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.
Imagine putting a magical intention into an object. Why would you do that? Wiccans do this because they want the object to hold power to help them realize a personal desire. For example, you may be job hunting and you want the power of the object—in this case, a sigil—to assist you to get the ideal job.
Making your own personal sigils is easy. Some time ago, author/artist Austin Osman Spare devised a method for creating sigils.
Since that time, a number of authors have discussed Austin Osman Spare’s process of making sigils. One book I appreciate is Frater U. D.’s Practical Sigil Magic: Creating Personal Symbols for Success.
I have made a couple of my own additions to the process.
First, throughout history, witches made sigils out of virgin parchment. But that is quite expensive. Also if you’re vegan and will not wear leather, you will want to use something else. Why? Parchment is typically made from goat skin. So let’s talk about a process devoid of parchment.
I use the heavier art paper, the kind that absorbs ink and which can be infused with different tinctures made with herbs. Water color paper is a nice choice, too.
What about inks? You could use one or of the many magickal inks on the market. My favorite is Dragons Blood Ink. But magickal inks can be expensive. So you can make your own out of a high grade ink such as Winsor Newton ink or India ink. To make it a magickal ink just add some essential oil to it, like myrrh. Mix and consecrate.
You can even use Sharpie pens as author Peter Paddon suggests. Just make sure to designate specific pens for only magickal work. They’ll be part of your set of magickal tools.
You can use different colors for different desires. Here is a short list of colors and meanings that I include in my book The Hidden Children of the Goddess [free chapter when you CLICK HERE]:
Write out your desire on a scratch piece of paper; you can use a single word or a phrase. Some examples are:
• I want an ideal job for me at this time
• Happiness
• I need a new house
• Success
We’ll now use the word “Success” as our example. Cross off all of the repeat letters in Success. You end up with S, U, C, and E. (You want only one of each letter that appears in the word.) Next, scramble the letters, getting S, E, U, and C (for example).
Now comes the fun part: Combine the letters together in an image.
Success Sigil
Can you find the letters?
In this way you can make all sorts of sigils.
If you want to imbue it with a potion or tincture this is the time to do it. You can either soak the paper in your tincture or brush it on. Either way you must let it dry. Overnight is best.
Now with this new image (of combined letters), inscribe it with your magical ink on your absorbent paper.
Now that you have the sigil, the next step is to breath life into it with Pranic Breathing, also known as belly breathing. If you’re familiar with yoga, you are probably familiar with Pranic Breathing techniques. Breathe in deeply; allow your stomach to inflate. Visualize pulling up energy from the earth. When you have built up enough energy in your lungs, blow it onto the sigil. This will charge it with your energy and further empower your intention.
Now place your sigil in a safe place and forget about it. Forgetting about it is the toughest part of the whole process. This helps the magick work.
As you can see, making your own sigils is quite easy and fun. After some practice, you will be able to do them quickly and easily.
Remember to consider using sigils to further your goals and get what you really want.
Cleo, my cat, looked up at me. At 14 years old, Cleo needed me to give her intravenous fluids to sustain her. One night while I was administering her daily fluids she simply looked into my eyes and told me, I’ve had enough, I’m done.
I just knew. Other times, I’ve wrestled with the decision of when it was time to let go of my beloved pet.
Now, I’ve had cats my whole life. In high school, I was introduced to domesticated, pet rats. These little furry friends have terribly short life spans. I’d have four at the same time, and this meant crying every year as one of them would become ill due to old age. I had many times to practice letting go.
I have spent thousands of dollars for medical care for my fuzzy babies. But how does one know when to let go?
If a pet or familiar is close to crossing the veil, when is it truly time to let go?
First listen to your little friend. Here are some signs to help you consider when to let go.
• Is your furry companion still interested in life?
• Does your companion still enjoy eating?
• Does he/she still play in spite of the illness or disease?
• Is the little one in tremendous pain that prevents him/her from being happy?
Now I’m not talking about temporary illness. This is about the end of a life—a terminal illness.
Recently, on Facebook, people discussed the condition of Blacky, The Wheelchair Cat.
A native of New Zealand, he has one eye, and after being struck by a car, he’s left with spinal nerve damage and paralysis in his rear legs and bladder.
A number of people suggested that Blacky be “put down.”
But wait a moment! Blacky can now feel his legs if one tickles them. Sometimes he moves or stands on them. Last year, he had a perianal urethrostomy surgery because of his bladder problems.
Still, Blacky enjoys life. He enjoys going outside and playing. Other than his mobility issue, Blacky’s now healthy.
In summary, I invite you to look at my list and let it help you make a good decision about whether it may be time to let a pet go.
Sure, sometimes our pets have physical troubles. But you’ve probably noticed the we, humans, can have physical troubles, too. Still, we find ways to have joy and meaning.
Let’s make sure to support our furry friends in their times of need.
My heart beats rapidly. Grand Dad died of heart disease, followed a short time later by my grandmother.
Because heart disease runs in my family, I have been stuck with this heart monitor for the recent 48 hours. This morning I turned it in at my doctor’s office.
Now I wait.
Eventually, I’ll receive a report about how my heart is doing. The uncertainty is killing me. How does one deal with the stress of not knowing?
The answer: Place your fears and doubts into the hands of the Gods. When you do this, you protect your precious energy instead of letting worry drain your energy.
Realize the Gods have your back. They know what they’re doing.
At first we may not see a benefit in a situation. However, I’ve come to realize that if I have a heart problem, then maybe I was meant to learn something and pass it on to others.
If, at some time, I must be fitted for a pacemaker or something else, it’s not the end of the world. I will gain a new perspective. It may be a tough road, but it can be a good one.
Are you facing something traumatic and tough at this moment? Consider meditation as a source for inner peace. Meditation is a good way to ask the Gods for strength. If you’re stressed out and you find that sitting still is a problem, burn a candle for strength. Offer the candle to the Gods.
Talk to your spirit guides. They can give more information. Some Wiccans sense an answer—almost like a quiet voice. Others have a more visceral experience; they actually see and converse with their spirit guides.
In any case, know that your spirit guides are always with you, just like the Gods.
Know that as time passes, you will sense the answer. Sometimes, the answer is wait, be patient and stay aware. Other times, you’ll have the intuition to take a certain action.
Sometimes, when I lay on my side, I can really feel my heart beating. It feels like it skips or jumps a beat. Sometimes, I have the thought: What if I do die? What then?
I’ll miss my family but I will get to have the bliss of going home to the Gods.
The good news is that my spirit guide informs me that I still have more time to enjoy and learn on this good earth.
When my friend Janet introduced me to her House Goddess, “Phyllis,” I was immediately intrigued. How would it feel to have a spiritual being watching over your home and protecting you and your loved ones?
Many cultures focus on House Gods who protect the home in some form. There’s Cofgodas in Anglo-Saxon Paganism and Gasin in Korea. Lares, from ancient Rome, protects the home.
Some House Gods just take care of certain rooms. Others oversee certain activities done in a particular room.
My House God’s name is Timmy. That’s unusual in that House Gods tend to be female. Timmy protects my home and my loved ones who reside there. Like a divine watch dog, he keeps mischief at bay. He keeps us safe from negative entities who may wander by.
Many readers may want to invite a House God into their home.
Good news! They’re most likely already there.
So how do you entice your House God to take his or her job more seriously?
Make them offerings, of course.
Here is how I began my relationship with Timmy.
I got a statue that I liked. (House Gods tend to take residence in an object.) I found mine at the Northern California Renaissance Pleasure Fair but you can find your object anywhere.
My statue is also a candle holder, which is a plus for offering candles. And it has the added coolness that the cat eyes glow when you place the candle in the statue.
I placed the statue in a prominent place in my home and then asked that the House God come forward. I invited Timmy to protect my home and all my loved ones who reside in it. And in turn I would honor him by offering him this statue, and I would give him candles with my thanks.
I lit the candle and asked him if this was acceptable. I said, “If you agree, please blink to confirm your answer is ‘yes.’” He “blinked” by flickering the fire. That’s how our conversation began.
When you start a relationship with your House God, he or she will diligently continue with the protection job. Just make sure to give him or her offerings to say thank you.
Do you already have a House God? Tell me about your experiences in the comments section below.
How To Walk the Wiccan Path and Deal with a Family Members Discomfort
Do your friends know you’re Wiccan? How about your family?
Do you have to keep your beliefs a secret at your workplace?
I am fairly open about my practicing Wicca.
Unfortunately, I do have a family member who suggests that I keep a low profile when I attend a work-related event with him. He works in an industry that includes people who speak out a lot about their Christianity. So I turn my talisman with a pentacle around when I’m at a work-related event with him.
Many times I have argued that this form of “hiding” impinges on my freedom as a witch.
At one point, we had one of his friends, a born-again Christian visit, and we kept the door to the room with my shrine closed.
All other times, I wear my pentacle jewelry with pride and talk openly about my beliefs.
I observe that, in America, one does business with a significant number of people who profess that they are Christian and that they hold conservative beliefs.
When I’m in a business situation with my family member, I honor his situation. I am NOT dishonoring the Gods by turning my talisman around, and I am honoring my family member’s concerns.
I am still a witch. Now if someone asks me about it, I will tell them the truth. I am a Wiccan High Priestess. I will not cower in the corner, but that hasn’t happened yet during my family member’s work-related events. I still wear my pentacle; I just do it incognito.
As a matter of fact, I always wear my pentacle. It brings me comfort, and I feel it gives me protection.
Those individuals who are Anti-Wiccan appear to be ignorant (definition: lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated in the subject at hand) about Wicca.
It bothers me when a person chooses not to learn, then the situation may become dangerous. When does the price of silence become too much to bear?
At present, we’re at a junction.
First, it is a blessing that many of our predecessors have hacked a path in the wilderness of fear and ignorance that other people have about Wicca. When a significant number of Wiccans openly express the beauty of Wicca, more people in this world start to appreciate who we Wiccans really are.
Fostering this appreciation is one of the reasons that I write this blog.
At this time, I have found my own path. I stand ready to share Wicca with others. And still at my family member’s work-related event, I do not broadcast my beliefs (I keep my talisman turned around).
As I continue to write this blog and my books, I’m encouraged to see other Wiccans continuing to have a positive influence in the world. May we all continue to express the beauty of Wicca.
Now, I invite you to share with us. Have you faced opposition in some form of conservative community? How do you deal with the situation?
I can’t breathe. I’m in the Emergency Room area, waiting. But they’re not taking me in. They’re leaving me in the waiting room.
That’s how I felt a few days ago. It was my second time in the hospital in 24 hours. There’s no other word for it: suffering. I felt a big weight on my chest, preventing me from taking in an adequate breath.
In my suffering, some thoughts rose up. Why are the Gods letting this happen to me? Haven’t I been serving Their plan well enough?
Can you relate to this? Perhaps, you’re suffering now. Or you’ve suffered in the recent past. It’s hard to reconcile a vision of the Gods’ love for us with the suffering we endure.
There’s a secret that I want to share with you. The Gods do love us. And in this divine love they know that we’ve signed up for a life in which we grow. The tough truth is: suffering is part of our path of learning and becoming who we truly are.
Suffering forms us and sculpts us through the experiences we go through, both good and bad.
You may say: “I didn’t ask for this.
You’re right.
But you do want something—the freedom to become what you can become. We incarnate in bodies that can manifest, at times, as fragile. Difficult times will happen. How we participate in life (including suffering) shapes us.
For example, I don’t want to experience pain related to clinical depression, but that’s something I deal with. This process gives me a whole different viewpoint.
In recent days, I’m dealing with a whole new, terrible burden: extreme asthma. When I can’t breathe, I feel like I’m dying. That gives me a different perspective.
I’ll tell one gift that comes with both clinical depression and extreme asthma: compassion. I feel great compassion for people who have these burdens–and other people who have heavy burdens.
As Wiccans, we do have an advantage when dealing with suffering. Our faith can sustain us. We can know that the Gods are present to support us as we travel our path, especially when we’re suffering.
Call upon the Gods. Do ritual. Feel your divine connection.
The Gods are rooting for you. They are here to help guide you through these events. They support you in your times of need. They celebrate in your times of triumph.
Just remember the Gods are here for you and are always by your side. Even when you don’t see it.
They are our cheerleaders and our coaches in life. They teach by example and with love.
Now I ask you: What have you learned through times of suffering? How can you call upon the Gods for Their divine support? (Please share in the comments section.)
I just wanted to thank all my readers in over 112 countries, new and established. Thank you for all your support. Now for our featured post:
Why Do Wiccans Do Ritual?
It was a tough time. Bills were closing in on me. I felt desperate. I reached for something that is constant: The presence of the Gods and Goddesses. How to feel Their presence? – do a ritual.
Further, Wiccans do rituals to attune themselves to the cycles of the earth.
We do ritual to change ourselves for the better. We even change how we perceive ourselves and in so doing change the world around us.
Because of all of the above, ritual is a powerful tool.
We use some rituals to acknowledge the different stages of life, and in this way change ourselves forever. Stages include: reaching puberty, hand-fasting (Wiccan Marriage) and even for reaching elder status.
Ritual can help us create a true understanding of ourselves. We take a first step to a new reality for us. We get a new perception that assists us to make different decisions which can completely change our lives.
Above, I talked about the tough time with bills closing in. That was 2012. I needed to change my reality. So I did a ritual. In preparation for that ritual, I used another tool–meditation.
The meditation (which can be a ritual in and of itself) led me to the answer of doing a particular ritual.
Enduring financial troubles, I needed more income. I had tried the quick fix spells for more money. Those spells backfired. So if these spells were not working, what would?
I needed to do some inner change. So I did a ritual in which I asked to become stronger, to be able to create my own abundance in life. This is what I needed. Not another spell to just dump money in my lap. But to be able to be my own catalyst in my own life. This was inner work; this was changing me – not just temporarily altering an external situation.
By doing the ritual, I was the catalyst in my own life. I had never written an article. But I had received a vision from the Gods, so I began to write. Because I have dyslexia, I engaged a team of editors. While writing the book, I started writing this blog which now has viewers in over 112 countries.
By meditating, then doing a ritual and then receiving a vision from the Gods, I was on a new path as a writer. In becoming a writer, I then became a workshop leader.
So I am living proof that doing a ritual can change your life. And it can start a positive cascade effect until you uplift those around you. And some of us go further so that a ritual is the start of our changing the world.
So now it’s your turn. Change your world! Make new possibilities bloom in your life and in the lives of others. Listen to your heart. What would you like a ritual to do for you? Look at resources like my book The Hidden Children of the Goddessfor rituals and meditations you can do.
Remember the Gods are always with you. Do a ritual and feel Their support.
Would you benefit from studying with an online Wicca or Pagan school? To explore this topic, I interviewed Heather Greene, Luna Marr, and Aline O’Brien.
(Some responses may have been edited for length.)
Let’s start.
* When should someone consider going to an online school?
Luna: When it’s necessary. Some students work out very well with books and doing their own research, but there are others . . . who feel they need to hide their beliefs and study in secret, or just live in areas where a one-on-one pagan education isn’t available. Not all online educations are equal. . . . Some online schools just charge you money, hand you a bunch of information with little to no guidance. And others give you a mentor experience [in] your own home via the Internet.
Aline O’Brien: In the case of Cherry Hill Seminary (CHS), because there is no other school offering full training parallel with what is taught at mainstream seminaries. I strongly feel that Pagans should collaborate on the creation of our own culture. That means not attending liberal Protestant seminaries because you think they’re the only game in town when it comes to seminary-type training (chaplaincy, pastoral counseling, interfaith, history, etc.)
Heather: Online schools can help people who, for one reason or another, don’t have the ability to physically attend classes. In addition schools like Cherry Hill Seminary offer access to subjects and teachers that might not be available locally.
Moonwater: I agree. Online education may be necessary for someone who does not have a local pagan community for support.
* Would you use an online choice for your primary way of learning Wicca verses face-to-face learning?
Aline: Not necessarily. It really depends a lot on what’s available in a particular individual’s area.
Heather: I would not choose distance learning as my primary way of learning any subject unless no other option was available. And there are situations where that is the case. I do prefer the immediacy of presence and the concentrated, shared energy of the “classroom” experience. This cannot be replicated online. However I also believe that there are educational opportunities in all forms of learning processes. Distance learning gives us access to teachers and professional who might otherwise not be available to us at any point in our lives. I see that alone as an invaluable resource.
Luna: I wouldn’t say that I would choose it over face-to-face learning, simply that it’s an alternative and another valuable option. . . . In my school Pagans Learning Online we believe that an online education should mimic the face-to-face experience as closely as possible, through technology such as Skype, Google, and the ability to upload voice, video, and written materials. We are able to replicate the face-to-face experience fairly well. Is it the same as having that mentor there who can give you a hug when you’re down? Absolutely not. However, an online education can still offer the same benefits.
Moonwater: I prefer the face-to-face approach when possible. This way you can experience how your student moves and uses energy. However, it’s important to me that students have access to information. That’s the reason that I write this blog (with the help of my editors) and I wrote my book The Hidden Children of the Goddess.
* Are online schools helpful or harmful to our community?
Luna: This question is like a double edged sword. I want to say that online schools can be incredibly helpful to the Pagan and Wiccan community . . . . [But] some schools offer a lot of false certifications and dangerous ideas that if a person was so willing they could take advantage of. I even heard of one online school that tells you that you’re not allowed to worship the Gods and Goddesses unless you are a Level 1 priestess and [have] passed their tests. A student looking into an online school needs to know when something just doesn’t sound right or seem right. They need to do their research. . . . Healing of the aura and the chakras is something that should be left up to trained professionals. . . . For people who are forced to practice in the shadows, having the opportunity to practice online is something that [can] change who they are in a positive way. Online schools have the ability to help guide and grow future leaders of the Pagan and Wiccan community so that the next batch of people who look for a place to learn may not have the same struggles.
Aline: Some are helpful, others not so much; depends upon the school. I can say, however, that Pagans attend CHS for two primary reasons: one is for personal enrichment and the other to better serve their own communities. They don’t come so they can get a degree and get a job by being hired by some Pagan ‘church.’ They don’t come so they can get a raise at their current job. In the bigger picture, some seek chaplaincy degrees because in the mainstream world having one is required in order for one to do that work (the military being the most stringent in terms of chaplaincy requirements).
Heather: Just like anything, distance learning can be both helpful and harmful. It is helpful for the reasons specified above. Distance learning can offer people an opportunity to attend classes that they might not be able to otherwise. At the same time, distance learning is not yet accredited in the same way as conventional institutions. Assessing a school’s credibility and legitimacy is left to student and [it’s] often very difficult. The digital world has created a universe in which legitimacy is easier to falsify. Students must be very cautious.
* Online schools are on the rise, so how can you tell if one is right for your student?
Luna: It’s about doing the research, knowing yourself and your own personal learning style, and using your common sense. . . . Paganism and Wicca are terms for thousands of proud and dedicated religious pathways and traditions, rooted 60,000 years in the past. That isn’t easy stuff to learn over night. I think that as a society we get far too wrapped up in the “I want it now” of things and we overlook the hard work and dedication it takes to do something right. So before you jump into the first online school of Paganism that you see, do some research and ask some questions and remember that if it doesn’t look right or sound right then keep looking.
Heather: It is important to research the institution, teachers and the administrative staff; to examine the promises made and the cost; to talk to former students and to ask as many questions as possible.
Aline: I would say in the same way one would explore schools for any other kind of learning–read everything possible, ask others who attended that school, etc. I’m not sure I quite ‘get’ telling what’s right for one’s student. To me, the student her/himself would be the person making such decisions. S/he could seek advice and recommendations from a teacher. Alternatively, a particular teacher may wish to direct a particular student to a specific online educational resource/school for, say, a course on ministering to the dying.
* When should you not consider a school as a supplement for your student?
Heather: If local resources and lifestyle permit, it is good to consider the local options first. I would also steer a student away from a school that does not “check out” as legitimate.
Aline: Again, I can’t really speak knowledgeably to this because my experience is with a graduate school. It’s not about learning Wicca per se.
Luna: The only answer I would have for this is when the reason for seeking out the education isn’t pure of intent. . . . However if what you’re looking for is a chance to grow both as a person and in your magical abilities and you embrace the dedication it takes, then online schools are a great choice. I have seen many students whose self-esteem has bloomed. [And, one’s] inner light and love of yourself and those around you [become] powerful tools to change the world.
Since, Luna and Aline are active with online schools, I asked this question:
What can web schools like yours offer students with mentors?
Luna: I suggest a student stay with their mentor . . . unless they aren’t getting a full education from their mentor. I have had very good mentors. My first mentor was a Wiccan High Priestess. I myself have chosen the path of druidry, but it was very nice and refreshing to be able to learn so much about the Wiccan beliefs and practices. [I enjoyed] spending time with someone who knew what I was going through at a young age and was able to help guide me. It was a valuable experience. However, she was only able to offer me part of the picture that I was looking for. She could only teach me about Wicca. Because of this, I found myself studying books for years, doing research and seeking out others who had other beliefs.
Aline: The online school with which I’m affiliated, Cherry Hill Seminary (www.cherryhillseminary.org), provides primarily graduate-level education. We offer two masters’ degrees–M.A. in Pagan Studies and M.Div. So CHS is different from other online Pagan schools in that our students are already whatever kind of educated Pagan they are. In other words, mentors aren’t in the picture. Those who are seeking degrees, which is not all of our students, must attend two live, in-person multi-day retreats during the course of their studies. (http://www.cherryhillseminary.org/) CHS has a Dean of Students, who is not exactly a mentor but does help students determine their personal course of study. I think (not entirely sure) students have faculty advisors when they choose a degree path. (There’s tons of detailed info on this topic in CHS’ Catalogue.)
Some Pagans view Online Wiccan education as a controversial topic. The views expressed above belong to those who expressed them.
I, Moonwater, prefer the one-to-one mentor/student process (and that is my training). However, it strikes me that it is helpful to carefully study material if a local Pagan community is not available.
As with other important decisions, devote great care to your educational path.
Biographies of Our Interviewees
Luna Marr, has been studying paganism both independently and with various mentors for the last 21 years. She is very proactive in her local pagan community, serving as both clergy and secretary in her local pagan church. She says, “I have always believed that paganism deserves the same respect as other religions, but with that respect comes responsibilities to be knowledgeable in your beliefs and in the history of your beliefs. I feel that with the growing interest in paganism there need to be more hands-on ways for people to learn and grow without the pressure of being forced down one pathway or another.” Email: Luna@paganslearningonline.org Her online school is Pagans Learning On Line.
GoddessHasYourBack.com 