“I’m dreading taking the BART (the subway in the San Francisco Bay Area),” my friend, Olivia, said.
“Something in particular?” I asked.
“The last two times, some guy was stumbling around talking to people. These guys were strange—even scary. I was thinking—please don’t talk to me. Please don’t talk to me,” she said, her face wincing at the memory.
I can relate in that I’ve been using public transit recently. It feels like a gamble to take public transit. You could be late, verbally abused or worse.
So how can witchcraft help?
I ground and center before traveling. Additionally, I put up my energy-shield at the beginning of my journey with the InstaCircle.
How to Do an InstaCircle
Using your power hand (this would be your dominant hand), trace the Circle three times around and above your head.
I cast my Circle thrice, round, round and round.
Point your index finger up to the heavens and then pull energy down to the ground.
Let no bane get in, From heavens to ground.
That completes your InstaCircle and your energy-shield.
Next, I say this prayer:
The Safe Travels Prayer
Dark Mistress of the Waning Moon, and O Hairy Horned Lord of death and rebirth. Give me Your protection during this journey, Keep all troubles that come my way at bay. As I do Will, So, Mote It Be
“I’ve heard of sacred oils for ritual use,” my friend, Mia, said. “How do they help?”
“You can anoint yourself as a blessing. You can anoint a magickal tool to cleanse it,” I began.
Knowing how to make sacred oils for ritual use is cost-effective, and it’s being truly witchy!
I prefer to harvest my herbs when I have the chance. But that may not always be practical.
When you look carefully, you can find reputable online sources and brick and mortar stores where you can find appropriate herbs.
Warning: Do not use poisonous herbs!
You can use sacred oils for anointing yourself and others for different reasons. Below is the Herb Empowerment Chant to charge your herbs.
Herb Empowerment Chant
Little bundle of [herb you are using] of mine,
I empower you now, for it is time.
I call upon the powers of the Moon and Sun,
I call upon the powers of the Earth and Sky.
I call upon the four elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
Give this [herb you are using] all Your power.
I call upon the powers of the rivers and the seas,
Listen to my hopeful pleas.
May this [herb you are using] bring me peace and tranquility,
And protect me from all negativity.
Lovely Lady of the Moon,
Give me this, my greatest boon.
Now that your dried herbs are charged, use the following directions to complete your sacred oil.
How to Make a Sacred Oil
What you will need:
2 clean, dark jars (the dark tint keeps the sun out)
Funnel for liquids
Cheesecloth
Enough dried herbs to fill the jar two-thirds full
Bottle of Jojoba or Sweet Almond Oil, enough to fill one of the dark jars
On a full moon, use your herb of choice.
Warning: Do not use poisonous herbs!
Cleanse and consecrate your jars, cheesecloth, funnel, and oil.
Ask the Gods to enrich these items with their positive energy.
Fill one of the jars two-thirds full of the herbs, and then fill the jar the rest of the way with the oil. Jiggle the jar to get all the air out from in between the herbs, where pockets of air can stick. Once the jar is full, shake it until the contents are well-mixed.
Leave the jar in a dark, cool place.
Shake the jar each day, and make sure to keep all the herbs submerged to avoid mold. Open the jar and smell the oil to make sure it isn’t going rancid. Repeat this process for a full month until the next full moon.
Once your oil has been fully infused with the herbs, you will use cheesecloth to strain the mixture.
Place the funnel into the opening of the second jar. Place the cheesecloth over the funnel and pour your mixture into the second jar—straining the mixture with the cheesecloth. Make sure you squeeze the herbs in the cheesecloth to get all the mixture out of them.
Place a label on the mixture jar to identify it—and the date when you strained the mixture.
Many of my readers seek healing and magickal empowerment. With Midsummer near, we have the opportunity to harvest and dry herbs. Witches know that empowering dried herbs is the first step to creating a magickal tincture to empower your magick and heal yourself or another person.
Begin by placing your dried herbs on the pentacle that resides on your Witch’s altar. Say the following chant aloud:
Herb Empowerment Chant
Little bundle of [herb you are using] of mine,
I empower you now, for it is time.
I call upon the powers of the Moon and Sun,
I call upon the powers of the Earth and Sky.
I call upon the four elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
Give this [herb you are using] all Your power.
I call upon the powers of the rivers and the seas,
Listen to my hopeful pleas.
May this [herb you are using] bring me peace and tranquility,
And protect me from all negativity.
Lovely Lady of the Moon,
Give me this, my greatest boon.
Now that your dried herbs are charged use the following directions to complete your sacred tincture.
How to Make a Sacred Tincture
What you will need:
2 dark jars
Funnel for liquids
Cheesecloth
Enough herbs to fill the jar one-third full
Bottle of vodka
On a waxing moon thirteen days before the full moon, cleanse and consecrate your jars, cheesecloth, funnel and a bottle of vodka.
Warning: Do not use poisonous herbs!
Ask the Gods to enrich these items with Their positive energy as you fill one of the jars one-third full of the herbs. Fill the jar the rest of the way with vodka. Shake the jar until the contents are well mixed.
Leave the mixture in a dark, cool place.
For thirteen days, mix the herbs by shaking them daily. Make sure to keep all the herbs fully submerged to avoid mold.
Once your tincture (the mixture) has been fully infused, use the second jar, funnel, and cheesecloth to strain the tincture. Place the funnel into the opening of the second jar. Cover the funnel with the cheesecloth and pour your tincture through the cheesecloth—into the second jar. Make sure you squeeze the herbs to get all the tincture out of them.
Label the jar and identify when the tincture was completed.
Now the tincture is ready for you to use in your spell work.
“Do Wiccans get help from the ‘Dark Mother’?” one of my readers asked.
Wiccans know that working with the Dark Mother is helpful when you need to rid yourself of negative energy, illness, and ex-partners.
It is vital to notice that the Dark Mother helps one do something we can call “positive deconstruction.”
Deconstruction can be natural. For example, a tree falls in the woods. It is natural and good for the tree to decompose. Then there will be nutrients for other things to grow.
Here’s another example. A Wiccan can appeal to the Dark Mother by doing a spell in the waning moon (light to dark) to get rid of an illness. You are using magick to get rid of that illness.
As you can imagine, the Dark Mother is the opposite side of the fertile and growing aspect of the Goddess.
A Prayer
Dark Mother, Help me get rid of _____. I realize it is natural and good To let some things decompose So I may embrace my new chapter of life.
“I can’t take any more of this,” Todd, a workshop participant, said.
“Would you tell me more?” I asked.
“I feel overwhelmed,” he replied.
I felt great empathy for his situation. This began a valuable conversation.
So, what do you do when your back is against the wall?
Figure out how to lessen the overload
Draw a vertical line down the middle of a sheet of paper. On the left side, list the top three situations that are impinging on you. Directly across from each stressful situation, note two things you might do that could relieve some of your pain. Here’s a helpful angle about this process: Somewhere, somehow, there’s a lesson in all this. Consider writing in a journal about your thoughts and feelings that arise.
Ask the Gods for Guidance
Meditation is the key here. During your meditation session, breathe in deeply. Ask the God and Goddess, “Please guide me for my good and the good of all involved.” You can also ask, “Is there a lesson for me to learn here?”
Do a ritual to help alleviate the pain
Ritual is a great process for releasing negative energy—to flush it away.
Also, during a ritual you can create and enhance positive energy.
“Are there red flags when a coven screens prospective students and members?” one of my readers asked.
Here are considerations that covens I know consider:
Is the person …
On time? Does the person get to the meeting place a bit early? Being late is disrespectful to the coven leader and wastes their time. This gives everyone a bad feeling. Be a bit early.
Reliable? Does the person bring the items he or she is supposed to bring? In a coven, we rely on each other to bring those items we need. How can you do a candle ritual without candles? Fulfill your commitments.
Trustworthy? Does the person own up to his or her mistakes? A person who cannot admit a mistake is not trustworthy. How can they improve if they cannot see the error? Admit mistakes, resolve to improve and make amends.
Hard working? Does the person complete homework and other assignments? Make sure you demonstrate your commitment by completing assignments.
Dedicated? Does the person take the class and the information seriously? Do they study hard and treat the subject with respect? This is how you demonstrate that you really want to be a priest or priestess.
“How do I have a good PantheaCon experience?” Judy, a newbie, asked me.
Since this year’s PantheaCon will be at least the 11th year I have attended, I had a bunch of ideas rise in my mind.
“Start with the basics,” I began. “Enough sleep, good food, enough water, and pace yourself … oh, and don’t try to see everything.”
In this post, I’ll share ideas about having a good PantheaCon experience. Many of these ideas I’ve shared in previous posts.
For PantheaCon 2019, I’m thinking about Setting an Intention when I wake up—before attending PantheaCon for the day.
Here is a Prayer:
Lord and Lady, I’m grateful for PantheaCon and today, In so many ways. May I meet old friends and make new friends, Creating goodwill that never ends. May I have and keep a good personal shield, Protected from negative energies so that they yield. May I enjoy many moments of joy and inspiration, Learning much from every situation. Thank you, Lord and Lady. So Mote It Be.
More Thoughts on PantheaCon
Later, I reflected on the whole PantheaCon experience, and I had more thoughts …
Enjoy What Is There – “Let it be what it is”
“What did you learn last year at PantheaCon?” a friend, Jimmy, asked.
“Enjoy what is there, and let it be what it is,” I replied. By this I mean, pay attention to your expectations and how attached you might be to them. If you hold too tightly to certain expectations, you might feel devastated if they’re not met. Some people say, “Oh, that ruined my conference experience.”
On the other hand, just let the PantheaCon experience be what it is. Yes, you’ll find people of like mind and faith at the conference. It can be a great place to connect with people.
But if you’re a newbie, you may be held at arm’s length by some people because they don’t know you. Don’t take it personally. After your first year, people will know you. Then closer relationships will be possible.
Enjoy what’s in front of you.
My husband tells a story about how he knew a family that always complained about the restaurant food in front of them. It was always: “The fish is more tender at the XY Restaurant” or “I preferred the noodles at the AB Restaurant.” Nobody was simply enjoying what was in front of them. That is, the exception was my husband, who would say, “This works for me.”
“Wiccans listen to the Earth. They don’t shut out the lessons that She is so desperately trying to teach us…. Don’t shut out the physical world in favor of the spiritual or magical realms, for only through nature can we experience these realities.” – Scott Cunningham
Just as Wiccans listen to the Earth, listen to your own body. Do you need to take a break? Get a nap? Walk outside and get away from people for a time?
Pay attention to your body and the energies around you. You will learn a lot.
Align yourself to your “rhythms” during the event
Know when you have had enough. Don’t stay until you can’t think straight. Especially, be careful if you must drive home or to another hotel.
Some people around you may have similar beliefs andthey may be people who are upside-down—feeling upset about something. Make sure that you take care of yourself. Avoid being vulnerable to picking up other people’s negative energy. In my recent e-newsletter, I wrote:
“If you’re attending PantheaCon, you might want to use this following Shielding Chant to help you stay empowered in such a highly stimulating situation. This Shielding Chant can be used at times when regular shielding isn’t enough.
The InstaCircle Chant for Shielding
As you say this chant, you will take your power hand, (usually your dominant hand) and trace a Circle three times above and around your head. When you do the movements, you will envision the energy streaming from your index finger.
Soon, you will point to the heavens and pull the energy from there to the ground.
Here is the InstaCircle process with the movements:
Using your power hand, trace the Circle three times.
I cast my Circle thrice,
round, round and round.
Point your index finger up to the heavens and then pull energy down to the ground.
Let no bane get in,
From heavens to ground.
May this InstaCircle Chant process bless your life.”
Honor your own rhythms. Recently, I was reading some material by Doreen Valiente, when I came across this quote:
“This deliberate pacing of the circle is called ‘circumambulating.’ It is different from the wild joyousness of the round dance.” – Doreen Valiente
Sometimes, you want to do a “deliberate pace” and get some rest and other times, you’ll probably want to experience some higher energy activities at PantheaCon.
(Note: Having a lot of people in a small space like a hotel can spread germs a lot. Consider washing your hands often or using hand sanitizer. It is good to not only put up our spiritual wards, but keep up our physical wards. You’ll want to avoid catching ill—something known as “Con Crud.”)
In summary, let your PantheaCon experience be what it is, and align yourself to your rhythms during the event.
“No, I don’t think I’m strong enough to move on from this hell I’m in,” my friend, Amy, said.
“If you realize that Goddess loves you, and you do the things so you can feel Her support—you can do the hard things in life,” I replied.
Here I’ll share three points.
You are not alone.
The God and Goddess are always with you. You can call on Them to help you through the tough times in your life.
“Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever toward it; let naught stop you or turn you aside.” – Doreen Valiente, speaking in the voice of the Goddess – in The Charge of the Goddess
Sometimes, it feels like everything in the world is trying to stop you from your desired goal. At those moments, look beyond the mundane world. Call on the Gods for Their support. Ask the Goddess, in Her nurturing aspect, to help you and guide you on your path.
Goddess is the Loving Form of Deity.
“Nor do I demand sacrifice, for behold I am the Mother of All Living, and my love is poured out upon the earth.” – Doreen Valiente, speaking in the voice of the Goddess – in The Charge of the Goddess
The Goddess has explained that she doesn’t demand that you sacrifice your desires or dreams for Her. She wants you to be happy. The Gods don’t want us to suffer.
Sometimes, we get the answer of Light, having gone through a time of darkness.
“The dark and the light in succession,
The opposites each unto each,
Shown forth as a God and a Goddess,
Of this did our ancestors teach.” – Doreen Valiente – in The Witches Creed
If we don’t have the hard times or dark times in our lives, we can’t fully appreciate the light parts. In one discussion, one of my friends emphasized that an important part of happiness can be feeling relief after a dark time.
When we see the good times stand out from the dark, we truly appreciate the good times when they arrive.
The dark times can be a powerful form of teacher. Dark times teach us certain lessons we need to learn. When the Light finally arrives, the Light illuminates our progress through those lessons.
We need both times of Light and dark to grow into our full potential and full destiny.
“It feels like I’ll never shake off this horrible, low feeling,” my friend, Melissa, said.
We were in the middle of a conversation about depression symptoms. I have worked for years to cope with my own clinical depression symptoms. I’ve learned you can live a good life even with such symptoms.
Research Shows that Helping Someone Can Lift Much of Depression Symptoms.
Why?
I’ve experienced certain benefits, which quiet down my depression symptoms.
Benefits of Helping
You realize …
You have value
For example, when I help someone, I feel as though I have a purpose. I feel like I can make a difference in someone else’s life—that I can be a valued part of the community.
You have relieved suffering for someone else
Sometimes, when you just listen, you’re relieving someone’s suffering. You’re providing space so the other person can unburden themselves.
Your attention shifts away from your suffering, and it is now on the task at hand—to help this person
Pause for a moment. Why do many of us like movies and TV shows? Because we can unplug from our own problems and disappear into the fictional world of the film or TV show.
When you help someone, you’re plugging into another person’s world.
A Bonus: Research shows that helping other people relieves the helper of vague guilt-feelings.
How Do We, Wiccans, Invite the Gracious Goddess to Guide Us related to Helping?
For many of us, the questions are: Who do I help? What would be something good for me to do?
The Gracious Goddess can help with you finding answers.
You can call on Her just before you go into a meditation session.
Here’s a Prayer to Give You Strength to Help Someone
Gracious Goddess, give me strength to lend aid, To those who feel downtrodden and afraid. Gracious Goddess, open my heart up wide, Let me see the truth inside. Blessings I give, and those bestowed, Now dry all the tears that have flowed. Let my deeds help those in need, Gracious Goddess, help plant that seed. As I So Will So Mote It Be.
May these ideas and practices give you real support.
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