life, and the pentagram represents the Goddess.
You will notice that the pentagram is in the shape of a human—and more than that, it represents the Sacred Feminine. Our ancestors understood that life came from the Sacred Feminine. We are all born from mothers. Woman is the place where life is created. So if you’re a woman be proud of the fact that you are a representative of the Goddess.
Blessed Be,
Moonwater
P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.
Looking for gifts?
See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:
Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path
Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal
Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path
“I want my ritual to be special,” Melinda said.
“It all begins with focusing on the right questions and then coming up with your own answers,” I replied.
As you put a ritual together, begin with these following questions:
Your ritual may be a celebratory rite. Or it may be for some other purpose. Knowing this, you can then ask the next question: “What mood and flavor are you trying to inspire?”
Is your ritual going to be a solemn funeral? Or a joyful handfasting (Wiccan wedding)?
Think about what items you will need. Acquire all items in advance.
Make sure you ask about the participants’ food allergies. You don’t want to have to call the paramedics in the middle of your ritual.
If you consider holding your ritual outdoors, check on the weather forecast. Still, plan for what to do if it does rain unexpectedly.
Timing for your ritual effects the outcome. Check your calendar for the best time for the work you will be doing.
Will your participants need to bring an offering or something else to your ritual? Give them time to prepare in advance.
Think of your ritual as being similar to pulling together a recipe. You bring together the ingredients. When you put together the recipe well and you follow it, you’ll create a joyful experience for your ritual attendees.
Blessed Be,
Moonwater
P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.
Looking for gifts?
See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:
Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path
Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal
Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path
“I was so happy a day ago,” my friend Anna said.
“I hear a ‘but’ coming up,” I said.
“But then I found out my project is going to cost three times more,” she said.
“That sounds tough to hear,” I replied. “What were you happy about?”
“Our project had a new donor,” she continued, “But now, we’re stuck.”
I empathize with Anna’s situation.
The strange thing I notice is that Anna did not immediately invoke her Wiccan knowledge. Why did that happen?
You see, your ordinary, daily life is NOT separate from your spiritual life.
What could Anna do—in just a moment or two—to help her feel the Goddess’s love?
Shift to your feelings and thoughts about what you’re grateful for. Use this chant:
Gracious Lady of the Moon,
I thank you now for this boon.
You can light a candle as an offering to express your gratitude for what you do have.
On the first day, Anna could have lit a candle to express her gratitude for the project donation.
On the second day, Anna could light a candle for Goddess’s Guidance.
Use this chant:
Goddess,
I don’t know what to do.
Grant me strength to find a solution.
Guide me with Your Divine Inspiration.
Grant me strength to find a solution.
Guide me with Your Divine Inspiration.
Grant me strength to find a solution.
Guide me with Your Divine Inspiration.
So Mote It Be.
The third day would be time to do an offering after what you want has manifested.
When we do things, we’ll face some resistance.
I was talking with a friend recently and we came up with this little phrase:
Goddess,
I thank you now
I thank you later
Do what You will
to straighten out this hater.
My friend and I laughed about this one.
Remember, you can connect with Goddess in just one moment.
Blessed Be,
Moonwater
P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.
Looking for gifts?
See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:
Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path
Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal
Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path
Blessed Be,
Moonwater
P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.
Looking for gifts?
See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:
Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path
Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal
Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path
I had a conversation with a non-pagan friend. Here are highlights:
What is the point of Ostara?
It’s a fertility ritual. It celebrates the fertility of the God and Goddess. It’s when a lot of the animals give birth.
How do you feel when you see the Easter Bunny?
Goddess Ostara has an associated animal, The Hare. I relate to the Hare.
What would you say to Pagans who feel uncomfortable about all of the chocolate rabbits, Easter eggs and candy—the commercialization at this time?
I’ve been thinking about Pagans and the holidays because I address some details in my new book, Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Each Pagan needs to chose what he or she honors at this time.
I think of this as similar to when I tune out the sound of the TV in my living room when I’m doing an art project. A family member watches a TV show, but I’m not paying attention. If we Wiccans fill our hearts with what means a lot to us—we can let other people have their “noisy TV going on.”
For me, Ostara is a refreshing time. Everything is growing. In fact, since California has recently received some rain, I’m hoping to see some flowers bloom on my next hike.
Blessed Be,
Moonwater
P.S. I hope all of you have a blessed Ostara. Here is a fun video I found on YouTube that I think is a fun idea. However I would use natural dyes. I hope you enjoy it.
P.S.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.
Looking for gifts?
See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:
Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path
Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal
Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path
Just wanted to announce my 5th and brand new book Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light-Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path. Get your copy today!
Blessed Be,
Moonwater
P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.
Looking for gifts?
See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:
Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal
Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path
Have you caught a bit of broadcast news and heard about someone’s cruelty to another person—and it bothered you?
Or maybe you’ve wondered about how some extremists use religion as a justification for terrible acts.
Recently, just as I was drifting off to sleep, an idea blazed across the expanse of my mind.
Picture this. Deity is water. Each human being is a vessel.
Imagine that Deity’s essence as a large infinite ball of water.
Let’s say you’re a bowl and you grow up among bowls. All you know are bowls. In fact, you might say that bowl people have “bowl Gods” because they see themselves in what they picture to be Divine.
On the other side of the ocean are goblets. And they only know themselves as goblets. So they have “goblet Gods.”
But Deity fills ALL bowls and ALL goblets. Deity is ONE. Deity is in everyone.
Water will take the shape of any vessel it fills. The vessels may differ dramatically, but what fills them is the same.
Ideally, we Pagans get a glimpse of the essence of Deity. All who see Deity, see the Source and realize the Source is just dressed in the garb inspired by various cultures.
(We’re talking about the form water. Certainly, Deity can take any form: water, vapor or solid. By the way, we Pagans know that we can relate to Gods and Goddesses that we choose. In essence, Deity has different forms and we can connect with the form that moves our heart.)
Our problem—that is human beings’ problem is that we see ourselves as vessels—as bowls or goblets.
Do we humans get caught up in looking at vessels? Sure we do. Research reveals that tall people and “pretty” people get treated better than others. They get the jobs and the promotions.
You could even extend this metaphor of Deity as water to other galaxies.
Astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson once said, “My great fear is that we’ve in fact been visited by intelligent aliens, but they chose not to make contact, on the conclusion that there’s no sign of intelligent life on Earth.”
My point is that this metaphor of Deity as water applies to the thought that Deity is in such possible aliens. Instead of goblets or bowls, such aliens could be buckets. I’m just saying.
My metaphor of Deity is water applies to all life and all matter.
Neil Degrasse Tyson has talked about dark matter which relates to 85% of the gravity in the universe. “Dark matter. I get asked what it is. And my best answer is we haven’t a clue. We don’t know what it is,” Tyson said.
I will suggest that Deity is dark matter, too.
In any case, when you hear about someone who is ignorant about Paganism spouting dumb theories, see if you can allow that Deity is water. There is some Deity in that other person. What is the big difference? That person is probably shut down in some way. He or she does not hear the inspiration from Goddess—which is that person’s loss.
So maybe you can muster a bit of compassion to send in that direction.
Some spiritual paths suggest: Love everyone.
I do like the idea that it’s sometimes good to love toxic people from afar!
Blessed Be,
Moonwater
P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.
Looking for gifts?
See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:
Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal
Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path
“Sometimes, it just gets to be too much to bear, you know?” Merla said. At PantheaCon, we were taking a break. She told me about how she still had to hide her pentagram necklace at family gatherings. Her family held to a strict Christian point of view. If they knew her Pagan faith, she’d be denounced and disowned.
“I could put up with losing some family members. Hell, if my father never talked to me again, that would be a relief. But losing my baby sister. That would hurt. Really bad.”
I listened closely. I kept quiet mostly so that Merla could talk herself out. Merla feared losing all contact with her sister. I could relate to fear.
Have you noticed how fear can keep us stuck?
Will Merla ever come out to her family? Is her relationship with her sister strong enough so she could come out just to her sister?
These are tough questions. Maybe not coming out to her family is the right decision for Merla. I don’t know.
I do know that if you run your whole life by fear, it can really screw you up.
In my own journey, moving through fear has been truly important. Recently, I gave a speech. Here is the text of that speech:
* * * * * *
“Have you ever been so scared that fear stopped you cold?
I have!
At 15 years old, I wanted to be a writer, but I had dyslexia.
Writing scared me.
Why? Because I never had regular English classes. I was in the Special Ed group. I never learned how to break down a sentence. Or to write a “proper paragraph.”
Writing scared me. So I shut down for over 20 years and didn’t do my dream.
I have 3 Big Ideas to share with you tonight.
The first one is: “You don’t have to believe. You just have to act.”
Let me share how this worked in my life. I have a friend who knew an Acquisitions Editor at a top publishing company. I knew the books that came from this publisher. I really wanted to write for this publisher.
This is the dream for a wannabe writer like me. The one big opportunity. So I went to their website to find out what I needed to submit to the publisher. Under the tab “submissions” it said that I had to submit a complete manuscript of the book.
Write a whole book?! Are you crazy? I can’t even write a paragraph.
But then I had an idea. “Just one step.” Did I believe I could write a book. No. What could I do? One step. Write a paragraph. Another step. Write a second paragraph. Then, write a short blog post. One more step. Write a second blog post for the second week of the blog.
One year later. 52 blog posts done. Now, I had most of the material for a book.
What did I learn? “JUST ONE STEP.” Just one step at a time is all I needed.
You don’t have to believe; you just have to act.
Here’s my 2nd Big Idea for you tonight.
I have dyslexia. Can I polish my writing on my own?
No.
So I came up with this idea–my 3rd idea for you tonight: The Power of Me Expands to the Power of We.
In my case, “We” means that I write the first draft. It’s all my ideas, my content—what comes from my heart.
Then I bring in my editor. Then I had other team members like a fact checker and a proofreader. So let’s go over those Big Ideas:
1) JUST ONE STEP and
2) The Power of ME expands to the Power of WE.
Now, I invite you to think of something you want. Something you want to try. Something you want to experience. Think of One Step in the direction of what you want.
Yes—Doing a Google Search counts!
JUST ONE STEP.
Say that with me now. All together: JUST … ONE … STEP …
I know this works. I’m living proof. The dyslexic who has written 4 books.
And let’s all remember: “The Power of ME expands to The Power of WE.”
Look around. We’re all gathered tonight. We’re supporting each other. During the networking time, you could meet someone who can help you – and you could help that person in return.
What is possible? More than you think. Remember: Just One Step and the Power of WE.
Thank you.”
* * * * * *
In my above speech, I talked about how I dealt with fear by taking small steps forward.
In your spiritual path, what small steps can you take forward? Do you wish to connect with more Pagans? You might go to Cog.org [website of Covenant of the Goddess].
Another valuable website is witchvox.com
You could also connect with me at askawitchnow@gmail.com
If you can find your way to California, usually in February, you can attend PantheaCon.
I invite you to find other Pagans and build your own circle of support.
Blessed Be,
Moonwater
P.S. To sign up for our E-Newsletter click here.
Looking for gifts?
See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:
Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal
Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path
GoddessHasYourBack.com 