Monday Medley

So, another snowfall......over a foot. Always beautiful, but at this time of year, with Spring stretching herself towards us, not quite as exhilarating. Add to this the fact that my delightful husband is in Hawaii on business. Yes, Hawaii. Perhaps I shall say no further words on that subject.

Son nicarus and I have been working around the house this past week. Remember the Dreaded Craft Corner I blogged about back in, (yikes) November? I shall be posting photos soon of the lovely makeover of my creative space!

We went to Mystic Side, the metaphysical shop I love, over the weekend. Besides restocking my tiny candles, I found a book by my most favorite Wiccan author, Scott Cunningham. Divination for Beginners, Reading the Past, Present and Future. ( It was originally called The Art of Divination when it was first published in 1993). It always thrills me to find a Cunningham book and reading it last night was very inspiring and exciting. His writing style is simple and beautiful, explaining in a way that does not confuse. If you have not read any of Scott Cunningham's books, I strongly encourage you to do so.

The sun is now shining, the wild birds are bickering over the feeders, the dogs are anxious to get out into the snow and I am thinking about my to-do lists. And Ostara is getting closer. The sabbat that celebrates the Spring Equinox. I get a little giddy when I think about Spring!

Wishing everyone a great week.

geraldputt.com

My Wiccan Ways-- Natural Magick

Preface: Pagan paths are many and varied. My intention in this blog is to write about my personal Wiccan path. I have made decisions and choices concerning my path through study, practice, meditation. Differences are bound to occur because there is no one "correct" way. The hope here is that pagans exemplify the true meaning of religious tolerance through mutual respect and common courtesy.

Natural magick is a beautiful phrase to me. It is not about fancy tools and spectacular sorcery. Connecting with natural energies and directing those energies to cause a needed change is the definition in a nutshell. Natural energies include one's own personal power accessed through intent, concentration, visualization and action. It takes practice and fortitude. Adding energy from natural elements such as stones, herbs, incense and water as you work your magickal spell increases the flow of this energy. Communicating with Deity is a powerful addition to the working.

How does this work?  I have a need, something important to me. My intent is to create a positive change that will satisfy this need. I visualize this need being met, that it will come to fruition. This is important, to see the positive result already taking place. Anything I add to this spell now increases the energy that will flow to bring about this change. I will look at the phase of Moon...is it waxing or waning? To bring something to me, I will work during the waxing moon....the power of the growing moon is present.  To rid myself of something, I will work during the waning moon.

There are many sources of natural energy all around us. It is up to me to decide what I will do to make the best use of this energy. Working with the elements of earth, air, fire and water, either one of these elements, or a combination is very effective. Knowledge of the correspondences that represent these elements is necessary. I am not a walking encyclopedia, so I have many books I refer to for this information.

My personal connection with Deity, the God and the Goddess, is critical to me for success with my natural magickal workings.  I ask for guidance and support. I ask for their power, their energies, to assist in the spell. It is a powerful experience. Throughout all of this is the belief that the natural energies I access will bring me the result I need.

Natural magick can be as simple or as complex as you desire. You can work with a minimal amount of tools and accessories, or you can choose to make your spell elaborate. It is up to the practitioner to make these choices. What a beautiful way to live.  Nature surrounds us. Natural energies are ever-present. Just close your eyes and feel the power.

Bright Blessings!

Power of 3 Giveaway Winners!!

What is simmering in my cauldron?

Ah, the entries in the Power of 3 Giveaway. Let me stir them around a bit with my wand.

Okay, Witch's Assistant, nicarus. close your eyes and choose the first winner.

Congratulations to Christer, http://thecottagebythecranelakeolof1.wordpress.com/

nicarus, please select the second winner

Congratulations to Moncha http://magpie-hollow.blogspot.com/

and now for our third winner, if you please, nicarus

Congratulations to Danni  http://thewhimsicalcottage.blogspot.com/

Three wonderful winners are chosen!! It is hard though, because I want everyone to win!! But there will be more giveaways in the future here at Wiccan Writes and I thank all of my beautiful followers for visiting! You are all winners in my world!!!

So Christer, Moncha and Danni, please do email me your snail mail addresses, and your prizes will be winging their way to you as soon as I can get the owls loaded for delivery!!!

On a bright note here is a photo that warmed my heart...the first robin of the season....spring is coming!!!

Blessings from Robin!!!!

Last Day to Enter the Power of 3 Giveaway!

The title says it all....the contest ends at 9:00 pm tonight! Hurry, now.

Gwennie

Lexie-Girl

Sparrow peeking out of the birdhouse

Everyone is waiting to see who wins!!

Hurray for March!

Turning the calendar to March is a wonderful thing! Here in New York, March is coming in like a lamb, with blue skies and sunshine. But, lo, the snow and cold will return tomorrow. That's okay, Spring is not far off now.

A weekend of fun and family was very much energizing. We bought a wedding dress! I won't, of course show the dress my daughter chose, but here are photos of two she tried.

The dress she did get is perfect! She will be a most beautiful bride. You will get to see photos in August! The wedding is going to be at a 150 year old Irish castle in a beautiful setting in the Mohawk Valley of New York.

And here's a photo of her birthday celebration.

25th birthday

Last two days to enter my Power of Three giveaway!  Hurry, now!

Squirrels, snow, birthdays, fairies, oz, my giveaway, and a bride too.

Snowy Friday again. But only about 5 inches this time, not that foot of snow they predicted.  Here's a photo of someone who doesn't care if it is snowing:

Checking out the squirrel-proof bird feeder

Look how short this squirrel's tail is (and yes, Squirrel, I'm looking at you)

On the homefront, daughter raethan is coming home for the weekend to celebrate her 25th birthday. Son nicarus is already here. My adorable husband is stuck in Washington DC as his flight was cancelled due to high winds. All subsequent flights for tomorrow are booked solid, so he is renting a car and driving home, an almost 7 hour drive. So we are off to a bumpy start, but things will improve!

Here are some reminders:

Just three more days left for Danni's February Fairies over at her blog the Whimsical Cottage. Click on the button on my sidebar. She has done a great job of gathering bloggers to entertain this whole month with enchanting fairy posts. I say, "Thanks, Danni!"

Yesterday I posted my Power of Three Giveaway. I did forget to state that this is open to international followers too.  I will draw three winners on March 3rd. Be sure to enter!!!

March is finally just about to come storming in, and what a great month it will be. St. Patrick's Day is always fun whether you are Irish or not. Then we have the Celebrate Oz blog fest put together by Linda at her Olde Bagge and Stuffed Shirts blog on March 19th. Click on the image on my sidebar for more information. There is still time for anyone who would like to participate to sign up. Come on, it will be fun!!

And then, hurray, Ostara will be here. March 21st....spring equinox. Wiccans love their sabbats!! More posts about Ostara throughout March.

I do not usually post late in the day, but it is hectic, and the weekend is going to be busy. Besides celebrating a birthday, my daughter and I are going to a bridal shop to look at wedding dresses. She and her fiance are  getting married in August. Yikes!! Lots to do. I have never been the mother of the bride before.

Everyone have a great weekend...stay safe and be happy. I will see you all on Monday!!!

Blessings from Robin.

The "Power of Three" Giveaway! ****UPDATED*****

The Power of Three? If you are Wiccan, or of any of many pagan paths, you know about the power of three. First and foremost, for me, is the beloved Triple Goddess: Maiden, Mother, Crone, symbolized by the phases of the moon. The Threefold Law of Return is part of my practice and that of many others. This is simply a basic, common sense approach to living: that what you send out will return to you threefold, be it positive actions, or negative actions. Also, there is the belief in Birth, Death, Rebirth. In spell casting I often close my spell with the words, "by the power of 3 times 3, this spell is done, so mote it be". I found that phrase in Ellen Dugan's books when I first started practicing Wicca, and have used it for a long time.

Triquetra

The Triquetra is a symbol found in some form or other in different religions, but is most commonly found in Celtic references, especially Celtic pagan use. It usually symbolizes the Triple Goddess, but has been used with other meanings, depending on the path. You will see many pagans wearing this symbol as jewelry, tattoos, on clothing, etc.

Okay, kids, the brief lesson is over for now. Onto the Giveaway!! I am thrilled to be blogging and as of this moment 67 people have signed onto follow me, and I am so gosh-darned pleased about that!! I had found some books and journals at Barnes and Noble at super bargain prices, and thought I would like to give my followers a gift. But not just one follower. I have three sets of gifts to give to 3 followers. And I will announce the winners on 3/3, that is March 3rd. Therefore, the Power of Three is very active here at Wiccan Writes.

Simple Simple Simple to win:  Be a follower, sign onto follow, and leave a comment that you are interested in receiving one of the following:

First Gift Set:  Animal Speak Pocket Guide, by Ted Andrews, perfect to carry with you for a quick reference for your animal encounters and what they might mean....is it a messenger, a symbol, or something else. A journal to write down encounters you have, be they in the physical realm or the dream realm, and finally a lovely little scrumptious offering from Godiva, because Robin Larkspur loves loves loves chocolate.

Second Gift Set: For you dreamers out there, here is The Illustrated Dream Dictionary by Russell Grant, illustrated by Vicky Emptage. This is a guide to help you decode your dreams and find the hidden meanings behind all sorts of dreams. You have to have a journal to record your dreams, too. And, of course the Godiva chocolate gift, because, you know, the chocolate loving thing.

Third Gift Set: Here are two books by Janet Blackwell for your reading enjoyment. Secondhand Spirits & A Cast-Off Coven.   These are books one and two in the story of a witch in San Francisco. There is witchcraft, murder and mayhem...and a talking pig (of course, he's not really a pig, is he?) A  very fun read. Naturally, this gift set includes the aforementioned Godiva chocolate.

I am excited and looking forward to this giveaway and hope you are too. Remember, I will choose three winners on March 3rd. The winners will have 3 days to respond; I will choose another winner in case I do not receive a response from the first winners.  Be sure to leave me an email address if you do not have a blog with contact info.

The Power of Three Giveaway

*****UPDATED*****   Hi! I have switched the Godiva chocolate gift from the little bags of Dark Chocolate Almonds to the Godiva Dark Chocolate with Almonds Bars. This will be so much easier to mail with the books and journals...because Goddess Forbid, one does not want to crush one's nuts, er, um. almonds in the mail!!***********

The New Updated Godiva Chocolate Bar for the GIveaway.

P.S. Gosh, what am I going to do with those three other Godiva chocolate gifts??

Blessings from Robin.