One of the casualties of the anti-Wicca fad currently sweeping the occult world (or at least, the vocal members of it) seems to be knowledge and use of magical tools, their history, and importance. I've pointed out previously that many of the people I've come across who declared themselves "traditional witches" didn't seem to actually know much about Witchcraft; all they knew was that they didn't want to be "Wiccan" and so went about making up something as far from Wicca as you could get. With this rather strange goal in mind, the use of time-tested tools as wands, crystals, and symbols has been attacked by these people as being "New Age" or "something Wicca made up," though of course, this couldn't be farther from the truth. Likewise, I've also seen people claim they "just grabbed a stick from the ground" which they "threw in the garbage" when they were done using it as a wand, because after all, it's "just a tool" like a screwdriver. But is this really the case?
In short, no. At no time, and in no magical tradition that I know of, are magical tools treated in such a manner, nor are they considered simply something lifeless that you could use and then discard. Far from being a "New Age" fad, the idea that the implements wielded by the Witch, magician, or shaman were sacred, magical objects is incredibly, incredibly old. Wands, thousands of years old, have been recovered from the burial sites of ancient Witches or shamans, wands that were obviously made with great care (in one case, out of elaborately shaped metal) and which were carried as a sign of the bearer's position and magical powers. Moses carried a magical rod which enabled him to work miracles, or so the Bible claims. The magical textbooks of the Middle Ages are full of references to complex procedures needed to make the wizard's ceremonial items, and who can forget the old tales of Circe turning Odysseus's men into pigs using her wand? In every culture, at every time, the tools of the Witch have been treated with great care and reverence, and in some cases were even feared. There is a story of a male Witch who carried a Blackthorn rod, which he used (supposedly) to curse those who angered him. When he was caught and burned, the rod was burned with him, so greatly did the people fear its powers.
The use of pentacles, magical altars, knives, and other ritual regalia is not something "new" nor is it something that originated from Wicca. Indeed, Wicca drew upon Ceremonial Magic, which is very old indeed, in crafting the rituals and tools of the Wiccan Witch. In what is called "Traditional Witchcraft" (which is not nearly so different from Wicca and some would claim) it is clear that, though often-times simpler than the tools used by the (usually wealthy) magician, village Witches made us of a variety of items such as the wand, the cauldron, the broom, the knife, and others. Again, many of these items were crafted by hand and were treasured by their owners. Far from throwing "any old stick" in the garbage when done, Witches would seek out special trees that were held to contain great power, such as the Hazel, the Rowan, or the already-mentioned Blackthorn. They understood, too, that the more something was used, the more power it retained, and it seems clear that certain special items were passed down from person to person over the years.
While it is true that a tool by itself will not work magic, it is not true that the tool has no inherent virtue. It seems unfortunate to me that so much magical wisdom and history are being ignored as part of the anti-Wicca backlash. Indeed, a lot of what I'm seeing passed off as "Traditional Witchcraft" would be closer, in fact, to "Something I Made Up Off The Top of My Head, As Long As It's Not Wicca." If none of the magical laws and traditions mattered, they would not have survived as long as they have, and there is no reason to re-write the book when the one already written is more than sufficient.
If you carefully choose your tools, and either make them yourself or have them made for you by a skilled craftsperson, and then treat them as the sacred items they are, they will give you a lifetime of power and can only gain in strength and potency. They act as a bridge between you and the unseen world, and can focus your energy (and add their own) above and beyond what you might accomplish alone. If, however, you grab "any old stick" from the ground and then throw it away after use, you're sending out a message that your Craft, quite literally, is garbage and that you don't have the dedication to spend the time and effort needed. Also, you miss out on the thousands of years of tree lore available to us, and on the chance to form a relationshipwith the various spirits present in Nature and Her her creations.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Stocking The Witch's Cabinet
My order from Mountain Rose Herbs arrived, and boy, am I happy! When it comes to herbs and oils, "less is NOT more" seems to be my motto, and since "natural magic" or Green Witchcraft seems to make up the bulk of my practice, I'm constantly experimenting with various herbal recipes, ointments, and such. In my package, I got loads of essential oils, two kinds of tea, some dried herbs, Epsom salts, cocoa butter, some fragrance oil, and other bits and bobs. Let me share some pictures with you, to give you an idea of the awesome amounts of nifty things that came yesterday:
Most of the bounty is shown above
This fragrance oil is 100% natural, and smells amazing. Kind of like a spicy, musky, sexy incense
Some assorted essential oils. Ignore the dusty tablecloth!
Copal resin, and some awesome teas! Can't wait to try them....
Much of my Witchcraft is beginning to overlap with natural/herbal medicine, so I'm working hard and learning more and more about the medicinal qualities of herbs and remedies. I've found that when you combine high-quality herbs, with magical intent, you can get the best results. Check back to see the various oils, incenses, and potions I turn all this stuff into!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
New Herbs and Remedies!
Tomorrow, I should be getting a HUGE order from Mountain Rose Herbs, my favourite herb supplier. I've got loads of essential oils, bulk herbs, waxes, and butters making up the order, so I'll be able to mix up various oils and ointments. Meanwhile, at home, I've been working on making a Mugwort infused oil; I cleaned and sterilized a Mason jar, filled it a quarter of the way with dried Mugwort, and topped it off with Sunflower oil. I put the jar in the window, and every day I've got to shake it thoroughly to mix the oil and plants together. In six weeks, I've have an infused oil that will be perfect for use in flying ointment, salves, anointing ritual tools, and the like.
Here's a pic of how it looks now. Sorry for the poor quality, I had to use my phone to take the pic. Hope everybody is well!
Here's a pic of how it looks now. Sorry for the poor quality, I had to use my phone to take the pic. Hope everybody is well!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Magic of Wood
If I had one area in which I flatter myself to think I have some experience and knowledge, it would be in the magic of trees and woods. I've always loved trees, and as my Witchcraft practice has deepened, so have my feelings for and about them. There's little activity more enjoyable than a nice walk through a wooded area, and taking time to examine the various trees and other plants that make up the local flora and fauna. Of course, perhaps the best known use of trees in Witchcraft would be the creation of the magic wand from their branches, and it's this area in which I've had quite a bit of experience.
Traditionally, the wand has been made from the wood of a nut or fruit tree, which the belief (I'm assuming) that a tree which "gave forth" something would have the most efficacy as a magical tool. Hazel seems to have been the most common wood used, with Almond also mentioned, as well as Blackthorn and Hawthorn. Rowan is also a favoured choice, and in some cases Ash (which, though it doesn't give forth fruit, is well-known as the "World Tree" that lives in all three levels of existence.) I have experimented with all of these woods, and had varying levels of success with each. My own thoughts are as follows:
Hazel: This one comes up again and again as the "best" wand wood. As the tree of wisdom and knowledge, that certainly makes sense. In my own experience, it is indeed a powerful material to work with, but one with a certain "edge" to it. It's almost got a cold feeling; perhaps in the sense that the knowledge it provides is impartial, and may not be what you want or expect.
Rowan: Powerfully protective, it also has a "dreamy" feel and is known for the ability to enhance the psychic senses. In my own views, this would be a wise choice for benevolent, protective magic but not the best tool to use for offensive magic or blasting.
Hawthorn: The "thorn" in the well-known "Oak, Ash, and Thorn." Blackthorn's milder relative, this wood is one of my favourites, even though I've only recently begun to work with it. It's got an enchanting, inviting feel and works well with magic involving love. However, because of the heavy thorns, it's also got a powerful protective quality and, next to Hazel, would be a first choice for an all-purpose wand.
Blackthorn: Dense and extremely powerful, the most common choice for the famed "blasting rod." Some claim it has a negative or even evil aura, but this has not been my experience. Excellent for banishings, darker workings, but also for protection. Very difficult to get in the Americas.
Ash: A common tree, even in the South where I live, this is another of my favourites and was the wood my very first wand was made from. I've heard various attributes given to this tree, including that of protection from drowning, but in my own practice I've found that it would make both a fine all-purpose wand, and one that aids in shamanic work (because of its status as a tree of all worlds) and in protective charms.
There are many others, of course. I've used Oak with good results, though it's not one I commonly employ. Maple is common around me, and I've used that as well, but I don't find it has a particularly powerful energy. There are yet more I've yet to try, such as Elm, but which I plan on in the future. Part of my own search has been the question of whether or not to use woods that are "traditional" or woods that are local; for example, you'll not find a Hazel tree anywhere near me, but we DO have Ash and Hawthorn, so I wonder if the latter two might not be a best choice. At the moment, I am moving away from simply learning the properties of these woods, to being able to recognize all local trees by sight, and I expect that the study of these trees and others will be a work that I will continue for the rest of my life.
Traditionally, the wand has been made from the wood of a nut or fruit tree, which the belief (I'm assuming) that a tree which "gave forth" something would have the most efficacy as a magical tool. Hazel seems to have been the most common wood used, with Almond also mentioned, as well as Blackthorn and Hawthorn. Rowan is also a favoured choice, and in some cases Ash (which, though it doesn't give forth fruit, is well-known as the "World Tree" that lives in all three levels of existence.) I have experimented with all of these woods, and had varying levels of success with each. My own thoughts are as follows:
Hazel: This one comes up again and again as the "best" wand wood. As the tree of wisdom and knowledge, that certainly makes sense. In my own experience, it is indeed a powerful material to work with, but one with a certain "edge" to it. It's almost got a cold feeling; perhaps in the sense that the knowledge it provides is impartial, and may not be what you want or expect.
Rowan: Powerfully protective, it also has a "dreamy" feel and is known for the ability to enhance the psychic senses. In my own views, this would be a wise choice for benevolent, protective magic but not the best tool to use for offensive magic or blasting.
Hawthorn: The "thorn" in the well-known "Oak, Ash, and Thorn." Blackthorn's milder relative, this wood is one of my favourites, even though I've only recently begun to work with it. It's got an enchanting, inviting feel and works well with magic involving love. However, because of the heavy thorns, it's also got a powerful protective quality and, next to Hazel, would be a first choice for an all-purpose wand.
Blackthorn: Dense and extremely powerful, the most common choice for the famed "blasting rod." Some claim it has a negative or even evil aura, but this has not been my experience. Excellent for banishings, darker workings, but also for protection. Very difficult to get in the Americas.
Ash: A common tree, even in the South where I live, this is another of my favourites and was the wood my very first wand was made from. I've heard various attributes given to this tree, including that of protection from drowning, but in my own practice I've found that it would make both a fine all-purpose wand, and one that aids in shamanic work (because of its status as a tree of all worlds) and in protective charms.
There are many others, of course. I've used Oak with good results, though it's not one I commonly employ. Maple is common around me, and I've used that as well, but I don't find it has a particularly powerful energy. There are yet more I've yet to try, such as Elm, but which I plan on in the future. Part of my own search has been the question of whether or not to use woods that are "traditional" or woods that are local; for example, you'll not find a Hazel tree anywhere near me, but we DO have Ash and Hawthorn, so I wonder if the latter two might not be a best choice. At the moment, I am moving away from simply learning the properties of these woods, to being able to recognize all local trees by sight, and I expect that the study of these trees and others will be a work that I will continue for the rest of my life.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The Magic of Night-Time Rambles
I'm fortunate enough to live on the border of a commercial/residential area that has lots of sidewalks and room to walk around. My apartment buildings are old (for Texas, anyway) having been built in the 40's, and are surrounded by a mixture of older homes, and newer apartments as well as a few miscellaneous structures. During the day, it looks like just another upper-middle class neighborhood (though we're incredibly blessed with an abundance of trees) but in the early evening, when the shadows lengthen and night falls, it becomes a whole other world, one that I've begun to explore.
I've always loved the night, and watching the Moon shining down from above, and can remember being a small child and feeling like a Witch every time I danced around under the stars. These evening strolls I've started taking reawaken that feeling of intense, spontaneous magic (a feeling I though I'd lost forever) as well as giving me a chance to practice identifying the various trees and plants I come across. On my street alone, I've identified Oak (both red and white,) Ash, Elm, Holly, Birch, Maple, and even something I suspected might be a Hawthorn. As I've posted about previously, I love the magic of woods and trees, and anything to do with the plant kingdom. Also, as the sun sets I can catch glimpses of various interesting animals and birds, setting off to do whatever it is they do in the dark. I've not seen any bats yet, but I know they have to be there, too; you can often see then flittering above the tops of trees if you look hard enough.
As the sun sets more, the entire scenery seems to change. My street is really quite dark, and the windows that have light behind them shine forth like beacons in the gathering blackness, leaving me to wonder what's going on behind their shuttered panes. Long shadows fall over the grass, and the trees begin to look like large black masses hovering overhead. I sort of get an eerie, otherworldly feeling that's not exactly frightening, but is very "Witchy" and leaves me with the impression that any number of odd, magical things might happen. As the stars come out, I stare up into the sky, past the tops of the tall trees, and imagine what it might be like to take flight (on a broomstick?) and sail high above the streets, looking down upon everything below me. When it becomes really pitch black, I head home, but the otherworldly feeling lingers with me for some time, and I often conclude by doing a work of magic or meditation.
This is one step of my plan to become less bookish and more spontaneous in my Witchcraft, and so far, so good. I sort of feel like I might have over-educated myself, from a magical theory perspective, and I want to regain some of that sense of wonder and freedom I had as a young, young Witch, before I had any books or tools or anything. Ideally, I would like to find a balance between following tradition, and using my own intuition, and spending more time "with the land" seems to be the most positive step I've taken in that direction in a long, long time.
I've always loved the night, and watching the Moon shining down from above, and can remember being a small child and feeling like a Witch every time I danced around under the stars. These evening strolls I've started taking reawaken that feeling of intense, spontaneous magic (a feeling I though I'd lost forever) as well as giving me a chance to practice identifying the various trees and plants I come across. On my street alone, I've identified Oak (both red and white,) Ash, Elm, Holly, Birch, Maple, and even something I suspected might be a Hawthorn. As I've posted about previously, I love the magic of woods and trees, and anything to do with the plant kingdom. Also, as the sun sets I can catch glimpses of various interesting animals and birds, setting off to do whatever it is they do in the dark. I've not seen any bats yet, but I know they have to be there, too; you can often see then flittering above the tops of trees if you look hard enough.
As the sun sets more, the entire scenery seems to change. My street is really quite dark, and the windows that have light behind them shine forth like beacons in the gathering blackness, leaving me to wonder what's going on behind their shuttered panes. Long shadows fall over the grass, and the trees begin to look like large black masses hovering overhead. I sort of get an eerie, otherworldly feeling that's not exactly frightening, but is very "Witchy" and leaves me with the impression that any number of odd, magical things might happen. As the stars come out, I stare up into the sky, past the tops of the tall trees, and imagine what it might be like to take flight (on a broomstick?) and sail high above the streets, looking down upon everything below me. When it becomes really pitch black, I head home, but the otherworldly feeling lingers with me for some time, and I often conclude by doing a work of magic or meditation.
This is one step of my plan to become less bookish and more spontaneous in my Witchcraft, and so far, so good. I sort of feel like I might have over-educated myself, from a magical theory perspective, and I want to regain some of that sense of wonder and freedom I had as a young, young Witch, before I had any books or tools or anything. Ideally, I would like to find a balance between following tradition, and using my own intuition, and spending more time "with the land" seems to be the most positive step I've taken in that direction in a long, long time.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
First Sunflowers of the Year
Just thought I'd do a quick update and share this: my first sunflower of the year bloomed! The garden's doing quite well, actually, though the morning glories aren't growing quite as fast as I would like.
Here's a l'il pic, enjoy!
Here's a l'il pic, enjoy!
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Home Made Lip Balm!
My friend Mr. B came to visit me, and since we both like herbs, essential oils, and natural living, we decided to make some home-made lip balm, from a recipe we found at Mountain Rose Herbs. We used the one called "Peppermint Cocoa Lip Balm" but made a few small changes to the ingredients. Here's what we ended up using:1 tbs. cocoa butter
2 tbs. Sweet Almond oil
1 tbs. Jojoba oil
1 tbs. plus 1 tsp. beeswax
3 drops Peppermint oil (it called for 5-10, but we went lightly)
You melt the wax, butter, and oils over a double boiler, and then remove from the heat before adding the essential oils. Be careful not to let it boil over! We then transferred the hot mixture to a Pyrex measuring cup, before pouring it into the little plastic tubes (from Mountain Rose Herbs) and tins. You have to act fast because the wax hardens quickly. Now, we just have to let the tubes and tins sit for several hours, before capping them. We already did a "trial" taste, and the stuff is amazing! Very rich and creamy, which a wonderful chocolate smell and a hint of Peppermint. And, best of all, all-natural. It was quite easy to do, once we got the timing down, and I'll definitely be making more in the future. You could easily make 20+ tubes at a time.
Here are some pics to share.....
The "double boiler"
The filled tins and tubes (and a big mess!)
The filled tubes
Hope you enjoy!
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