E is for Essential Oils - A Pagan Blog Project Post

Scouring Powder made with Sweet Orange and Clovebud Essential oils.

I use essential oils a lot in my practice. I use them in ritual, for spell bottles, magical housekeeping supplies, homemade lotions, potions and so much more.

Merriam-Webster defines Essential Oil as follows: Any of a large class of volatile odoriferous oils of vegetable origin that give plants their characteristic odors and often other properties, that are obtained from various parts of the plants (as flowers, leaves, or bark) by steam distillation, expression, or extraction, that are usually mixtures of compounds (as aldehydes or esters), and that are used often in the form of essences in perfumes, flavorings, and pharmaceutical preparations—called also ethereal oil, volatile oil; compare fatty oil, fixed oil.

Essential oils are used for medical purposes, for beauty and cosmetics, for perfumes and also for their magical properties.

In my Witchy Green Cleaning series I explain how to create cleaning products for the home that have specific magical purposes by using essential oils, for instance a window cleaner that includes protective qualities based on the Bergamot essential oil in the recipe or an All Purpose cleaner that rids an area of negativity through the use of peppermint essential oil. 

Fragrance oils are not the same as essential oils though some fragrance oils are blends of essential oils. Fragrance oils are generally blends of synthetic aromas and compounds which provide the scent of a plant. They have their benefits and drawbacks but due to their synthetic origins are- in my opinion - not suitable for magical works. The reason is because when working with the magical properties of something you need the real deal not a synthetic imitation - regardless of how great it smells! 

When working with essential oils you must be sure to research the various effects they have, not only magical but physical. Many essential oils are not safe for human consumption, some are irritants when they come in contact with the skin and some are just dangerous!

When I am looking for a specific property I consult the following books:

• Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham – This provides fantastic information on the magical properties of herbs.
• The Spell Casters Reference by Eileen Holland – this is a great tool. It provides the correspondences for plants as well as many other things.
• The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood – This book gives you information on which essential oils to use for specific reasons.
• The Herbal Alchemist’s Handbook by Karen Harrison – This book provides magical correspondence information on a variety of plants as well as recipes and more.
• Llewellyn’s Complete Formulary of Magical Oils by Celeste Rayne Heldstab – this book has tons of recipes for magical oils to use in ritual as well as for day to day things.
• Reference Guide for Essentials by Connie and Alan Higley – This book is very technical and provides information on nervous system, emotional responses, historical uses, properties and lots more. This is a great resource on essential oils.
• Herbs that Heal by Michael A Weiner, Ph.D., and Janet A. Weiner – This cook provides dosage information, traditional uses as well as scientific findings.

As you can see I like to know the magical as well as the physical properties of the oils and I really love to read the scientific data on the different herbs/oils. It is always gratifying to me to see the hearth witches, medicine men/women and the folk wisdom of the past being supported by the science of today!

I am sure there are lots of other books out there but these are the ones that I have and use on a regular basis. If you have a great book on herbs or essential oils that you like please leave me a comment letting me know the title and author, I am always looking for more information on this topic.

Thanks for stopping by.

D is for the Death Card - a Pagan Blog Project Post

Waite-Rider Tarot Deck

I have been working with the Tarot since I was very young and it is something that I am quite fond of. The artwork and imagery of the cards drew me in and never let me out. Occasionally a friend will ask me about all of the decks I have in my studio and at least half of them will ask if I have ever predicted someone's death. Morbid but true - seriously where do people come up with this stuff!

The death card does not necessarily indicate that someone is going to die. This card is all about endings and transformation. As you will see in the pictures below. Some decks, including one of the decks I have, do not call the card Death, the one I have calls the card Transformation.

With that said, the Death card can, on rare occasions, indicate that someone will pass on from this life. I have never had that happen in the entire 30 plus years that I have been working with the Tarot but sometimes the thing that is ending is a life, which could be the individual, a relative, a friend or even a pet.  

When the Death card shows up in a reading there a so many different possibilities. Of course it depends on the placement and whether the card is upright or reversed (as an FYI, some people do not read reversed cards, they read all of them upright - I am not one of those people). When Death shows up is could mean the end of a task, a bad day, a relationship, a job or even the end of the situation an individual is currently in. It could indicate that the bonds holding someone back will end and they will be able to move forward to something new. It can be negative or positive and sometimes it could be both. If a job is ending it could cause hardship for the individual but it could also bring new opportunity, something that the individual would have never done if they still had that job. 

When you see the images on the many Death cards you will see that some depict actual death, including the one below which is from the Fairy Tale Tarot. This card depicts the ending of the Beast's life from the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale however it also shows the image of the couple above the death scene and as you can see Beast is a man, his transformation is revealed. This card is not called Death but Transformation and in this deck the card refers to the importance of rising above defeat and transforming yourself.

Fairy Tale Tarot

The Death card from the Steam Punk deck also depicts the end of a life. The image shows a man standing by the grave, presumably of someone he loved while Death stands in the foreground holding a scythe. 

Steam Punk Tarot

Most of the Tarot decks that I own have images of skeletons on the Death card. Here are a few of the decks I own and use.

Deviant Moon

Joie De Vivre 

The Witches Tarot

The Lord of the Rings Tarot's Death card depicts a battle and the death of Gandalf but it also talks about his rebirth on the card. This deck is interesting, I haven't used it too much yet but found the cards fun.

Lord of the  Rings Tarot

The next time you have the Death card show up in a reading - don't panic - just take the time to think about your life and the changes or transformation that could be coming. I am one of those annoying "Glass is Half-Full" people, I believe that everything happens for a reason and also that we have some say in how things play, out so when change happens, I try not to resist it too much (though I have been known to throw a fit now and then) and focus on the positive impact it could have on my life.

As always, these are my own thoughts on this topic. I am basing them on my own experiences and the work I have done with the Tarot over the past 30 plus years. Thank you for visiting!

Pagan Blog Project Post Delay

Greetings everyone,

I am currently in Las Vegas to present at a conference for my day job. Due to my hectic schedule this week my Pagan Blog Project post - D is for the Death Card will be delayed. I am really excited about this post because in my experience this is a very misunderstood Tarot card and I'd like to share my personal views on it.

Check back this weekend for my post and also, if you are part of the Grow Your Blog party be sure to leave a comment on my Grow Your Blog party post here before 1:00 PM to be entered into the drawing for a 4 oz jar of my Witchy Green Scouring Powder in your choice of Orange-Clove Bud or Lavender. I'll be announcing the winner later on today.

C is for Corellian Wicca: A Pagan Blog Project Post

Corellian Wicca

For as long as I can remember my spiritual path has been different than most of the people I know. I was raised in an Irish Catholic family with quite a few magical “gifts” – most of my family is magical but we didn’t discuss it when I was little, it just “was” what is was. While I always felt a little out of step in the Catholic  faith (I didn't hate it, I just didn't feel it). it wasn’t until my mid-teens when I started exploring other spiritual belief systems that I started to find my way. As I got older I identified myself as a solitary, eclectic witch/pagan/wiccan. Just so you know, those terms are NOT interchangeable.  Not all wiccans are witches but some are… etc.

Anyway, while surfing the internet one lazy Sunday afternoon I came across a search result for Witch School. I had nothing going on that day so I checked it out.

Witch School is just what it says it is. A school about magic and witchcraft with the added benefit of a “degree” program in the Corellian Wiccan tradition. It is serious business. The school is active in the world wide religious community and I’m not just talking about the Pagan community. The courses are informative and there are mentors to help you as you work through the material. The 1^st degree program is designed to take a year and a day which is the traditional amount of time for this type of commitment.  There are study groups, assignments, essays, lots of information and a serious final exam. Then of course there are the 2nd and 3rd degree programs which carry additional weight both in the tradition and legally. For instance, a 3rd degree Clergy member is able to perform legal wedding ceremonies.

Still, being a solitary, eclectic for so long I wasn’t sure I wanted to actually study a formal path until I read the following about the Corellian belief on the Divine Spirit and how we perceive it:

“We often compare Deity to a diamond with many facets; each name or image for Deity is like one facet on the diamond. Each facet may be considered separately and all are beautiful in themselves, but all are aspects of the single stone.

Wicca believes that Deity comes to each person in the way that is best understood by that person, and that this is different for different people. Wicca believes that the relationship between a person and Deity is highly individual, personal, and subjective. Not everyone will have the same understanding of Deity, because not everyone is in the same place, or able to understand from the same level or perspective. Because of this no one has a right to judge another person’s relationship with Deity, because each person is different. This is why we respect all the names and forms that have been used to through the centuries -Deity needs them all in order to come to all people in the way they can best understand.”

Please keep in mind that this is from the Corellian Wicca First Degree Handbook, this is a philosophy of this tradition and I am not speaking for all Wiccan or Pagan traditions.  The above statement was exactly what I have felt for as long as I can remember.  This is why I have chosen to study this tradition. Last year I completed the first degree course work and this month I am submitting my application for my First Degree Clergy status. Beginning in April (my birthday month) I will hopefully start the 2nd Degree program.

I believe that people come to their religious and spiritual beliefs for many different reasons and as long as they get strength and comfort from their connection to the Divine regardless of the name they refer to the Divine as – then I say is YAY!

Studying the Corellian tradition has deepened my connection with the Divine/God, with nature and with my family and friends. I rarely talk about my religious affiliation but for this Pagan Blog Project post I thought I would venture into these waters. You will hear a lot more about spells and witchy stuff than religion on this blog. I hope you learned a little tiny bit about Corellian Wicca.

If you would like to learn more feel free to send me an email at autumnwindreno@aol.com or check out www.Witchschool.com. You can also click on the picture above to visit the website.

Thanks for stopping by!

C is for Chalice. A Pagan Blog Project Post

My Chalice

After a long week of playing catch up after being so horribly sick, I offer this pictorial representation of the chalice.

The Chalice is one of the many tools in a Witch’s toolbox. It is used during ritual, for libations, offerings to the Gods and Goddesses and to make blessings.

Pottery

In my practice, the chalice is feminine in nature and represents the Goddess as the mother of all creation.

Silver

A chalice can be made of any type of material. It can be plain, ornate or anywhere in between. The most important thing about any magical tool is that it speaks to you and you want to work with it.

Vintage Gold

Dragon

Obsidian

Dragon with Amethyst

Ceremonial Chalice

Wine Chalice

Alchemist Chalice

Custom!!

All of the images have links to their source. All are also from Etsy and can be purchased from the talented artists who created them or the wonderful shop owners who have listed them. I am not affiliated with any of these shops, I just found them while viewing their lovely listings!

Additional Source: Witch School 1st Degree Handbook

B is for Book of Shadows - A Pagan Blog Project Post

I have always been fascinated with the written word. In fact I can’t image my life without my books. Since I was very small I have written things, lists, stories, doodles, more lists, you get the picture. Well, with my book of Shadows, the most important book in my witchy life, I don’t have a book I have digital files.

My personal view of the Book of Shadows is that it makes up the life experiences of a witch. It is a place where you write your spells and the results you had with them, the date you use them, the materials you used, your expected and hoped for results and the actual results – if any. A place to mark down the phase of the moon, the time of the year and any other important information that can affect the results of magical work. A Book  of Shadows is similar to a scientist's journal but way cooler - well, at least in my opinion!

It is a place for the witch to keep all of the important information they have gathered and experienced within their craft. A place to keep their notes, their preferences, correspondences, and anything else that has to do with their magical life. I keep the moon phases, information on the Wheel of the Year, magical correspondences of herbs and stones, and pretty much anything else I come across that I want to remember or use in my magical life.

Here is the Book of Shadows from the TV show Charmed –this is the coolest looking book, all sorts of artwork and spells, history, lore and just plain cool stuff!

Here is one that I found on Etsy, click on the picture to visit the page for the book or click here to visit the Etsy shop.

Here is one more – Swoon! Again, click on the picture to visit the book’s page and click here to visit the shop. 

I have several binders full of information and LOTS of digital files. While this is great and I can easily find what I want in my digital Book of Shadows, I still really like the feel of a book. I like a place to write down my experiences. Personally I feel that the written word is stronger and more powerful than one that is typed  - that is not to say that the information in my digital files is insufficient, I just prefer the written word so recently I signed up for a Binding your Book of Shadows class through Witch School. Witch School is a wonderful place for individuals to learn about Wiccan practices among other magical things. If you get a chance check it out here.

The class I signed up for has just started so I don’t have anything to show you except the very the beginnings of my book.

Here is the parchment style paper I will be using when I print the information to add to my bound book. I have several sections lined up but have not decided on the order yet. I will be printing the pages on a laser printer and then adding additional color and art as I see fit. Some of them will be printed with artwork but many of them will be plain. I'll be hand writing all of my spells into the book. Handwriting is important, and I believe it is a powerful thing to use!

Here are some of the sections that will be in my new Book of Shadows:

Herbs

Crystals

Gods/Goddesses

Spells –This will be broken down by type

Magical Meals

History

Casting a Circle

Sabbots

Esbats

Candle Magic

Correspondences

The Moon

Folk Lore and Faerie Tales

I am working on finding the artwork I want to use on the main section pages, if I am going to have a bound Book of Shadows it has to be something that has meaning to me. When I hand this book down to one of my grandchildren  I want them to love it, whether they are magical or not!

B is for Besom - Pagan Blog Project

This week I’ll be writing a little bit about the Besom, the Witch’s Broom. Our household is still recovering from my hubby’s hospital stay last week so my post this week will be brief.

So many people are familiar with the image of a witch flying on her broom and while the image has ingrained itself into our collective memory it fails to show the true significance of the Besom to the everyday witch’s toolbox.

I like the word Besom, to me it just sounds cooler than broom, though I used both in this post.  According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary Besom is from Old English besma, similar to Old High German besmo which translates to broom and is defined as a broom, especially one made of twigs.

Many modern Witches use the besom to sweep the negativity out of their home, to sweep the negativity away from their ritual space before casting a circle, and sometimes for directing energy in the same way as a wand. Some couples use the Besom during Handfasting ceremonies where they will jump over the broom to signify fertility and the joining of the couple in their new relationship (among other things) while a besom hung over the door is said to keep out evil spirits. 

A good besom practice to follow is this - when standing a broom you should always place it so the bristles are in the air, this not only brings you good luck but for practical purposes will make the bristles last longer!

The Besom is traditionally made with an ash handle and bristles made of birch twigs which are bound together will bindings of willow.  Being both masculine (the phallus-like handle) and feminine (the birch bristles) in nature the Besom is a symbol of fertility and sexuality as well as one of protection and cleansing.

Modern besoms can be made with materials you harvest from the forest or purchased in the local grocery store; they do not need to be made from the traditional materials to be effective to your craft and I recommend making a Besom if possible (actually - I recommend making all you ritual tools if possible!!)

 I believe that when you make your tools you add more of your own energy to them. If you don’t have the time, energy or inclination to make a Besom you can easily personalize a store bought one by adding herbs and other materials that align with your intent for the tool. For instance if your Besom is strictly for a Handfasting Ceremony you may want to add ribbons, sprigs of Lavender and/or sprays of roses to signify love. If you are using it for protection you may want to add rosemary or hyssop for protection.

The wonderful thing about making your own is that you can make it from any materials that you feel are called for and in whatever size you need, larger or small, broomcorn or birch, ash, oak or dogwood. The choices of materials are wide open and only limited by your imagination and what you can find in your area (or online!).

Recently my favorite local shop Pathway Spirit (Link is for their Facebook page) started carrying besoms with jeweled handles - swoon! I will be getting one of these soon! They are just so pretty and will look magnificent standing in the corner of my room protecting my home.

Some fun besom lore (these were taken from http://andorshop.webs.com/besomlore.htm - this site has LOTS of fun Besom information)

• Stumbling over a besom handle will bring you good luck
• Burning a besom will bring you bad luck
• If dirt is swept out the door before sunrise you will have bad luck
• Storing a broom with the bristles up will bring you good luck
• When moving into a new home a loaf of bread and a new besom should be sent in first for good luck.

Hhre are some sites I visited while researching Besoms:

http://paganweddings.blogspot.com/2008/04/fairy-broom-tradition-of-broom-jumping.html

http://avalonoftheheart.yuku.com/topic/3449/BESOM-BROOMMaking-UsingSpells-Rites-Info-Lore#.UtYQRhBdV8E

http://vsnapdragyn.hubpages.com/hub/The-Basics-of-the-Besom

http://www.controverscial.com/The%20Besom%20(Broom).htm

http://andorshop.webs.com/besomlore.htm (This had fantastic Besom Lore!!)

A is for Amulet – Pagan Blog Project

Hi everyone,

As you can read from my previous post regarding my PBP post for last week, this post is late because my man was in the hospital. He injured his hand and ended up with emergency surgery and the MSRA infection so 5 days and a PICC line later we are finally home! I am grateful to everyone for their thoughts and healing energy, it has been much appreciated. Now for my second post for the letter A

A is for Amulet

Amulet is from the Latin amuletum. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines Amulet a: a small object worn to protect the person wearing it against bad things (such as illness, bad luck, etc.);  a charm (as an ornament) often inscribed with a magic incantation or symbol to aid the wearer or protect against evil (as disease or witchcraft).

 Amulets are a wonderful type of magic which have been used from before the times when the Egyptians were building their pyramids. The most important purpose historically has been to protect the owner from harm but these fascinating pieces can be ornate or plain, worn openly or carried in a purse or pocket and can be charged not only for protection but for a specific person and/or also for a specific purpose.

A couple of years back I was able to take a wonderful jewelry making class where I explored working with metal and I created these Goddess shaped, copper amulets. The one with the moonstone center is one that I wear often. This simple copper amulet is something that has specific magical correspondences based on the materials I used to make it and not only offers protection but helps me reconnect with the power of the moon, strengthen my ability with negotiations and quite a bit more.

Many cultures believe that amulets made from specific materials will offer specific results.

For instance:

In India, Nepal and Sri Lanka some believe that an amulet made from the jackal’s horn (this is a cone-shaped growth that sometimes grows on the skull of a golden jackal) can grant wishes and find its way back to its owner when lost.

The Celts believe that the four leaf clover symbolizes good luck.

In Papua New Guinea they still make amulets known as marupai which help protect gardens from evil spirits, offer assistance during the hunting of wild pigs among several other things. These amulets are carved from a dwarf coconut and then rubbed with lime to make the design stand out.

Amulets can be a highly artistic form of magic and are something that I enjoy working with.

I had a great time researching more about amulets as I was getting this post ready and here are the fabulous sites I visited. http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/amulets.html has an amazing downloadable .pdf booklet on amulets and their history and if you are interested in amulets it is definitely worth reading!

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/amulet

http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/amulets.html

http://www.astralmagick.com/

http://powerbeforewisdom.com/16-personal-magick/46-how-to-make-rings-amulets-staffs-and-other-magickal-items

http://secretamulets.com/magic-amulets.html

Thanks for dropping by,

Autumnwind

Pagan Blog Project 2014 A is for Amber

Amber has a very long history of use among people. Amber discs or amulets have been found in burial sites from the stone-age period and it has been in constant use throughout history to treat many ailments and ward off evil. Early hunters were theorized to use amber to protect them during a hunt and to make the hunt successful by carrying an animal shaped amber carving with them.

Amber is not a stone; it is the fossilized resin from trees which existed during the Mesozoic time period. The trees are compared to the modern day Kauri pine tree which is found in New Zealand. Not to be confused with tree sap, resin is secreted through the epithelial cells of the plant where as sap actually circulates through the plants vascular system.

The majority of amber is found in the Cretaceous and Tertiary sedimentary rocks which makes it approximately 30-90 million years old. Not bad for a bit or hardened resin!

Throughout history Amber was burned to cleanse the air during childbirth, ground and ingested to treat stomach ailments, worn for adornment or protection – often times for both, and revered for its protective qualities. The Greeks called Amber “Electron” and were the first to expound it’s electrical properties when they found it would attract dust and ash after it had been rubbed with a piece of silk.

Personally I find it fascinating that a 30 million year old fossilized resin creates static electricity when rubbed with silk – another organic material.

Amber ranges in color from pale yellow, to dark brown to red depending on where the amber is found. The vast majority of Amber is found in the Baltic Seas region and was carried by seas, rivers and streams to its current locations.

Magically Amber is associated with protection, love, to increase the strength of spells, to attract money and even to repel the evil eye. Amber warms when held and will float in a salt solution – these are two ways you can distinguish Amber from plastic look-alikes!

Sources:

http://academic.emporia.edu/abersusa/whatis.htm

http://magic-spells-and-potions.com/amber_magic.htm

http://wicca.com/celtic/stones/stonea-e.htm

http://cresentmoon2007.hubpages.com/hub/Amber-And-Its-Magical-Properties

http://www.amberartisans.com/aminmaandme.html

http://www.foreveramber.biz/foreveramber/index.php/Baltic-Amber/Amber-in-Magic-and-Medicine

http://www.joellessacredgrove.com/Gems/amber.html

Legends and Lore, Magical Properties are from "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic", by Scott Cunningham.

Pagan Blog Project 2014

I just joined the 2014 Pagan Blog Project. I've participated in the previous 2 years but I have never gotten through the entire alphabet. This year I WILL do better than I did in the previous years and I hope to post each week. This has been a very informative project with lots of different viewpoints, experience levels and personalities shining through. I am so glad I am able to be a part of it.