The Scene at PantheaCon 2017

February 24, 2017 / Moonwater / Leave a comment

Oooh! When I walk into PantheaCon and see my Pagan brothers and sisters dressed in their sacred symbols, I know that I’ve returned to one of my homes. 2017 is my 11^th year of attending PantheaCon.

What a joy it is to see the vendor room with the robes, pentacles, candles – and more! I admit it; I got some new necklaces. (I do like supporting the vendors.)

moonwater

Sharing hugs with old friends and then enjoying the magic of making new friends – this nourishes my soul.

Starhawk and Moonwater

Anna Korn and Moonwater

As a member of Covenant of the Goddess (CoG), I attended the annual CoG meeting.

I just had the thought that it would be good to introduce more people to CoG so the following material I’m sharing is visible on their website (cog.org):

An Overview of the Covenant of the Goddess

The Covenant of the Goddess is one of the largest and oldest Wiccan religious organizations. Wicca, or Witchcraft is the most popular expression of the religious movement known as Neo-Paganism. Wicca or Witchcraft is the fastest growing religion in the United States according to the Institute for the Study of American Religion. It’s practitioners are reviving ancient Pagan practices and beliefs of pre-Christian Europe and adapting them to contemporary life. The result is a religion that is both old and new, both traditional and creative. …

Purpose

The Covenant of the Goddess was founded in 1975 to increase cooperation among Witches and to secure for Witches and covens the legal protection enjoyed by members of other religions.”

Hmmm. While I’m at it, this would be a good time to share material from another group I belong to—New Wiccan Church (NWC). The following material is visible at their website NewWiccanChurch.org.

About the New Wiccan Church International

The New Wiccan Church is neither a tradition nor a coven, but is a professional and service organization by and for members of all branches of the Traditional Craft. The goals of the New Wiccan Church are the preservation, protection, and promotion of British Traditional Wicca.

To fulfill these goals the NWC provides assistance, resources, and opportunities for communication to its members, the Wiccan Community, and the general public.

More specifically, the NWC provides:

A public face and voice for Traditional Wicca, including websites and public presentations
A point of contact to provide information and expertise to law enforcement concerning Wicca and paganism.
A library of several thousand titles, of books, periodicals and other media relating to Wicca and related subjects
A Code of Ethics, based on the traditional teachings, for practical use. This document codifies agreed-upon standards of conduct for NWC members and provides a framework which the NWC encourages for use by other Wicca, and pagans as applicable
A framework within which members may apply for assistance, monetary or otherwise, in pursuing special projects, promoting events and acquiring ritual spaces and other physical property for the promotion of the Traditional Craft
Certificates and other credentials to aid in Wiccans receiving their rights as legal members of the clergy….

When I was a solitary witch, I gained much from my studies and my actual practice with magick.

When I joined a coven, I learned of these organizations and joined.

Both CoG and NWC have added much to my life.

You may want to consider applying to join these organizations.

Blessed Be,
Moonwater

Looking for gifts?

See my designs at Redbubble. For more of Moonwater SilverClaw, consider some of her books:

Be a Wiccan Badass: Become More Confident and Unleash Your Inner Power

As a Wiccan I found this an inspiring read. Written in a way that makes it accessible to everyone irrespective of their current knowledge. – Shona Cathro

Goddess Reveals Your Enchanted Light: Peace, Prosperity, Possibility Along Your Wiccan Path

I don’t generally write reviews on books I’ve read…but this time i feel lead to. This book spoke volumes to me, as if the author knew exactly where I’m coming from and what I’m struggling with. It’s not often a book can make me cry, but this one did by making me see the many blocks I’ve put up in my life. I knew they were there, but I’ve gotten skilled at pretending they’re not. Thank you for helping me see I’m not some freak because of circumstances throughout my life that have caused the blocks, and that i need to stop hiding from or burying them and face them one step at a time. – Crystal Sparks

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

This book is a must have for all of those starting out on the spiritual path of Wicca and for all of those who are just looking for some light and love in their life. MoonWater SilverClaw uses her knowledge of Wicca and her personal experiences to not only teach the Law of Attraction in a clear manner but to help you use the Law of Attraction to better your life.

Through simple guided meditations and tips on living a happy healthy life this book takes you on a journey that will teach you how to love yourself, better your self image, and rid yourself of the negative energies that prevent you from reaching your goals.

This book covers many wonderful topics that will teach you basic magical practices as well as the theory and idea of “like attracts like” From setting up an alter to casting a circle and how to perform and find the magick that you are seeing in your life this book has so much to offer.

MoonWater SilverClaw is truly an inspirational writer for a newer generation of Wiccans and those seeking to use the natural energies of the earth to make changes in their life. Her writing style speaks from the heart because she has been where the reader is, she has used these techniques and steps to better her own life and now she is helping the reader use the Law of Attraction to better theirs – Amazon Customer

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

This is an absolute gem for the witch with issues. Rituals for things like self-esteem are something i have never seen before. Moonwater’s writing is engrossing and draws the reader in. I am a witch with PTSD M.S. and other issues and this book made me feel hopeful and capable. – t’air

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

Ms. SilverClaw has written a book that is really great for the beginner wanting to learn about Wiccan or wants to start practicing the art of Wicca. I found this book wonderful, easy to read, and extremely helpful and informative. It covers everything from what Wicca is, the history of Wicca and how Wicca became misassociated with evil, along with how Wicca can help/save people’s lives. Ms. SilverClaw also discusses practicing Wicca either in a Coven or Solo, and all the things you need in order to have in order to perform your ceremony, and she explains what each item means. She explains how to create spells and gives examples to use, and explains the pitfalls of creating certain types of spells. Ms. SilverClaw has truly created a book that is a cast all net the seems to cover everything that I needed to know to begin practicing Wicca. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is searching for their first book on the topic and wants to start practicing the art of Wicca or is just curious about the topic. This is truly a Must Have book. – Tamra L. Shipman

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

This is a terrific book! It is like talking to the author over a cup of tea like one of the bloggers says. – Kitri

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

Pagans Overcoming Fear

March 4, 2016 / Moonwater / 2 Comments

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“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

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

Goddess Walks Beside You: How You Can Listen, Learn and Enjoy the Wiccan Path

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