You Can’t Know It Unless You Live It

December 27, 2014 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

He had that look in his eyes. A dash of confusion and a pinch of cynicism. “Tell me. What is Wicca, really?” Andrew asked.

Because I knew Andrew had to leave for an appointment soon, I thought that I’d better boil this down to a few sentences.

Then I thought, What does Wicca really mean to me?

Is Wicca just about herbs, brews, crystals and poppets? Or is it something else? How can I sum Wicca up in just a few sentences, or even one sentence?

Could you do it?

Yes, Wicca involves herbs, brews, crystals and more. But that is not Wicca. Is it about the Gods, dancing and singing? It does have those, too. But what is Wicca at its core?

The clearest way I can explain Wicca is: It’s a practice. Wicca is something you do. Not something you have. You can have all the trimmings with the crystals, herbs, fancy robes and even a crystal ball. But that does not make you a Wiccan.

Wicca is something you practice everyday. Wicca is a part of you. It’s what you do not what you have.

Wicca is honoring the God and Goddess with each breath, and honoring the earth as you walk. It’s finding the peace within your mind and heart, and then sharing that with others.

To me that is what Wicca is. It is finding the light with the Gods’ guidance and reflecting this light for others to find their own way on the path.

I strive to do this everyday. Sometimes I’m right on the mark, doing and breathing Wicca. Sometimes, I’m off. Perhaps, I miss my daily meditation. This is why we look on Wicca as a practice. You continue to develop yourself throughout your life. Sure, at times, you may stumble. But Wicca is about taking each step forward.

You continue walking the Wicca path before you.

Sometimes it’s hard; sometimes it’s easy.

With the Gods’ guidance, it’s always true and fulfilling.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

And

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

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

Keeping the Hidden Children Hidden

December 20, 2014 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Nina is afraid. Did she leave her diary out on the kitchen table? Her deeply religious parents would disown her in a moment if they knew of her Wiccan path.

It makes sense that Nina keeps her spirituality to herself at least until she upgrades to a better job and her own apartment.

Wiccans still suffer discrimination and intolerance in this world. It can even escalate to violence—bodily harm and damage to property.

We know we follow the God and Goddess, and we keep that a secret within our own hearts.

Realize that even if you are secure in being out as a Wiccan, many others are not. You do not know someone else’s circumstances. You may live in a progressive location where you are safe. But others may live where they’re not safe. Because of this, do not out anyone. Coming out as a Wiccan is solely a personal decision.

When you enter the world of Wicca and Paganism you need to abide by some rules which include:

You keep the identities of the practitioners secret. Keep names, phone numbers and addresses both physical and email in confidence.
All things said in circle or ceremony are sacred and secret.
The place of meetings, called a covenstead, is kept secret.
You do not touch any practitioner’s tools without expressed consent of the owner of the tools.

Some Wiccans gather and go skyclad (naked) during rituals. This does NOT mean that there is an open invitation to touch.

The above rules remind us of ways to take care of ourselves and others.

Blessed be,
Moonwater

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

And

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

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

How Goddess Frees You From Weeds in Your Mind

December 13, 2014December 13, 2014 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

“I’m such a f—ing idiot,” I yelled.

My friend, Sarah, ran into the kitchen, asking, “What happened?”

“I trashed the recipe. This tastes like crap. I’m no good at anything,” I said.

“Who told you that?”

“People,” I replied.

“Which people?”

“Everybody,” I maintained. “My mother’s called my cookies ‘hockey pucks.’”

Now, years later, I realize that I had a bunch of automatic-thoughts. Thoughts that tore me down. Our minds are like a bed of fertile soil, and the ideas we have are like seeds.

Before we go any further, I invite you to realize that Goddess wants you to have good seeds/good thoughts. Why? Goddess wants you to enjoy your life.

I’m not guessing here. I know. During many of my meditations, I felt the real presence of the Goddess—such loving kindness.

It’s important to realize that many people—parents, friends, teachers and the media—plant seeds in our minds. Some seeds are weeds.

We need to take responsibility for the garden in our mind. We need to learn how to weed out the unhealthy thoughts. We learn to encourage the positive thoughts—the roses. Weeding our own bed of soil (our mind) helps us to be healthy and happy.

So how can we do that? Ask this question: Is this thought harming or hindering my happiness? Also ask: Is this thought/belief making me grow in the direction I want? Or is this thought stunting my growth and making me miserable?

Take special care to notice the seeds (thoughts) you plant yourself. In many cases, we’re still operating with thoughts we planted as children. Every child is different as is every adult who grows up (at least physically).

Have you noticed recently how two people can have opposite reactions to the same event?

For example, Janet hates rain storms because she deems them to be gloomy and the cause of her getting wet hair as she runs to her car.

Janet’s best friend Cindy loves the rain because it makes the flowers grow.

Do you see how Janet is planting weeds and Cindy is planting roses?

Here’s a secret: In many cases, we can transform the weeds to roses—that is, we can work to change our perception of a situation. It does take creativity.

Creativity is the area where Wiccans thrive. We Wiccans have tools to use with our creative energies. Cowans (non-magickal folk) only use their brains for creativity (for the most part). On the other hand, Wiccans have spells, chants, meditations and much more to work with.

Here is an example of a chant you can use to transform weed-like thoughts to those that empower you:

Transformation Chant

Poisonous thoughts these weeds of mine,
Keeping me from peace this time.

Plucking my weeds hither and fro,
Weeding my thoughts like a pro.

Now peace and happiness I grow,
Lord and Lady make it so!

I invite you to pay attention to the weeds (negative thoughts) you may find in your mind. Weeds rise up without our efforts.

Instead, tend your garden of your mind and blossom into the empowered version of who you really are.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

And

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

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

Some History for Thought

December 9, 2014 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

For those who haven’t seen this yet, it is a good lesson in some of the history of Wicca.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

And

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

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

First Time Moonwater SilverClaw Provides Video Training

December 8, 2014 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

Have you noticed over the months that I have been responding to comments/questions posted with my various blog posts? I realized that providing some coaching through the comments section could be improved by offering 3 Weeks of Video Training plus a workbook.

I’m so excited to share with you now videos related to material in my new book, Goddess Has Your Back. For the first time, I’m offering a Gift of Three Videos when readers purchase my new book between Dec. 11^th and Dec. 18^th, 2014. The 3 Videos include a Bonus Workbook. Purchase your book and send the Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com Receipt number to AskAWitchNow@gmail.com Thank you and

Happy Yule.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

And

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

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

Traditional Wicca versus “Cyber Wicca”

December 6, 2014December 7, 2014 / Moonwater / 9 Comments

Have you wondered if practicing the old ways can really thrive in this fast-paced, high-tech age?

I think about this often. Walking my sacred path, I was fortunate to find a mentor and learn the sacred path in the traditional way, one on one. But what about those seekers who can’t find a mentor to teach them the old ways face to face?

Wicca continues to grow in leaps and bounds. We’re seeing that there are not enough mentors to go around with the growing demand for knowledge about our Craft. So many seekers turn to the Internet for help.

Is a Cyber Mentor going to work as well as an In-person Mentor?

The Pros and Cons When Comparing a Cyber Mentor and an In-person Mentor:

Cyber Mentor
Pro	Con
Seeker can have access to the Cyber Mentor from anywhere in the world.	Mentor cannot see and feel how Seeker moves the energy.
Seeker has someone to go to for support.	Both Seeker and Mentor can only communicate through the Internet (or perhaps, occasionally by telephone).
Seeker may have a number of choices in terms of selecting an online mentor.	Mentor cannot experience how Seeker uses energy.
	Mentor cannot be present while the Seeker conducts ritual and provide in-person safety during the learning process.

In-person Mentor
Pro	Con
Mentor is present and can give you an experiential understanding of Wicca.	Mentor may live far away, and meeting in-person may be quite difficult and time-consuming.
Mentor can physically sit with you and listen to your needs.	Mentor and Seeker may fall into personality clashes. Being present in-person may create an intense relationship.
Seeker has someone to go to for support.	Finding a compatible In-person Mentor may take much trial and error with related emotional ups and downs.
Mentor can read how Seeker processes energy.
Mentor can lead you through meditations and can answer questions about the feelings that rise up during the process.
Mentor can be there for Seeker’s safety in learning the finer points of the Craft.

Although, I prefer an In-person Mentor, I acknowledge that many Seekers are constrained by situations that require a Cyber Mentor. They may live in an area with no nearby mentors. They may have to hide while living where persecution makes it too dangerous to openly look for a mentor.

So Cyber Mentors come to be vital for many Wiccans’ learning and training.

Through my blog, I function as a Cyber Mentor. I share my experiences in learning the sacred path. There are a number of good websites/mentors out there. It’s often about finding someone who has a “voice” that really connects with your heart.

What would I suggest for those new to Wicca? Read to get insights from a number of credible people.

I have dyslexia so I’ve found that using an ereader and enlarging the type help a lot.

You can start with these books listed here:

The Way of Four by Deborah Lipp
When, Why….If by Robin Wood
The Hidden Children of the Goddess: Embrace Wicca, Become Strong, Be at Peace with Yourself and the World Around You by Moonwater SilverClaw
Goddess Has Your Back: How Wicca Can Help You Raise Your Self-Esteem and Make Your Life Magickal by Moonwater SilverClaw
Beyond the Law of Attraction to Real Magick by Moonwater SilverClaw
Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft and Witchcraft from the Inside by Raymond Buckland
The God of the Witches by Margaret Murray
Aradia by Charles G. Leland
The White Goddess by Robert Graves
The Golden Bough by James George Frazer and Robert Fraser
Witchcraft Today, Meaning of Witchcraft and a suggested novel called: High Magic’s Aid by Gerald Gardner
ABC’s of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente
What Witches Do and The 8 Sabbats by Janet & Stewart Ferrar
Grimoire of Shadows by Ed Fitch
Robin Wood Tarot by The Book by Robin Wood:
The Sabbats by Edain McCoy
The Circle Within by Dianne Sylvan

Reading books like those above can help you on your first steps of your sacred Wiccan path.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

And

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

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

Simple Wiccan Dedication Ritual

November 28, 2014November 28, 2014 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

I have had many requests for help in writing dedication rituals. So here is a simple dedication ritual that you can do if you have made the choice that Wicca is right for you.

Dedication Rite

Preparation

Turn your phone off and make sure you will not be disturbed. Clean the area to do ritual: Dust, vacuum, and anything else you need to do before you begin. Next take a ritual bath (For instructions click here.) Find a comfortable place and sit quietly, meditating on what you are about to do. You are about to dedicate yourself to the path of the Gods. Be honest. Is this really what you want to do? Don’t take the promises lightly. You will also need to pick out a new name to go by. This is fun and can be anything you choose.

What you will need:

1) Cakes/Bread: It is acceptable to use bread, cupcakes, cookies, or even a power bar. It should contain carbohydrates to nourish the body and replenish the energy you use during the ritual.

2) Censer & Incense: In this case, the incense burner holds cone incense. However, it is acceptable to burn any kind of incense you choose. Remember that incense, when burned, represents Air on your altar.

3) Taper: The taper is for lighting candles. You begin by using a lighter to ignite the wick of the working candle. Then, you bring the taper to the working candle and ignite the wick of the taper. Now with the lit taper you ignite the other candles on your altar.

4) Lighter: The lighter is used to light the working candle. Any type of lighter may be used.

5) Bell/Chime: A bell or chime is needed for different purposes during a ritual.

6) Pentacle: The pentacle is used to help focus your attention on your goal.

7) Athame: The athame knife is used to direct power and can cast circles.

8) Bowl with Water: Water is one of the five elements. It is used together with salt to make consecrated water.

9) Dish with Salt: Salt represents the Earth. It is placed into water to make consecrated water.

10) Chalice with Wine: As you remember, the cup is a female symbol. In a ritual, the cup holds the wine or juice that is to be blessed. (It is acceptable to use juice instead of wine if you do not drink alcohol.)

11) Offering Dishes: These dishes are used to “offer up,” as an offering, part of your blessed food from your “cakes and wine” ceremony. We will discuss that later. You can also offer up flowers, which pay tribute to nature and the Goddess.

12) Goddess Candle & God Candle: These are the candles that represent the God and Goddess.

13) Working Candle: The working candle is positioned between the God and Goddess candle. Use this candle to light the other candles during a ritual. The working candle represents the element Fire on your altar.

For the altar setup click here.

1) Cast Circle (For script click here)

2) Dedication Rite

Say the following:

O Triumphant and Great Lord,

O Beautiful and Gracious Lady,

My intention to You, my Lord and Lady, is to dedicate myself onto the sacred path which you have opened before me. I accept this path as my own, and willingly of my own accord tread upon it. I know it will not be easy, but I promise I will be steadfast. And if I should fall, I shall rise again, all in Your honor. I will help those who tread upon the path, with me, beside me and behind me. And I will help them freely and willingly with love in my heart, for I know that they are a part of You as I am a part of You.

(Raise goblet or cup)

As I kneel before you naked in this truth. I [Your New Name] toast to you O Honorable Lord and Gracious Lady.

To new beginnings, new friendships and new growth.

Magick in the starlight
Magick in the moonlight
Magick is now my right.

So Mote it Be.

3) Cakes and Wine (For instructions click here)

4) Close Circle (For instructions click here)

I hope this dedication rite will help you upon your journey.

Blessings,
Moonwater SilverClaw

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

And

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

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

“Goddess Has Your Back” – Amazon’s Sale – 44% Total Discount Ends Nov. 29th

November 27, 2014 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

How exciting! Get a paperback copy of my book “Goddess Has Your Back” for 30% off (Amazon’s special sale that ends Nov. 29^th) plus the regular 14% discount. That’s right. My new paperback book for a total of 44% discount. I’m so glad that Amazon is helping my book get to more people (during Amazon’s Black Friday sale).

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

And

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

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

Invite the Gods to Comfort You

November 22, 2014 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

Candle

“I’m feeling overwhelmed a lot of the time. Sometimes, I’m afraid but I’m not clear about what’s really bothering me,” Nadine, a close friend, said.

Since that conversation, I’ve reflected on this human dilemma. We have all had trouble in which we see bad circumstances pile up against us.

However, sometimes we know that some trouble is present, but we can’t see the details clearly.

One way to see our obstacles clearly is to do a Candle-Lighting Ritual.

Light the candle and concentrate on the candle’s flame. Recite this chant:

The Gods’ Presence Chant

Though the darkness presses in,
I know the Gods’ presence within.
Open the Door for my Insights’ flight,
May this be solved in a fortnight.

When you make time to do a ritual, you open the door to feel comforted by the Gods.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

And

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

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

Talking to Claudia

November 15, 2014November 15, 2014 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Opening up to New Ideas

“I don’t want to make a mistake. I’m new to spellwork,” Claudia said.

Shifting the phone to my other ear, I thought, “I can empathize with this because I went through it, too.”

Years ago, when I first began with Wicca, I was really concerned about doing Wicca correctly from the start. It was very important for me to honor the God and Goddess appropriately.

Claudia asked, “How do I do dedication ceremony? It seems like there are a lot of ways to do it, depending on what kind of Traditions [Trads] are out there.”

“It’s true that there are many different types of dedication ceremonies,” I began. “Many have valuable parts and there’s no one and only way to do a dedication ceremony.”

Wicca includes various rituals that a practitioner may do. Rituals can be incredibly complex to quite simple depending on your tastes. Do you like complex and complicated or do you prefer the more simple types of rituals? The best thing that I can say is whatever you do, do it from your heart. That is what pleases the Gods.

I continued by sharing my own journey and how I chose one of the oldest Trads for learning the basics.

Consider Which Witch is Which to get an overview of the different Trads out there.

Claudia then asked about casting of a circle and why people enter from the East and leave from the West. I answered, “We start in the East, in the direction of the sunrise. Then you walk around deosil (clockwise or sun-wise) untill you end up back in the East. West is the direction of Death so you exit that way. When you make a circle starting in the East, it comes around to the East again, making a ‘door.’”

Think of the cycle of life and death. We are born just like the sun each day. And then the wheel turns untill we end up at death, when the sun goes down or “dies.”

Then Claudia asked about which colors are appropriate to use for your circle. You can use white. Or you can use colors that correspond to the four directions:

North – green or brown
South – red
East – yellow
West – blue

For more information about rituals, consider my blog article “Why do Wiccans Do Ritual?”

If you want even more information, I have lots of good info for beginners in my book The Hidden Children of the Goddess.

“How do I find a good mentor?” Claudia asked and I shared with her information found in my blog post: Finding the Right Wiccan Mentor for You.

Another way to find a mentor is attending PantheaCon, a Pagan conference that takes place in the San Francisco Bay Area each February. Many different practitioners of Paganism (including Wicca) attend. You can then check out and ask about the different Trads, and learn from the practitioners themselves. You can check out the website of PantheaCon It would be fun to talk with you if we meet there. I often attend.

You can also find local mentors through Covenant of the Goddess.

I hope you find the above resources to be useful.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

And

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

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