Samhain and the Mighty Dead

October 29, 2015 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

SamhainFixed

When a friend or family member dies, it can really hurt. What can we do? Fortunately as Wiccans, we do not have to fear death. Many Wiccans and Pagans believe in reincarnation; we’ll be reborn to live a new life in a new body.

When a Wiccan friend dies I like to honor them (and even support them) with this rite.

(I’m posting this early for those who would like to use it this Samhain.)

Special Consideration: Only do this rite if you know that your loved one was open to Wiccan beliefs and rituals.

Rite of a Departed Soul

What you will need:

2 white candles (these candles will be placed on the altar)
One white candle for each member of your coven who is present
8 candles (4 black and 4 white) – These candles will go in pairs, one white and one black at each quarter point of your circle.)
Black robes or just where black clothes (This is a funeral after all.)

Place one white and one black candle at each cardinal point (East, West, North, South).

Light the white candles when you Call the Quarters. (Soon you will light the black candles from these white quarter candles).

Cast your circle as usual.

Stand at the North of your altar (face North). Use your athame to draw a pentagram in the air.

Using the white “North” candle, light the North black candle. Now extinguish the white candle.

High Priestess:

Lord and Lady open the gates that separate our world and the word of the dead, we send “Name of Wiccan friend here” into your care and loving embrace.

Move to the East, draw a pentagram (like you did in the North) and use the white “East” candle to light the East black candle. Extinguish the white candle.

Guide “Wiccan friend’s” way; so he/she can enter your beautiful lands of the dead with peace and happiness.

Move to the South, draw a pentagram and light the South black candle. Extinguish the white candle.

Guide his/her steps so that “Wiccan Friend” is received by you safely.

Move to the West, draw a pentagram and light the West black candle. Extinguish the white quarter.

Help “Wiccan Friend” so that his/her journey is free of hardship.

High Priestess extinguishes all the candles on your altar at this point.

Have a “A Moment of Silence.” Then relight the candles on your altar.

Everyone then goes to the East cardinal point of the circle.

High Priestess says:

We set now set aside our grief, and light a path for “Wiccan Friend” to enter the peaceful place you hold for the ones who have gone before.

Each person is given a white candle. They then light their candle from the altar Working Candle.

Next the High Priestess relights the white candles from black ones. Each time, the High Priestess extinguishes the appropriate black candle.

Everyone holds up their candle and then repeats after the High Priestess:

Hear us Lord, Lady and mighty ones; “Wiccan friend” comes to you now.

Everyone puts out their candle and places them on the altar.

Now perform the Cakes and Wine ceremony.

Close the Circle as usual.

As you can see, the above rite supports your departed loved one, and it even brings you some solace, too.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

Looking for gifts this Yule season?

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

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

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

Wiccans and Drugs

October 24, 2015 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

Drinks

“I heard Wiccans use drugs,” Sandy said.

“Yes and no,” I replied.

True, many Wiccans use wine in our the Cakes and Wine ceremony. Alcohol is a drug.

Not all Wiccans use alcohol in the Cakes and Wine ceremony. Some substitute grape juice or another fruit juice. Some completely abstain from all drugs like alcohol and caffeine. Yes, even some teas are off the list.

We can’t throw all Wiccans into any rigid category. Some use other natural drugs to combat ailments such as depression symptoms, arthritis, and other sources of pain. Some imbibe marijuana, for example.

It is truly up to the individual practitioner to choose what may help for medical reasons or improved quality of life.

I know some Wiccans who aim to stay away from manufactured, pharmaceutical drugs. Some Wiccans choose to imbibe natural drugs like caffeine, alcohol or marijuana.

Many Wiccans live in states where marijuana use is illegal, and they abide by local laws. They do not break the rules of the place they live in.

I take medications that help me with an occasional migraine headache and for working with my depression symptoms. I do consult my doctor and monitor the effects of the drugs. Yes, do consult a physician about the use or non-use of drugs.

I invite you to pay close attention to how you do or do not use drugs. What results are you getting? What might you want to change for the better?

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

Looking for gifts this Yule season?

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

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

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

Performance Anxiety? Ask the Goddess For Help

October 17, 2015 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Hands Focusing Energy

My stomach clenched. My heart pounded fast, and my mouth was a desert. Where was that water bottle?

“Goddess, please guide my words today.” I repeated in my mind.

I knew my guided meditation that I would share with this workshop audience was transformational. They would get a lot of value. Still, I felt nervous. Can you relate to this?

Here is a simple blessing to calm yourself in times of stress and anxiety when performing in front of people.

The Clarity Blessing
Come to me Goddess and calm my mind,
So that clarity I may find.
May my fear recede and leave my mind,
To live my destiny sublime.
Blessed Be.

This helped me, and I hope you find it useful.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

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

Goddess Has Your Back: 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 do I get Initiated into a Wiccan Group?

October 9, 2015 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

3rdBracelet

“How do I get into a coven?” one of my students asked.

“It really depends on the coven,” I replied.

“What about getting initiated?” he asked.

“That’s the process of becoming accepted into a coven through a ritual. But first you must be deemed to be ready,” I said.

A seeker (a candidate for initiation) must go through several steps before a coven will even consider the person as a match to join their group.

I’ll talk about this process in terms of three vital questions:

1) Does the coven know you?

For a group to know you takes time. If you just met one member of a coven, do not push. I know that it may be hard to go slowly because seekers are so excited about their newfound path and they want to get started now.

Go slowly and interact with the group members so you can see if you’re a match to the group and if you feel comfortable.

Try not to be too forward. Still, express your interest in the process of initiation with this particular coven.

If you don’t click with the group or particular individuals, it’s good to know.

You can ask for a referral to another group.

A friend of mind has a particular question that I find helpful: “Did you work with them and would you do it again?”

2) Are you reliable?

A group wants to know if you can be counted on. Do you bring what you’ve agreed to bring to the group gatherings? Are you on time for group meetings? If you’re delayed, do you call to give the group a heads-up?

Groups tend to avoid giving invitations to those who are not reliable.

3) Are you dedicated to the Gods?

Is this just a passing fancy? Are you a weekend pagan? Do you just want the kicks of being called a witch?

The whole point of the Wiccan spiritual journey is to honor the God and the Goddess. If that isn’t your intention, there is no value in being initiated.

As a High Priestess, I look carefully at all of the above details. Finding the right candidate involves so many variables.

Some groups may be looking for a new person to fill in a “slot.” Each member has a specialty. The members fit like jigsaw puzzle pieces. If a group has an herbalist already and that’s your specialty, you may not be a fit for that particular group.

Some Wiccans prefer the path of a solitary witch. I walked that path for years until I moved to a new city and met new neighbors.

If you’re considering the path of a coven member, take care and take the time to find a great home.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

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

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

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

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

The Wiccan’s Most Powerful Tool

October 2, 2015 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Meditation

Lisa reeled from the bad news: Her car needed repairs that were so expensive that it was better that she get another car!

She searched for an appropriate car—through friends, social media, Craigslist and more.

She considered buying a car from a car rental agency. She couldn’t find one that fit her pricing and the features required by her family.

What kind of magick to perform?

Lisa struggled with trying to pick some form of magick to help her in her quest for a car. She didn’t have much time, burdened with significant family obligations.

Lisa racked her brain for answers as the time ticked by. She needed a car and she needed it now.

Your Most Powerful Tool

Lisa asked me what she could do that would take little time.

I replied, “Use your most wonderful and powerful tool.”

“Yes? What is it?” she asked.

“Your mind,” I replied. “Visualize what you really want. You could do a visualization session, even for just minutes a day.”

For three nights in a row, Lisa visualized the features and size of the car that would be ideal for her family’s needs. She even pictured a rare color for the car that she really wanted. She fueled her visualizations with her desperate feelings of desire for this car.

(In our conversations, Lisa asked me, “Is having desperate feelings of desire good?”

“What empowers your visualizations is holding a strong force of desire,” I answered. “Strong emotion energizing your desire can be helpful.”)

The next day, Lisa had an intuition to return to a car dealership that she had visited just four days earlier. As soon as Lisa’s friend Marge parked her car, Lisa saw it!–the car she had been visualizing. She went up to the used car and found that it had all the features she and her family needed. The mileage was only 9,000 miles, and it was this year’s model! She was overjoyed. The price was amazing, and she soon owned the car.

Remember:

Using your mind effectively with positive visualization is a powerful tool that a witch possesses at all times.

Use your mind well and manifest your dreams.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

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

Goddess Has Your Back: 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

Call Upon the Gods and Ask for Abundance

September 26, 2015September 26, 2015 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Cat_Cash2

My friend, Sandra, braced herself for bad news. It was worse. Not only was her car needing repairs, the cost was so high, it was better to just get another car!

“How am I going to have enough money to get another car?” she asked me.

I’ve gone through tough times about money, too.

A number of Wiccans I know are lovely people but talk with them long enough and they talk a lot about not having enough money.

What is going on with Wiccans and having troubles about prosperity?

I’ve even talked with a number of elders in our community. They’re talking about fears about getting older. Where will they live, and how will they live when they’re pushed out of the workforce?

Are there too many of us Wiccans hesitating about calling upon the God and Goddess for help in terms of prosperity?

And I even hear about Wiccan friends who say, “You know, I don’t have much. But somehow I get what I need. Hey, I found a bus pass today. It was just laying there on the sidewalk.”

Here’s the point of this post: Two things . . . call upon the Gods and ask for abundance.

Is that so hard?

Apparently, it is.

And here’s the third vital element: Ask for guidance about how you can serve in better ways so that people want to hire you and provide more money. Not just enough to survive—but an abundance so you can thrive!

I know that this might seem uncomfortable.

I’m uncomfortable about money, too.

But then I remember that we Wiccans are on a spiritual path. Such a path is about serving AND receiving.

One of my friends keeps talking about how “we live in an AND-universe.”

So let’s use that idea: “We serve AND we receive abundance.”

Ask the Gods to help your magick.

So what kind of magick can be used to increase your prosperity?

You can use Cord Magick, Sigil Magick, Candle Magick and more!

Again, I want to emphasize in this post. Don’t just ask to “get by.”

Ask for guidance so you can manifest financial abundance by being of more service.

A friend of a friend worked for UPS. And the guy loved building furniture. So he kept the UPS job and, on the weekends, built furniture.

He had more abundance.

That sounds good to me.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Mabon 2015

September 23, 2015 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Autumn Leaves

Happy Mabon

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

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

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

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

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

Find Value in Astrology and Numerology

September 14, 2015September 18, 2015 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Stars

Recently, I’ve received questions about numerology and the Tarot.

So I’ll start with overview provided by this below excerpt from my book The Hidden Children of the Goddess

****

“It’s All About the Numbers

This section discusses the meaning of the numbers on the Tarot cards. We will also delve a bit into numerology.

Cards Ace (One) through King

Each Tarot card has a defined meaning, and each meaning relates to the suit it is in:

Ace: represents the meaning of the suit it is in and magnifies the lesson
Two: balance, tension, or equilibrium of the suit the card is in
Three: your spiritual path, mastery
Four: for change, going through activity to rest and/or joy to discontentment
Five: the negative side or attributes of the suit
Six: lessons learned and actions taken
Seven: decisions, facing a choice
Eight: a difficult challenge
Nine: a revelation
Ten: the logical conclusion
Page/Jack: the learning principle of the suit the card is in / what you can learn
Knight: the active principle of the suit the card is in / enforces rules
Queen: the reflective principle, a nurturing role; the queen guides you
King: the ruling principle; the king has a dominant role, he makes the rules

Additionally the face cards of the Tarot can represent people in your life.

Timing and Numbers

Each card represents a specific number of days, weeks, or months that something will happen. The card’s number is read together with its suit. (See below.)

Cards Ace through Ten: 1 through 10 days, weeks, or months. For instance, a 5 of Swords means something will happen in about 5 days. An Ace of Pentacles means something will happen in about one month to one year.
Page/Jack: 11 days, 11 weeks, or 11 months.
Queen and King: unknown time (you’re the factor for the time)

Suits and Timing

Each suit represents a different time frame.

Swords: days (something will happen fast)
Wands: days to weeks
Cups: weeks to months
Pentacles: months to years (something will happen slowly)

Numerology and How to Find the Theme of Your Year

The following equation will determine your theme for the current year. To provide an example, I will use a sample birth date for this year.

Month: 09

Day: 08

Current year: 2013

Now add together each number:

9 + 8 + 2013 = 2030

Now add together each number in the total:

2 + 0 + 3 + 0 = 5

Use the numbers on the Major Arcana to get your theme for the current year. You’ll notice that for example, the theme is the Hierophant. A hierophant is someone who interprets sacred mysteries or arcane knowledge. So in this situation, one possible interpretation of the theme for the year is: One may face mysterious or religious challenges or changes.

The Fool
The Magician
The High Priestess
The Empress
The Emperor
The Hierophant
The Lovers
The Chariot
Strength
The Hermit
Wheel of Fortune
Justice
The Hanged Man
Death
Temperance
The Devil
The Tower
The Star
The Moon
The Sun
Judgment
The World

A similar formula will show your life path. Many Wiccans look upon the life path as the journey and goal of your time on this planet.

This time, use your birth date. Use the same list above to get your theme, that is, the central theme of your life path. For example “Kim’s” birthday is September 7, 1993.

Month: 09

Day: 07

Birth year: 1993

Now add together each number:

9 + 7 + 1993 = 2009

Now add together each number in the total:

2 + 0 + 0 + 9 = 11

Kim’s life path is Justice. One possible interpretation of this life path is that she may face a situation dealing with legal matters in her lifetime.

****

One particular question I also received was: “I’m wondering about the astrological cusp of Sagittarius and Capricorn.”

A cusp is when your Sun Sign is within three to five degrees either before of after the change in astrological (zodiac) signs.

The person who was born on the cusp of Sagittarius and Capricorn would have some traits of both the signs of Sagittarius and Capricorn. But the main influence would be the sign under which they were actually born.

In brief, here are some of the related traits:

Sagittarius: This person is said to have two personalities because the Centaur (Sagittarius symbol), is half horse and half person.

The horse: rebellious, free-roaming, aggressive, gets bored easily

The person: open-minded, honest, philosophical, clever.

It’s suggested that these two personalities oppose each other every day.

Capricorn: The symbol for this sign is the Goat. Traits include: determined, conservative, helpful, and practical. A number of Capricorns are ambitious—not all.

Some people find it helpful to honor certain traits they find in their astrological signs. One friend is a Taurus which is noted as “stubborn and musical.” So she makes sure to make time to compose some music every week. And she’s stubborn about getting that time!

I invite you to consider the value found in elements of astrology and numerology.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

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

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

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

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

What is a Soul?

September 11, 2015September 14, 2015 / Moonwater / 4 Comments

Thank you to NASA Space Telescope

“What is a soul?” one of my Facebook friends asked.

This is a powerful question. In fact, I’ve had a number of conversations with elders in the Wiccan community on this topic.

I’ll now share a view that has formed for me out of those conversations and my own intuitive understanding:

In the beginning there was nothing but the Void. Then, with a single thought of “I AM!” the ALL created Itself. But soon, the ALL wanted a new experience, and so the ALL separated Itself into Two. The ALL did this by making a mighty scream. The Dark Half became the Goddess. She in turn gave birth to another entity that, at first was only a wave, but soon, It had thought, and so became Illumination. With illumination, the entity became intelligent, and He was the God, the Light Half to the Goddess.

The God slowly drifted away from the Goddess. Soon after his illumination, the God realized He had been created. He was curious about Who had created Him. He began a search, looking in a circle for the One who had made Him. Soon He realized that His Creator was no where that He had looked. The only place His Creator could be was in the center of the circle. So he went there and met the Goddess.

The Goddess found him brilliant and irresistible. She fell in love with Him. They made love and created all we know and that which we do not yet know.

We start with the ALL and then have the Goddess and the God.

How does this relate to you and I as souls?

A soul is the energy that resides within everything. From people to trees, everything has this sacred energy.

Where does this sacred energy come from? – from the ALL which yearns to learn about Itself. To understand Itself, the ALL creates small pieces of Itself, which are Its children.

The soul radiates the life soul energy. Further, the soul is connected by the different chakras located throughout our bodies.

I’m fascinated by the detail that the life soul energy manifests outward from the chakras as one’s aura. Some people can see this aura energy.

A few can see the aura and appreciate it as a guide to heal people. The healer sees via the aura whether the person has health problems. With this knowledge, some healers have clues as to how the person may heal.

It helps to have a view of how things are interconnected.

We, Pagans, understand how all people and beings are essentially connected.

Blessings,

Moonwater SilverClaw

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

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

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

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

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

What Pagans Know

September 5, 2015 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

When I arrived at Pinecrest campground, I looked forward to hiking through the pine trees until . . . my heart broke, seeing all of the dying trees.

Sure, we Californians complain about cutting back on our water consumption amid cries of “Drought!”
But I did not feel it in my gut until I saw all the brown, dying trees.

The trees all over California are dying.

What does this have to do with Wicca?

We can notice that the human race, for the most part, has neglected our Sacred Mother Earth. Many have ignored the God and the Goddess or downright forgotten about Them.

Mother Earth is sick, and we need to come to Her aid. What can we do?

We can protect her. Walking, bicycling, carpooling when possible. My sweetheart often takes the train and avoids commuting by car. Be sure to recycle and consider eating locally grown food.

We can also gather with others and organize a clean-up Mother Earth day or afternoon. Then you would pick up trash at beaches, forests, or even your own neighborhood.

I believe we need to fight global warming on a personal level, and in groups. Small actions do make a difference.

In one of my previous blog articles , I talk about how a friend and I cleaned up a big mess left by previous campers. It really bothered me that those individuals thought they could leave their trash and waste anywhere they pleased. They took no responsibility for their actions.

Pagans know better. My friend and I went into immediate action and cleaned up the campsite. The rangers were quite happy to provide us with bags to assist our “be kind to Mother Earth” actions.

Now I invite you to get involved on some level.

Let us, Pagans, lead by example.

Let’s show others on this beautiful Mother Earth how to be good stewards with the gifts we have been given.

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

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

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

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

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