Secrecy Is Found

I got a laptop computer! It's second hand and the laptop hood keeps flopping over (it has to be balanced perfectly) and it's Vista.... But I'm happy. =)  As soon as the previous owners get all their stuff off (I'm still steering clear of all files and folders, just in case...) I'm going to put on Linux. It should use less memory and run faster. Besides, I miss my operating system. =)
Anyway, where was I? Oh yes. Now I can write in relative secrecy! How I missed laptops...

PS! I found a fun site.
www.wicca-spirituality.com
I particularly liked this article on house cleansing.

Hattitude

Whenever I go to the local craft store, I browse through the hat section in search of a Proper Author hat. I was thinking that maybe I should get a cowboy hat, or an unrealistic Viking helmet (one with horns).
Hats are funny. It's an instant mood changer for many people. For example. Whenever I put on a fedora, I become very cocky and self-assured. It's an instant change. I've wondered why this is many times, but it wasn't until I read "Anansi Boys" that I really got it. In the story, someone explains the secret of wearing any hat: you have to have the right attitude.
This is intriguing to me. Basically, all you have to do to make a hat work is attune yourself to the hat's attitude- or it's hattitude. But what about that perfect hat that must be out there for you? How do you know that you've found it? Simple. The hat that looks and FEELS good on you without any effort at all is the hat for you. It doesn't take any tuning because both energies just WORK.
So basically, hats are like familiars that you have to attune to yourself and just kinda sit on your head. ....Unless you can endow your hat with enough creative energy that it becomes its own being! Then you could have a little familiar on your head that can whisper advice to you!!
Awesome.

Easing Myself Out

My laptop fried a while ago and I have to use the family computer to blog. This means that I can't write anything that I wouldn't want anyone in the house to see. My family knows that I'm a Wiccan, but I'm still weird about it. Besides, it's weird writing with people over my shoulder.
So I just haven't been blogging here. It's sad, really. I tell myself I'm comfortable with my religion, but I'm still closeted to most of the people I know.
Speaking of coming out of the broom closet, I told my friend's Mom that I was a witch a while back! We were sitting in the car, talking about religion and I mentioned it. As I did it, an odd feeling as if I were stretching across several parallel universes came over me. I heard myself say in a slow voice that I had recently decided that Wicca was the best religion for me and I thought "Well, here we go. All cards are on the table. Let's just see how she reacts." She just congratulated me upon my finding myself and we kept talking. The feeling was amazing. The first person outside my family sphere that I 'came out' to, and she totally took it in stride.

In more important news, I held an initiation ceremony for myself on September 21! (It was supposed to me September 20, but I couldn't do it that day.) I'll post the layout later. =)

"Words Make Up Our World," Said the Wizard

Terry Pratchett is a wizard with words. I'm serious. Although his books tend to lean on the silly side (luckily, I love silliness), they hold quite a bit of truth. I love the way he relishes words, reveres stories, and reveals parts of the universe from a very different (and yet decidedly straightforward) point of view. Yes, his books are indeed silly- at the same time though, they may well be the most contemplative and meaningful books that you will ever come across. At least that's my take on them.

"There should be a word for words that sound like things would sound like if they made a noise, he thought. The word 'glisten' does indeed gleam oilily, and if there ever was a word for that sounded exactly the way sparks look as they creep across burned paper, or the way the lights of cities would creep across the world if the whole of human civilization was crammed into one night, then you couldn't do better then 'coruscate.'"  -Terry Pratchett, Equal Rites, page 207.

Pandas and Paradigms

I just fully realized something today.
When I first introduced my friend to my Sycamore Wand, she asked if I cloud turn her into something cool, like a panda. I responded that I'd try, but that the effects probably wouldn't be physical. I tried to picture a big, furry panda plodding around and eating things. However, try as I might, I couldn't quite capture the essence. I wasn't connecting properly. I suddenly realized how strange it was to see my friend sitting there in front of me, all gangly arms and legs, hair dyed funny colors, and clothing wrapped around her like a safety blanket. She was just so obviously human that I almost laughed. I gave up on trying to turn her into a panda and we did something else.

It took me long enough, but I finally realized why it didn't work.
Shapeshifting (or Mindshifting, really) takes place in one's own head. To alter someone's mental shape, you would have to alter their mind (which would would border on an intrusion at the best of times). My friend wasn't a panda then. She was clearly human. I could have nudged her toward being something else if she was pointed in that direction and if she really wanted to change.

You can't have someone make up your mind for you. This is a fundamental aspect of Wicca that I had foolishly overlooked that day. We all have to steer our own ships, accepting guidance, directions, nudges, and the occasional push from the surrounding waters.

-Gwen <3

Fail

Well then. Yikes. I'm sorry I haven't been posting... I'm kind of busy, what with trying to test out of high school. It seems that, in my haze of scratch paper and calculators, I forgot to observe Lughnasadh. Quite a fail on my part. Anyway, I'm back now and I'm going to post more often.

Busy

My goodness, I've really fallen off the wagon with blogging! And Sabbats. I mean, YIKES. It's the Summer Solstice already! I've been REALLY busy with day to day life and I totally forgot.
I am studying for a big math test* and I haven't even thought about Sabbats.
I feel pretty lame.

I'm going to devise and type up a (late) Midsummer Solstice today and have some nice, warm fun. Maybe I'll even take pictures! =)

Until then, blessed be!
Happy past Solstice! =^^=
-Gwen

*When I created this google account, I claimed that I was in my forties. I'm actually much younger.

Alhethor

Last year I lit a green birthday candle I found lying in the bottom of a drawer for Saturday. I melted the bottom to a bottle lid, lit it, turned out the lights, sat down so that I was eye level with the flame, and said hello. It spoke back. He was fresh and young and had traveled quite a ways. He was afraid of the dark all around him, but I explained that the lights were out, but it was okay, I was there, and he had to be strong to supply light. He was happy to be with me and we held a mental conversation. His name was Alhethor and he was quite exited about something or other. I mostly got vague images about what it was, but it seemed to be something earthy.

I wrote a small poem/prayer when watching him and sang it back to him. He seemed to like it.
"Candle candle burning bright
Burning bright all through the night
Come to me by heart's delight
Through the flame that burns tonight."

Of course, he died as all things do. Before he went, he thanked me for being so nice to him. I asked him if he was going to be all right, and he said that I had helped strengthen him. I thanked him for giving me light and talking to me and he slowly winked out. He wasn't quite dead though. I felt part of him curl and spread through the air. The other part ran off in a whispery kind of delight.

I almost miss him whenever I think of him, but I always remember that he lives within everything that is the universe- including me.

Thank you for sharing your light with me, Alhethor. <3

Demographics

I'm beginning to wonder just how many Wiccans there are in the world. Luckily, Wikipedia is amazing and always humors me in my strange searches.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca#Demographics

DemographicsThe actual number of Wiccans worldwide is unknown, and it has been noted that it is more difficult to establish the numbers of members of Neopagan faiths than many other religions due to their disorganised structure.^[95] However, Adherents.com, an independent website which specialises in collecting estimates of world religions, cites over thirty sources with estimates of numbers of Wiccans (principally from the USA and UK). From this, they developed a median estimate of 800,000 members.^[96] In the United States population alone, there have been many attempts at finding a figure, with the 2001 American Religious Identification Survey estimating that at least 134,000 adults identified themselves as Wiccans, compared to 8,000 in 1990.^[97] Wiccans have also made up significant proportions of various groups within that country; for instance, Wicca is the largest non-Christian faith practiced in the United States Air Force, with 1,434 airmen identifying themselves as such.^[98]
In the United Kingdom, census figures do not allow an accurate breakdown of traditions within the Pagan heading, as a campaign by the Pagan Federation before the 2001 Census encouraged Wiccans, Heathens, Druids and others all to use the same write-in term 'Pagan' in order to maximise the numbers reported. For the first time, respondents were able to write in an affiliation not covered by the checklist of common religions, and a total of 42,262 people from England, Scotland and Wales declared themselves to be Pagans by this method. These figures were not immediately analysed by the Office of National Statistics, but were released after an application by the Pagan Federation of Scotland.^[100]

Well that's interesting. I had no idea it was largely practiced in the air force! Quite fascinating really. I wonder why.

Oh! Now that we're on the subject of demographics, stats came to mind. Lady Elk is only being found through random searches, so if you find my blog interesting and know someone who would like to learn more about Wicca, by all means, share my link!
I would be much obliged. =)
Blessed be, amazing humans!
-Gwen <3

My First Beltane!

May 1st is Beltane! This Sabbat, I'm springing in to action (pun not originally intended) and planning out my day!
Unfortunately, I'll be at my Mom's house on Tuesday, so I'll just have to hold the observance on Thursday. =)
Beltane, or Mayday, is a time of unity, fertility, and the joining of summer and spring. Although it is usually celebrated with bonfires and a maypole, I 'll skip out on the bonfire. If my yard were to catch fire, I would be very sad. =(
I'll probably make a mini maypole though! It can have woven flowers, ribbons, and other fun stuff. I'll put it in my yard near my chicken burial ground. (It is the place I bury dead chickens and pets, just in case you were wondering. Despite all the sadness that comes with burying dead things, the place has some very positive, happy energies. Maybe because it's healthy. Maybe because I just like digging in the ground. Maybe it because of the overhanging persimmon tree. Any way, It's a great place.)
Although Mayday's traditional colors are red and white, most people also use vivid blue and pink, lavender, yellow, and white. Flowers, fire, ribbons, and mirrors are a Mayday theme.

Here is my planned Beltane in a nutshell:

---
Beltane
Symbolism
Unity, the meeting of spring and summer, fertility.

Rituals and Activities
Picking flowers, weaving ribbons and wreaths, setting up a maypole, decorating the persimmon tree. Dancing and music. (I'm going to use Battlefield Band. It's very good Scottish Folk music.)


Themes and Colors
Ribbons, flowers, woven branches. Blue, pink, lavender, yellow, and white.
---

Happy coming Beltane, everyone! =^^=
Blessed be.
-Gwen

Jesus + Me = BFFs?

You know, it's really pretty tragic to me that so many people I know claim to not like Jesus.
He and I don't share the same religion. He lived thousands of years before me, --if he even lived at all-- and yet I know that I would have loved the guy if I ever met him. He's just so agreeable!
On the other hand, we have Christian extremists who twist his teachings and spin webs of guilt in his name. Now I know that most Christians aren't like this, and I even know that my religion has it's fair share of loonies! It's just strange to me that a group of people who follow the teachings of a pacifist can be so violent when defending their viewpoints.

Wicca is a pretty peaceful religion too. Why can't we be friends?

I think that the world would be a better place if we delighted in who people are, not judge based on what we think they should be.

Lost

I found my wand again!
She had kind of run away from me when I took that break from Wicca. The poor thing. I was really worried about her. I had almost accepted the fact that maybe she didn't like her place in my life anymore when I decided to clean under my bed the other day. Lo and behold, there she was! I could have sworn I'd looked there.
She kind of smiled shyly at me and I took her out of her sleeve, checked her over, and breathed a sigh of relief.
She's back.

Astrology from a Practical Point of View

I found this post on a blog I follow. I found it so interesting, I asked if I could use it on my own. She said yes, so here it is!
[Used and edited with permission from Rahel Sewell.]
[Original post]

Elements
Signs usually get along well with other signs of the same element. Looking at the chart, you will see that the lines connecting signs of like elements will form a triangle. Individuals born under signs of the same element will tend to see eye-to-eye with each other, and usually form strong bonds.

Fire: Power & Creativity

  Aries

  Leo

  Sagittarius

Earth: Stability & Resoluteness

  Taurus

  Virgo

  Capricorn

Air: Freedom & Intellect

  Gemini

  Libra

  Aquarius

Water: Change & Emotion

  Cancer

  Scorpio

  Pisces

Personality and Method

Each sign has a method of actions as well as a personality attached to it.

Aries- Powerful and assertive. Wants and accomplishes.

Taurus- Stable and stubborn. Grounds and protects.

Gemini- Dual, shifting, and imaginative. Blends and changes itself.

Cancer- Tenacious, organized, and critical. Feels and reacts.

Leo- Creative and egocentric. Creates and empowers.

Virgo- Observant and detail-orientated. Organizes and improves.

Libra- Balanced and diplomatic. Understands and harmonizes.

Scorpio- Sensitive and intense. Feels and expresses.

Sagittarius- Striving and seeking. Knows and Directs.

Capricorn- Ambitious and practical. Builds and asserts.

Aquarius- Logical and unconventional. Sees and progresses.

Pisces- Caring and emotional. Feels and aligns.

Teamwork

Each sign is fine on it's own. It can work by itself and generally manage things well. However, it helps if it has another sign to balance it out. Two minds are better then one.

For example, Leo is creative and can be self-absorbed. Leo also consolidates and then shapes energy, ideas, facts, etc. This is great, but it also needs some direction. Enter Sagittarius. (Note. Aries works quite well with Leo too. This is just an example.)

To see how signs relate to each other, think of sign compatibility less like 'Leo and Sagittarius are compatible' and more like 'Leo consolidates. Sagittarius directs. Leo needs Sagittarius to direct excess energy. Sagittarius needs Leo as a source of energy.'

When you think of it this way, astrological signs widen from romantic compatibilities to team-building and harmonizing.

As an example of signs that usually don't work, take Sagittarius and Cancer. Cancer feels and fixes. Sagittarius directs. Cancer may cling to and attempt to better Sagittarius. Sagittarius may walk away from Cancer or attempt to steer it. If the relationship is handled wisely, it may work out. For example, it might work if Cancer understands that Sagittarius needs free-reign and helps mend and heal when needed, and if Sagittarius understands that Cancer is just trying to help and  tries to include Cancer in it's life.

Now that we're breaking away from romantic compatibilities and moving on to teamwork, one can start to create teams or characters based off of various signs. Try to apply an astrological sign to each character. Then examine how they interact. Make some notes then refer to the charts and lists I provided. The results should prove interesting.

This method also works for character creation in books and such as well as games and real-life teams.

How to Cast a Circle

When I started practicing Wicca, I was unclear on how to cast Circles. I didn’t know if the rules were passed down through Covens, if they were purely intuitive, or even if they had casting rules. I started to wonder if everyone knew how to cast Circles and I was just lacking in spiritual knowledge. Finally, I came upon a small piece about  it in 'Living Wicca: A Further Guide for the Solitary Practitioner.' I found out that I have been creating Circles all my life! (Although mine were usually portable.)

---
This is how I create Circles.

Close your eyes, feel the energy of objects around you, and find a good place for your circle.
Glance around, visually establishing the borders of your Circle.
Use a Wand, Athame, your hand, or your mind to direct energy around you in a clockwise circle. Many people envision this circle on the ground, eye level, chest level etc. Just do what comes naturally to you. As your energy moves around you, picture it flowing out in vibrant color or light (mine is purple light) like ink from a pen, creating a protective circle around you. Allow your energy to orbit you like electrons around a nucleus, weaving trails of color around you and forming a strong, positive wall. This should help you focus your energy efficiently and protect you from most outside forces. To break the circle, imagine allowing a seam to open near the top of your circle. Push your way through it, allowing any remaining energies to ground and spread into the earth.


---
After breaking a circle, you may feel a bit aimless. This is because you are used to having energy focused on something. If you just used this energy, it is quite natural to a little feel confused, aimless, disoriented, or even a bit tired.
Sit down. Drink something. Focus on a small physical or mental craft. I usually write poetry, draw, or carve wands. Don't worry. Focus will return.

Ostara

I woke up this morning, threw on my cloak, and headed out with my little sister to make myself my first broom.

His name is Ozwald. I later researched and found that 'Oswald' (pronounced oz-vald) is German for 'divine power'. Fitting, I suppose.

Although I much prefer staffs, I couldn't find a suitable branch on such short notice and suck with a broom instead. =)

Here's how I made him.

Materials Used:

• The broken handle of an old gardening tool
• The straps off a straw bale
• A large bundle of twigs
• 2 sturdy sticks about 7 inches long and a centimeter wide.
• A wood burner

I took the bundle of twigs, made sure that they were of roughly equal length, and separated them into groups of 4. I took the first 2 groups and tied them at the top. Then I tied them to the first stick. 

I did the same to the other 2.

Then I weaved in the second stick through the groups and tied up the deal.

It ended up looking like this, but much tighter.

Then I tied the handle to it, thought up a name, wood burned said name into it, spontaneously added a sprig of mint and a sprig of thyme, blessed it with sage smoke, set it out by the door, and went back inside.

It took a medium amount of time and --while it doesn't look very pretty (I should use a different rope next time)-- It works.

I should have also taken pictures of the process, but I am quite happy with Ozwald. He was fun to make and offered me some bonding time with my little sister.

All in all, this was a great Ostara. =)

Happy Spring!!

Blessed be. <3

I'm Back

Well, I'm back.
I decided to step away from Wicca for a while after my Mother expressed concern over practitioners of the religion 'loosing touch with reality.' I value her opinion, and I know that she does have a point that many people do get carried away, so I stepped back for several months to think about it. I have to say, it was very interesting. I have concluded that the way I see the universe is fairly grounded and very positive, and that I want to continue to enjoy the way I see it in my own way.
Just doing this makes me feel happy. I feel like I have regained my place.
I am Wiccan.

... And I forgot to celebrate Ostara. Well, not exactly. Last week, I got the feeling that another Sabbat was coming, but I forgot to confirm that feeling. Ah well. I'm thinking about making a broom. I found the wooden handle of an old shovel or rake, and it spoke to me, so I'll use that. Now for some nice twigs...