C is for Community: Pagan Blog Project

Community: com·mu·ni·ty/kəˈmyo͞onitē/

Noun:

 1.    A group of people living together in one place, esp. one practicing common ownership: "a community of nuns".

2.    All the people living in a particular area or place: "local communities".

To me, a community is a group of like minded individuals that share information, encouragement, hopes and more. I have learned so much from this online community. I’ve been offered encouragement and guidance, learned different belief systems, information on the Gods and Goddesses, herbal remedies, correspondences, places to buy Magickal supplies, spells, and so much more. I’ve been introduced to things that I’ve never seen before and it occasionally leaves me breathless. While the online Pagan/Wiccan/Magical community that I am now a part of only loosely fits the definition above, I believe that strong bonds and friendships are definitely being made across the Internet.

 As I have become more involved online I have been welcomed with open arms. While I have occasionally run across an individual or two who acts a little too Self-Important to interact with a newbie blogger like me, overall I have found this online community to be educational, supportive and friendly. 

Joining the Pagan Blog Project was one more way for me to not only connect to others like myself, but to learn more about this amazing group of people. It is fascinating to see the diverse subject matter being written about each week.

Currently, as a way of giving thanks to the community, I am giving away a couple of lace butterfly masks on my blog- check out this post for more info, this is a way for me to just say thank you to those who are following – or who choose to follow - my blog and be a part of my online world. The masks shown are only examples, the winners will get to choose their own color mask and will also receive a special little something from me.

When I started this blog last year, I had two purposes in mind, one was to participate in a Yule fitness challenge and the other was to become a part of the greater online Pagan/Wiccan/Magical community. My goals for the year were to become more involved online and locally.  I am slowly becoming more active locally and I am happy to admit that my broom closet days are coming to an end. When I read a couple more posts about witches and the broom closet I realized that there are really only a few people in my life who don’t know my beliefs and since I rarely talk about religion or politics at work they very likely will never know and it's OK.

Thank you to this amazing online community, for your knowledge, your support, your friendship and your guidance. I truly appreciate you all.

Autumnwind

Time to Give Back!!

****UPDATE****

The winners are:

Sandi Crawford

and

Pagan by Design

Please email your contact information to me at autumnwindreno@aol.com and I will send you the color choices.

****

 

Since I started this blog late last year I have been welcomed to the online Pagan community in such a wonderful way. I have participate in blog parties, joined challenges and have tried to become a real member of this group.

I have been pretty darn lucky too, winning several prizes from blogs that I follow and participate in. So lucky that I really want to give back to the community that has welcomed me so warmly.

Above are two of the lace butterfly masks that I have made this past year. Both of these were worn and received lots of compliments. Check out my picture here to see the burgundy one on me.

I am giving away a custom Lace Butterfly mask and a surprise item (both) to 2 lucky winners! Each winner will be able to choose the color of mask they want from a selection of 300 colors!! Winners will be chosen on March 1st and the masks mailed by March 30th.

Here are the rules:

1) You must follow me publicly and
2) Post about the giveaway on your blog and link back to this post

That is it!

For each one of the following you will get an additional entry:

1) Follow me on twitter - @autumnwindreno - post here to let me know you are a follower
2) Tweet about the giveaway, link to this post in your tweet
3) Friend me autumnwindreno on facebook - then post here that you did :)
4) Have a friend follow me publicly - have them send me a message that you sent them my way so I give you credit!!

So that is up to 5 entries!

As you may have read a few weeks ago, I am getting ready to open my Magickal Etsy shop Beneath the Witch's Moon on March 1st and to celebrate that I will be doing more giveaways in the near future.

I can't begin to tell you how amazing it has been to step out of the broom closet and into the Pagan community. Thank you for making me feel like I am a part of this beautiful world wide web community!

Blessed Be!!

Autumnwind

The Mug from Pieces of Fate has Arrived!!

What a great week it has been already and it is only Monday! The mug and tea set that I won from Pieces of Fate has arrived! Yippee! What a wonderful gift.

If you haven't visited Pieces of Fate to wish her a  happy2'nd Blogsday you really should. She is have a wonderful celebration and giving aways some pretty amazing gifts!!

Thank you Susan for this beautiful mug and the assortment of teas, I will thoroughly enjoy them!

Autumnwind

The Winter Ball - Fire and Ice Masquerade Costume Ball

This week has been quite momentous for this no longer quite so solitary witch. I attended the Winter Ball which was a masquerade ball to benefit the Northern Nevada Pagan Pride day. I met many wonderful people and really enjoyed my first foray out into the local Pagan community in Northern Nevada. 

It was such a lovely night. I met lots of fun, interesting people and got to take part in an Imbolc celebration that was not just for me. I left there feeling energized and happy.

Add to this the two online rituals I attended this week and it appears that I am propping open that broom closet door more and more - and I LOVE it! I even offered to help my friend with her booth at the Pagan Pride event in September. Not only will I be supplying her with some Pagan and Wiccan themed embroidered items - I'll also be manning the booth! Yeah! I am already excited about it and the event isn't for 7 months!

BB everyone!

GOYB Update

This week was pretty much the same as last week. I worked out with weights on Saturday and Wednesday and followed Weight Watchers mostly :) I managed to only gain .2. Since I am working out with weights I am pretty pleased to have only gained .2 so far. Hopefully I won't continue to gain, as much as I know it is my body adjusting to the weight training it is still annoying!

I managed to still drink mostly water though I did have a single diet coke when I went to lunch with my other half. I find it interesting that I no longer crave it at all! That is a huge step for me. This week I want to make sure I track my diet for Weight Watchers and then add some cardio to me week.

We'll see how that goes!

Autumnwind

Candle Magick - Pagan Blog Project

For my Pagan Blog Project Post this week I decided to write a little about Candle Magick. This is one of the most basic forms of sympathetic magic.  A simplified example is making a wish as you blow out a birthday candle. Your intent is there in the wish and the belief that blowing out that candle in a single breath will make your wish come true is the thought and the breath that blows it out the action that sets the magic in motion.

Candle magic is popular for many reasons. The supplies are generally inexpensive and easily found and the spell work can be quite simple or as elaborate as one prefers.

Candles have a different purpose based on their color. Here are a few color correspondences, keep in mind that each color represents more than what I have listed below and of course there are more colors that those listed below:

Black: Protection, Banishing Evil, Breaking Free from Bad Habits

Blue: Calmness, Truth, Healing

Pink: Love, Romance, Friendship

Red: Energy, Passion, Courage

Green: Balance, Abundance, Prosperity

Another option is to buy a candle designed for a specific spell. I love the Wicked Witchin line of candles. I have a couple of those in my studio and they are not only cute, I have had very good results with them.

When choosing candles for Magickal work always make sure to think about the Magickal work you will be doing. Does the spell require you to burn the candle in one sitting? If so you certainly don’t want to use a 3” thick pillar candle.  It is also usually best if you use a new candle, one that is specific for the purpose at hand, even better you can try your hand at making candles for your spells. Making candles for spells allows you to not only be specific as to your intent when making them but you add you own energy to the candle as you make it. I use many different candle types including simple store bought wax styles, homemade and beeswax.  Birthday candles are a great option. They are small, inexpensive and come in a multitude of colors!

Regardless of the type of candle you use, always be sure to cleanse and consecrate it before use. You don’t want any negative energy disrupting your work!

I'll write more about Candle Magick when we get to the letter E...

For more information on the Pagan Blog Project click the picture above

A Blessed Imbolc to You All

As we celebrate the beginnings of spring and renewed life I want to wish you all a blessed day.

Autumnwind