Salves are a simple yet effective way of applying the medicinal qualities of herbs. They’re the consistency of a cream at room temperature and portable for on-the-go topical application. By combining various herbal-infused oils, an individual can address a variety of ailments, from arthritis to asthma. Each salve can be customized to the individual to treat a specific illness or can be general all-heal tool in your first aid kit.
Base Ingredients
Herbal-infused Oils
To craft a salve, you must start with herbal-infused oils as your primary base. For this, there are two components: your choice of herb(s) and your choice of carrier oil(s). Some commonly used carrier oils are olive, grapeseed, almond and safflower.
At the end of this post, there will be an overview of common herbs and carrier oils so that you can make an educated decision when crafting your herbal-infused oils.
Here are two basic methods of infusion:
Solar Method (Folk Method)
Take a sterilized jar and fill ⅓ to ½ of it with your choice of driedherbs.
Cover with your carrier oil. Add around 500 IUs of vitamin E oil for every 8 oz. of carrier oil to prolong shelf life.
Cap the jar tightly and place in a sunny space - either outdoors or indoors. Shake it daily.
Allow the mixture to infuse for 2 to 3 weeks, or until the oil takes on the colour or aroma of the herb within.
Once the oil is ready, strain using a cheesecloth and bottle into a tinted sterilized jar. Store in a cool, dark place.
Slow Cooker or Stove top (Fast Method)
Place your choice of driedherbs in your slow cooker or pot and cover with your carrier oil. Add around 500 IUs of vitamin E oil for every 8 oz. of carrier oil to prolong shelf life.
Gently heat the herbs on very low heat (100 - 140 degrees Fahrenheit) for 1 - 5 hours until the oil takes on the colour and scent of the herb. You can cook it for longer at 100 F if you would like.
Turn off heat and allow to cool. Once the oil is ready, strain using a cheesecloth and bottle into a tinted sterilized jar. Store in a cool, dark place.
Do not use fresh herbs when crafting herbal-infused oils. They contain moisture and promote the growth of mold, especially if infused via solar method.
Wax
Waxes are frequently used in making cosmetics, body care products and salves: they help to bind and emulsify ointments and lotions. They also function as a natural hydrating ingredient and alleviate itching for those with sensitive skin.
The most commonly-used wax for crafting salves is beeswax; however, vegans and those with allergies can utilize carnauba wax which is sourced from the leaves of a Brazilian palm tree.
Method
Once the herbal-infused oils are prepared, the process of making a salve only takes a few minutes. Here are the steps involved in the process:
On low to medium heat, warm the herbal-infused oil(s) in the top of a double boiler or in a small saucepan.
Add the wax. Once the wax has melted, remove from heat.
If any, stir in any additional ingredients of your choice, such as essential oils.
Pour into your designated container(s).
Recipes
Soothing lip salve
3 tbsp beeswax
3 tbsp aloe vera gel
2 tbsp oil of choice
8 drops essential oil of choice (optional)
Salve for minor scrapes, bites and burns
1 ½ cups comfrey-infused oil
1 ½ tbsp coconut oil
¼ cup (55g) beeswax
Healing salve
1 quart (1 litre) of oil infused with equal parts St. John’s wort, comfrey, peppermint and lavender
¼ cup (55g) beeswax
Salve for backaches
1 cup ginger- and peppermint-infused oil
2 tbsp (22g) beeswax
First aid salve
1 cup St. John’s wort-infused oil
2 tbsp (22g) beeswax
Salve for rheumatoid arthritis
1 cup ginger- and licorice root-infused oil
2 tbsp (22g) beeswax
Common Carrier Oils
Almond oil, sweet: A fantastic carrier oil that contains fatty acids and vitamins A and E. It’s an effective emollient for moisturizing both skin and hair and is easily absorbed by skin.
Argan oil: This is a staple in moisturizing skin and hair care products. Argan oil contains tocopherols, phenols, carotenes, squaline and fatty acids - it’s a truly luxurious oil.
Evening primrose oil: Prized for its health and cosmetic benefits.
Grapeseed oil: A common base for many creams and lotions - it’s the go-to carrier oil since it’s especially useful for skin types that do not absorb oils well and does not leave a greasy feeling.
Olive oil: The most commonly-used oil in cosmetics and hair care.
Safflower oil: A highly-moisturizing oil that soothes troubled skin.
Common Herbs for Health and Wellness
Aloe Vera: Excellent for treating burns, cuts and scrapes.
Arnica Montana: These flowers offer strong anti-inflammatory properties. (Do not use in open or bleeding wounds. Long-term use can cause skin irritation.)
Black Cohosh: Offers anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving benefits. (Do not use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Can cause gastric discomfort in some individuals.)
Blue Vervain: Relaxes the nervous system and offers reliable pain relief for rheumatism, joint pain and neuralgia. (Do not use during pregnancy.)
Chamomile: Antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic. (Do not use if on blood thinners or if allergic to ragweed.)
Chickweed: Wonderful for making soothing poultices to treat rashes, skin irritations, minor burns and itching.
Comfrey: Alleviates pain and inflammation; works well on cuts, scrapes, insect bites, burns and rashes. (Do not use on children.)
Echinacea:Antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral. (Do not use if you have tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, autoimmune diseases, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or if you are allergic to ragweed.)
Ginkgo Biloba: Natural antihistamine, anti-inflammatory and great for treating allergies and asthma. (Do not use if you take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), or blood thinners.)
Goldenseal:Antiviral, antibacterial and excellent for dealing with minor cuts and wounds, sinus infections, respiratory congestion, sore throats and more! (Do not use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or if you have high blood pressure.)
Mullein:Great for first-aid treatment of minor wounds, burns and insect bites.
Plantain:Antimicrobial, antihistamine and anti-inflammatory; great for treating wounds, insect bites and minor aches and pains.
Sage: An excellent remedy for colds and fevers, hot flashes, painful or heavy periods, rashes and sore throats.
St. John’s wort: A strong antiviral; treats arthritis, fibromyalgia, muscle aches and sciatica. (Do not use if you take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI).)
Witch Hazel: An effective remedy for acne, cuts and scrapes, insect bites, minor burns and sunburns.
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Images are under the Creative Commons License.
Information published is from my personal grimoire and has been accumulated over the years through a variety of books and resources while residing in Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Cuba and Canada.
After making the sign of the cross while holding the crucifix of the rosary, say the Apostles’ Creed.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
On the first large bead, pray the Our Father.
Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.
Pray three Hail Marys on the following three beads.
Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
At the next large bead, pray the Glory Be.
Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
On the large beads before each decade pray the following prayer.
O Holy Souls draw the fire of God’s love into my soul, to reveal Jesus Crucified in me here on earth, rather than hereafter in Purgatory.
Then on the small beads pray this prayer.
Crucified Lord Jesus, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory.
At the conclusion of the chaplet, pray 3 Glory Be prayers.
As today is All Souls Day, I thought that another prayer for the dead in Purgatory would be appropriate. This with the prayer of St Gertrude the Great. As prayer in my eyes can be seen as an act of Charity, I will be posting the ‘Heroic Act of Charity‘ for the souls in Purgatory. Since I found that these prayers together, create a good flow of energy/they go well together.
The Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great is one of the most famous- and one of my favorites -of the prayers for souls in purgatory. St. Gertrude the Great- as seen above -was a Benedictine nun and mystic who lived in the 13th century. According to tradition, our Lord promised her that 1000 souls would be released from purgatory each time it is prayed devoutly.
Before you start, you don’t actually need anything for this prayer. But if you want to light a candle, put out a glass or two of water, and hold your rosary and recite an Our Father and a Hail Mary before, feel free.
“Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.”
The Heroic Act of Charity Prayer: A lot of devoted people regard this prayer as especially powerful, calling to mind as it does call on a powerful intercessor with our Lord, His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary!
“Heavenly Father, in union with the merits of Jesus and Mary, I offer to You for the sake of the poor souls all the satisfactory value of my works during life, as well as all that will be done for me after death. I give You my all through the hands of the Immaculate Virgin Mary that she may set free whatever souls she pleases, according to her heavenly wisdom and mother’s love for them. Receive this offering, O God, and grant me in return an increase of Your grace. Amen.”
Pray for those that are in purgatory and they will pray for you.
A bowl halfway filled with water, alongside some salt (the feminine/passive/downward triangle). An incense (preferably frankincense, myrrh or both - one can also use a planetary incense if consecrating a planetary talisman. the masculine/active/upward triangles.
First begin by doing the following
I exorcize thee, creatures of spices, by He who has created the heavens, the earth, the sea and all therein. I implore Him to expel from thee, all shades of phantasms or malefic forces, and in them set the shackles that they may not hurt nor horrify any other soul. I bless the, after this thy exorcism, by He who in the finger of His Divinity has created the Heavens, the Earth, the Waters, all therein, cast and healed numerous plagues, restored health to the severely ill and has produced most wondrous miracles. Oremus - Lord, from the finger of thy hand, lay upon this holy incense that the aromatics and virtues of its holy grace be pleasing unto thee, and empowered ten fold, that the spirits invoked by it’s holy grace, extended by thee, be obtained quickly and my will be done. Through Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
I exorcize thee, creature of water, by He who has formed unto himself, by himself, that neither phantasm, nor darkness, nor shades restless may abide in thee and that they are cast out by the Holy Names, I do exorcize thee in the Name of God, and cast out all phantasms from thee by Him. Amen.
Sprinkle salt into the water
Be purified by the Living God, the God of Israel, by the Saints, by the Angels, By the Cross, By The Lamb that taketh away the Sins of the World, be purified, I say, in the name of all Holy Names, those utter and unuttered for God liveth forevermore. Be encharged, ye holy creature, to be remedy and purifcation, remit us of our sins, be blessed by the Divine Father. Oremus - Lord, we bid thee, place thine grace and the grace of thine celestial hierarchy upon this water, that has containeth the life of man, and in doing so, grant that it may be used to the purposes of this work. Amen.
Signt the cross over the items three times in the Name of the Trinity.
Light the incense, place a circle of salt around the water, talisman and incense and begin.
Hold the talisman or amulet over the water and aay - I cleanse and consecrate thee by water in the name of He that liveth and reigneth evermore. (sign the cross over the water using the item to seal the blessing, during it you should imagine a light from the water entering into the amulet or talisman)
Hold it over the incense and say - I cleanse and consecrate thee by fire in the name of He that liveth and Reigneth Evermore. (sign the cross over the incense to seal the blessing, again imagine a light going into it from the smoke).
Place the talisman down onto the table before the incense and water and sign the cross over it three times saying By the Lord, it is done, fiat, amen.
Then leave it until the incense burns down, taking it then and placing it somewhere safe or using it in your next working.
If it has a specific intent, you may change around the prayers or after the ritual, pray a psalm or other prayer corresponding to the need over it three times, then again leaving it until the incense has burnt down.
I made this blog for the express purposes of helping people who needed the information I have placed here. If you do not agree with the beliefs I have placed here, then there is no need to get into a theological rant because unfortunately, I’m only qualified to the extent that I have been taught about religion in my family. I will not tolerate people pushing their beliefs on another person, nor admonishing the beliefs of another. I made this tumblr as a safe space for people of all beliefs who would be willing to work with each other without a blasted fight or theological rant. There are thousands of paths up the mountain, but they all lead to the same peak.
It is Christ Himself, not the Bible, who is the true word of God. The Bible, read in the right spirit and with the guidance of good teachers will bring us to Him… But we must not use the Bible (our fathers too often did) as a sort of Encyclopedia out of which texts (isolated from their context and not read without attention to the whole nature & purport of the books in which they occur) can be taken for use as weapons.
The first use for cemetery water is to connect with the dead. Because this water is infused with death energy, its function is similar to graveyard dirt.
Put cemetery water into death witch or necromancy-related spells. I used some in my spirit work oil andnecromancy ink. You can also add it to salves and oils (not on the body). Dipping a candle in it (not the wick!) and letting it dry might enhance a candle spell. Add a tiny bit to dampen your herbal smoking blend should you want to go hedgecrossing or divine.
To simplify, view cemetery water as a spirit work booster. Anything you add it to should help you connect with the dead.
Another use for cemetery water is lecanomancy, otherwise known as water scrying. Since ancient Rome, necromancers have peered into water to receive messages from the dead.
To practice water scrying, grab a clear bowl (glass is ideal) and pour cemetery water into it. Make sure that the bowl is not too dark; you want to see the water. Light a candle and keep it nearby to illuminate the space. Some people put a bit of olive oil into the water, but that is not necessary. Breathe evenly, clear your mind, and peer into the water. See what the dead wish to show you.
Protection with Cemetery Water
Another potential use for cemetery water is protection. Depending on the folklore, even imitating water can protect you from spirits.
Rub cemetery water onto your windows and doors to ward your home. While leaving a cemetery, toss some water behind you so that spirits don’t follow you home. Painting certain objects in the color of water might dissuade spirits from touching them. Include it in washes to cleanse your divination tools.
• Crystals for charging: Amber, amazonite, beryl, chrysoprase, garnet, hematite, jet, onyx and rubellite.
Info:
During this month the wolves once roamed the countryside, thus suggesting the name wolf moon. This is a good time for planning your year, what do you want to accomplish this year? Set some goals and plan how to achieve them.
Before you start make sure you have all that you need for the ritual by laying out your crystals, fill up the chalice/bowl with drinking water, place your candles and put out your food on a separate table. Then sage the area to make your sacred space and cast your circle. Invoke the elements, then God and Mary. Once you are done with the invocations turn to your altar and hold your arms open wide looking up to the Moon and chant:
Oh, Mother Mary bless (me or us) with this Wolf Moon,
I ask that you guide (me or us) with heightened awareness, fill (me or us) with Determination and focus (my or our) energy for this New Year.
Take this time to reflect upon the goals that you want to achieve this month. Once done, raise up your chalice/bowl and chant:
The moon is the symbol of our holy mother, her purity and wisdom are great and all-knowing, and (I or we) honor her on this holy night.
Until the time when the moon becomes full again, please keep a watchful eye over (me or us) Oh blessed mother. In God and your name, we pray. Amen
Take a drink from the chalice/bowl now that’s has turned into moon water and share if you have others participating in the ritual.
Thank God and Mary, then release the elements, and you are done! Keep your crystals out for this moon and make sure you remember to take them in the next day.
Have fun after the ritual, you can either have a party or just celebrate by yourself; it’s up to you.
For all my witches out there, here’s a handy list of the 2022 dates for the major holidays, full and new moons, and special events. I’ve listed my sources at the bottom. Dates and times for all events are calculated for Eastern Standard Time, USA, Northern Hemisphere. Adjust for your location as needed. Enjoy!
WOTY Holidays and Solstices
February 1-2 - Imbolc
March 20 - Spring Equinox / Ostara
May 1 - Beltane
June 21 - Summer Solstice / Midsummer
August 1 - Lughnasadh
September 22 - Autumn Equinox / Mabon
October 31 - Samhain
December 21 - Winter Solstice / Yule
Full Moons
January 17 - Wolf Moon ♋️
February 16 - Snow Moon ♌️
March 18 - Worm Moon ♍️
April 16 - Pink Moon ♎️
May 16 - Flower Moon ♏️
June 14 - Strawberry Moon ♐️
July 13 - Thunder Moon (aka Buck Moon) ♑️
August 11 - Sturgeon Moon ♒️
September 10 - Harvest Moon ♓️
October 9 - Hunter’s Moon (aka Blood Moon) ♈️
November 8 - Frost Moon ♉️
December 7 - Cold Moon ♊️
Fun Fact: The title of Harvest Moon is given to either the September or October full moon, whichever falls closest to the autumn equinox. In 2022, that month will be September.
New Moons
January 2 ♑️
February 1 ♒️
March 2 ♓️
April 1 ♈️
April 30 ♉️
May 30 ♊️
June 29 ♋️
July 28 ♌️
August 27 ♍️
September 25 ♎️
October 25 ♏️
November 23 ♐️
December 23 ♑️
Special Events
April 30 - Black Moon & Partial Solar Eclipse (10:42pm EST)
May 16 - Total Lunar Eclipe (12:11am EST, coinciding with zenith)
June 14 - Supermoon
July 13 - Supermoon
October 25 - Partial Solar Eclipe (11:01am EST)
November 8 - Total Lunar Eclipse (5:59am EST, coinciding with zenith)
We instinctually gravitate towards practical activities under the influence of a Virgo Moon. In an urge to set things right, we might easily find ourselves re-organizing and rethinking plans. Emotional satisfaction comes from solving problems, making order out of confusion, and helping others. Health matters might come into focus.
Attention towards details is on the increase, with a tendency to fault-finding, cleanliness and neatness. It is a good time to undertake routine, painstaking work, and to search for and correct errors. Your body may be more intolerant of low-grade food and harmful substances, and this is a good day to begin a diet.
The Moon in Virgo generally favors mental pursuits, work, routines and any activities that would benefit from tending to details.
This is a Full Moon Blessing I use on every full moon occurrence! Blessed be witches
Hello my fellow Christian witches, and my fellow pagan witches out there, I come to you with this post because I figured : “ hey! there are many witches out there and they all identify themselves with different forms like Sea Witch, Storm Witch, Swamp Witch, and the like. So why not introduce the types of magic that are really common and practiced among all of us witches out there!”
So here are the 5 Types of Magic, and I hope that no one feels offended, or feels like what is this asshole talking about? These types are so common, and are categorized according to the source of energy rather than the way!
Blessed be to all!
Types of Magic: Magic has two components: intention and amplification. The following 5 classifications are based on that second component. I divided all the different types of magic according to the source of energy rather than on the way of doing it. On a side note, I did not include divination because it is NOT a form of magick. Divination is a way to gain insight: you can’t use it to manifest things (unless you use it as a magical tool). So, without further ado, here are the 5 basic types of magic.
1. NATURAL MAGIC This is probably the most common form of magic. Any magic that deals with the forces of nature falls under that category. Natural magic incorporates all four natural elements (Earth, Air, Water and Fire) but also Sea, Weather, Crystals, and much more. Natural magic is also called folk magic or low magic because it does not require a lot of preparation and tools to perform. You can practice it anywhere, intuitively, using what you have on hand. Casting a sacred circle isn’t even necessary! It’s been practiced since the dawn of time by shamans, healers, medicine women, druids, and other traditional witches around the world. Potions, talismans and amulets are typical examples of natural magic (but you are not limited to these of course!).
2. PLANETARY MAGIC Planetary magic draws its energy from heavenly bodies such as the Sun, the Moon, and the planets of our solar system. This kind of magic is based from the age-old tradition of astrology. Lunar and solar magic also falls under this category. In their simplest form, Full Moon rituals are a mix of natural and planetary magic. To perform planetary magic, you need a good knowledge of astrology and astronomy. This kind of magic requires more planning than natural magic because you have to carefully select the perfect time and material corresponding to your goal and to the planet that you will work with.
3. CHAOS MAGIC In Chaos magic, you draw your energy from your own psyche. To charge their spells, chaos magic practicionners need to be in a gnosis, or altered state of consciousness. This state can be attained in various ways such as meditation, drumming, dance, intense physical effort and even sexual intercourse. It’s only when you’ve reached this specific mental state that you can charge your spell with your own energy. It’s as if you were programming the Universe AND your own subconscious at the same time. For this reason, chaos magic doesn’t require a lot of preparation or theorical knowledge. If you know how to attain gnosis, you can practice it anywhere, using what you’ve got on hand. You don’t need to cast a sacred circle either. Of course, the most popular form of chaos magic is sigil crafting. However, there are many other ways to practice chaos magic such as the cut-up technique, linking sigils, and servitors. Since there are no rules in chaos magic, be creative and feel free to experiment. Keep in mind that anything that uses symbols can be used as a support for chaos magic, even tarot cards. However, be very careful what you wish for! Chaos magic is very neutral and unfiltered, so you might be surprised by the results of your spells.
4. CEREMONIAL MAGIC Ceremonial magic is also called High Magic by some. It is an ancient form of magic that uses complicated sets of rules, rituals, symbols and tools. Its probably the most “occult” form of magic. The magic from all initiatic orders falls under this category (such as the Institute of Hermetic Studies, the Society of the Inner Light, O.T.O., Rosicrucians, Templars, Golden Dawn, Freemasonry, etc). Besides, you need to be initiated by a member in order to practice it. Here, the energy source is the egregor of each specific tradition. Since a lot of these traditions are highly philosophical, their spells and rituals need a lot of prior knowledge and planning. Since I’m not a member of any initiatic order, I don’t know much about it. All I know is that a lot of ceremonial magic is based on the Kabballah and alchemy.
5. SUMMONING MAGIC Summoning magic draws its energy from entities of other planes of consciousness such as gods and goddesses, faeries, spirit animals, angels, and even demons and “ancestors,” for Dark Magic practitioners. Therefore, this category incorporates all rituals and spells requiring the summoning of an entity. Here, the practitioner does not act on their own. Instead, spells and rituals are performed in the name of the entity that has been summoned. This form of magic is practiced in all devotional magical traditions such as Wicca and other neopagan religions. Summoning magic requires knowledge, planning and dedication in the long run. Working with a spiritual guide of any kind is the most powerful form of summoning magic.
For my Christian witches, I do not recommend the Summoning magic, although it is frequently used, because it is too easy for an evil entity to impersonate an angel of light, your dead ancestor, etc. It is quite dangerous, however popular it is. I do recommend praying to God. As for my pagan witches who prefer dealing with such entities, please be careful and keep protected! If ever visited by any evil entity do perform a banishment spell under any circumstances!
Wanted to share this for others to see! Since we don’t encourage labeling witches much! Here is an old post on types of magic we witches practice ❤️ love and light to all of you!
Imbolc and Candlemas occur this week, and I love this holiday of light. However, as I have been scouring the internet and reading articles, looking for good ideas for what to post here that would be helpful to you guys, I have seen something that really concerns me.
What is it about humans that we have to rush things? Children are in such a hurry to grow up. Then we are in a hurry to finish school and get on with our lives. And then we begin to want more and more things, and we want them right now, and thus the invention of the credit card.
I am seeing article upon article about Imbolc being the hope of spring. It is. But these articles are also spouting about how we need to let the seeds of growth begin blooming in us, and how we need to let go and start cleaning out the old, etc. You get the idea. But those are things that happen in SPRING! This is WINTER! This is our time to rest, to heal, to take time apart for self-healing and learning. To curl up with a good book and a nice hot cup of tea or coffee or cocoa. Why in the world would anyone be in a hurry to rush through this comforting and healing time to start spring early? Be patient!
King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, says this:
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man (Ecclesiastes 3).
We are in the middle of winter. We are sowing the seeds that will begin to grow in spring and bloom in summer. Don’t be in a hurry. We are healing and storing up energy that we will use in the other three seasons of the year. Don’t be in a hurry. We are learning new things and making plans that we will implement in the spring. Don’t be in a hurry. Let them grow and develop in your mind and don’t fly off “half-cocked.” This is a time for feasting and enjoying the fruit of our spring, summer, and harvest time labors. Don’t be in a hurry! This is a time to sit back and enjoy the reemergence of the light!
YES, celebrate Imbolc and Candlemas! Celebrate life and the returning of light! Celebrate the Light of the World! Take the time to actually celebrate and meditate on these things. Don’t be in such a hurry.
Brightest Candlemas Blessings to you, my family! Sending you so much love on your journey. <3
Simply put, aspects are the relationships made between planets. It’s how their energies interact with one another mathematically. Aspects (geometrically) are the slices of our Natal wheel, the Zodiac Circle. This circle adds up to 360 degrees. Half of the circle will give you 180 degrees, or an opposition. Dividing this circle into four equal parts will give you 90 degrees, or a square.
The Conjunction:
Conjunctions are planets that are very close together falling 0-10 degrees away from each other. Conjunctions can be described as easy as well as hard aspects depending on which planets are involved in the conjunction. A conjunction is the integration of two planetary energies. For instance, a Sun conjunct Venus aspect would indicate the Sun’s ego blends well with Venus’s grace and charm making for an optimistic, social individual on a surface level. This would be considered an “easy” conjunction. However, Mars conjunct Saturn would be a more difficult conjunction as Mars may feel restricted under Saturn’s rules and regulations, expressing themselves could seem harder, or center their energy on success and work while desensitizing them to emotion. Conjunctions typically fall under the same sign but there are still Out-of-Sign Conjunctions which are planets 0-10 degrees away from each other but occupying different signs.
The Opposition:
In case you didn’t get an inkling by it’s name, this is a hard aspect.Like mentioned above, oppositions are 180 degrees apart, meaning planets that are in opposition to one another are directly across each other on the wheel.Forexample the 1st house opposes the 7th house, the 2nd house opposes the 8th. Oppositions are like two energies on a seesaw, one goes up the other goes down. These two energies need balancing as they can swing from extreme to extreme. For instance, someone with moon opposite Pluto would struggle with integrating their emotional needs and comfort with their desire for power, control and strength. Creating a “ticking time bomb” like individual, due to suppressing (Pluto) their emotions (moon) for long periods of time till it all bubbles up to the surface resulting in explosions and outbursts. Oppositions are not a death sentence and can be remedied. In fact, oppositions are quite complimentary energies to one another, as the saying goes “Opposites attract.” (Determine what Signs Oppose each other here.)
The Square:
Squares are formed by 90 degree angles and for the most part can be found by counting three houses away from each other. Squares are also regarded as difficult aspects as the planetary energies here are having difficulty blending together. I usually describe a square between two planets as the planets are having a consistent argument between each other. They’re fighting. Squares highlight our inner conflicts and where we are challenged.Sun square moon would highlight where our emotional nature conflicts with our ego and outer persona. Squares lead to the most growth as they cause the most stress. Here is where we are challenged again and again until we get it right. Knowing the source of these conflicts give us a better handle on them and more control. (Determine what Signs Square each otherhere.)
The Trine:
Trines are formed by 120 degree angles, mathematically found by dividing the Zodiac circle by three. Trines are very easy aspects as the two planetary energies integrate harmoniously without any effort. Trines are the talents that come naturally to us, without a second thought. Here are the things that “fall into our lap.” At times these energies flow so easily through us we don’t even notice them, so a lot of times our trines are overlooked and taken for granted. For example, Moon trine Neptune can indicate a natural empathic and intuitive nature, easily picking up on energies of their environment and others. However, these individuals can have a tendency to ignore/distrust their inner voice and intuition telling them that someone is giving off a bad vibe. (Determine what Signs Trine each other here.)
The Sextile:
If you divide the Zodiac Circle by six you’d end up with a 60 degree angle, which is half a trine, or in other words a Sextile. The Sextile functions a lot like the trine except that it requires a bit of effort. These energies reflect our potential gifts and talents that we have to tap into. Unlike the trine, these energies are more apparent to us. For instance, Venus sextile Neptune can point to potential artistic abilities, the individual may have always had a quiet yearning to indulge in the arts. It’s not until they pick up a paintbrush and discover that they’re a Picasso incarnate. This is a harmonious aspect as the planetary energies here work together as friends. The Sextile points to gifts and skills we can access with ease. We work fluently and efficiently with ourselves here. (Determine what Signs Sextile each other here.)
This info will help you reconcile your love for God with your attraction to the Craft, the Ancient Path.
The original translations of the Bible defined witches, sorcerers etc. as those who consorted with demons, like the witch of Endor did, or who used the craft for selfish gain or to hurt someone else, like Simon the Sorcerer did in the book of Acts. It did not condemn the craft itself. The Bible tells us that Joseph was a diviner and interpreted dreams. Daniel was an astrologer and a magician and also interpreted dreams. The wise men who came to worship the baby Jesus were Magi or magicians and astrologers.
BUT DOESN’T THE BIBLE CONDEMN WITCHCRAFT?
There are many Biblical passages that described some prohibited types of occultic activity by the ancient Israelites. These include Exodus 22:18, Leviticus 19:26-26; 19:31; 20:6; Deuteronomy 18:10-11; Isaiah 8:19 and Malachi 3:5. Of these, Deuteronomy 18 is perhaps the most important. They forbade the Israelites from engaging in human sacrifice and in eight specific practices which some have been regarded as occultic. The King James mis-translation is:
“There shall not be found among you anyone that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.”
Various other translations of the Bible use the following terms or phrases here: augur, black magic, calls up the dead, charm, consults with spirits, fortune teller, interpret omens, look for omens, magician, medium, sorcerer, soothsayer, spiritist, weaves or casts spells, witchcraft, and wizard.
Clearly, the translators of the Dark Ages had a great deal of difficulty selecting unique English words or short phrases to match the 8 original Hebrew words AND their existing theology of their time. Here are the actual meanings of the words in these verses.
Yid'oni - Making contact with spirits (not of God).
Sho'el ‘ov - Making contact with the dead (aka evil spirits) through channeling, a medium.
NOTE: The Bible clearly teaches that the dead are asleep until Jesus comes the second time, and that the dead know nothing. (We have provided several in-depth studies on this topic in our Advanced Bible Studies unit). Satan was the one who began the lie with Eve in the Garden of Eden when he told her that she would not die (Genesis 3:4). The Bible tells us that only God has immortality (1 Timothy 6:16). When people contact the dead, they are actually evil spirits pretending to be the dead person. They are the entities that claimed to be the lesser gods, such as Anubis or Asherah or Zeus. The Bible never speaks of the other gods as actual gods, but only in the context of the demonic entities that the pagans worshiped. (I can provide another study on that for anyone who wants it). The mis-translations of the Bible state that the disciples thought that Jesus was a ghost but the original Greek word meant spirit, or evil entity, which is why they were scared. So any person who is a medium and who channels the spirits “of the dead” is condemned by God. This also includes Ouija Boards.
Qosem q'samim - Cleromancy - Foretelling the future by using lots or a similar system (eg: runes, tea leaves, I Ching, Tarot), for selfish gain or in an attempt to harm someone. Some examples of God’s people who cast lots are Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Samuel, Haman, King David, King Solomon, and even Jesus’ disciples. They cast lots to obtain answers from God so it was obviously the pagan practice dedicated to fake gods or the practice of asking for answers from evil spirits that was condemned by God.
M'onen - Predicting the future, for selfish gain, by interpreting signs in nature. Gideon asked God for signs through nature and that was fine with God (Judges 6). It was those who sought signs in nature who followed fake gods or those who wanted knowledge for their own selfish gain or in an attempt to harm someone that was condemned by God.
M'nachesh - Enchanting (related to nachash, a snake). Snake charming was a common practice in ancient Egypt and was why God chose the staff to snake miracle for Moses to employ as it showed God’s superiority over the pagan practices. Enchanting any person or animal violates that being’s free will and is considered evil. Love spells are one example of enchantments that violate a person’s free will.
Chover chavar - Casting dark or evil spells by magical knot tying.
M'khaseph - evil sorcery; using spoken spells to harm other people or make them do something against their free will.
Doresh 'el hametim - Necromancer or “One who asks the dead” (using a method other than channeling), such as the “witch” of Endor, which actually should have been translated necromancer instead of witch, and who worked with evil spirits.
NOTE - The reference to passing children through the fire has historically been interpreted as the ritual killing of the first born child in each family that followers of Moloch participated in. Archeological evidence shows that the tribes surrounding the Israelites engaged in this practice. Another practice was a painful coming-of-age challenge that children had to endure. They would pass through the fire and (hopefully) emerge without much injury. In other traditions, they would run between two fires. These are obviously practices that engaged in infanticide and child abuse, and as such would be abhorrent to both God and to God’s people.
So you can see that when you look at these verses in their original context and languages, and not the translations of the witch hunters of the Dark Ages, it is not the practice of these acts as much as it is the motive with which you are doing the acts - for good, or for selfish gain or to harm someone - and whether or not you are consorting with demons and asking fake gods for help instead of asking God to help you or for His will to be done.
NOTE: The Greek word “pharmakos” which appears in Galatians 5:20 refers to poisoners. It is one of many examples of verses that were mis-translated as witchcraft by the Medieval translators.
DIVINATION:
People before and during the age of the Patriarchs spoke directly with angels. God authorized the use of the Urim and Thummin on Mt. Sinai so that Moses and the people of God could obtain clear answers from God about important questions. Some people claim that the “ephod” was the magical tool used but the ephod was literally and simply a linen cloth upon which the stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel, and the Urim and Thummin, were mounted. Inspired, extra-Biblical and historical sources tell us that one stone would light up to show a positive response from God, and the other would light up to show a negative response. Joseph used a divining cup. Gideon asked for signs in nature. Daniel was an astrologer as were the Magi who followed Jesus’ star. David and Solomon both utilized divination.
Divination is from Latin divinare “to foresee, to be inspired by God”.
TO BE LEFT WITHOUT DIVINATION APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS PUNISHMENT BY GOD. ACCORDING TO THE PROPHET MICAH, GOD SAID: “NIGHT WILL COME OVER YOU, WITHOUT VISIONS, AND DARKNESS, WITHOUT DIVINATION. THEN SHALL THE SEERS BE ASHAMED, AND THE DIVINERS CONFOUNDED: YEA, THEY SHALL ALL COVER THEIR LIPS; FOR THERE IS NO ANSWER OF GOD” (Micah 3:6-7).
The Bible says that "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” James 1:5. And also, “Ye have not, because ye ask not” James 4:2.
In summary, there is nothing wrong with using divination to inquire of God, to gain knowledge and understanding, to help us make decisions that would be pleasing to God, or from using Astrology, or spells, or other methods utilized in the Craft.
IT IS THE INTENT OF THE PERSON WHO IS PRACTICING THE CRAFT THAT MAKES IT ACCEPTABLE OR NOT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.
Two men each kill a cat. One man does it as an act of mercy, to put the suffering cat out of it’s misery. The other man does it for fun, out of meanness. Both men killed a cat. But only one man was bad.
SO HOW DID THINGS GET SO CONFUSED?
There are so many things that have been mistranslated in the Bible. During the medieval Dark Ages the church instituted many doctrines that weren’t necessarily Biblical.
** Like depicting God as a vengeful punishing murderous judge.
** Or like the doctrine of an eternally burning hell that was based on Greek mythology.
** Or like the change from God’s Holy 7th day Sabbath to the pagan day of the Sun, a change that can be found nowhere in the Bible.
King Henry the 8th got into a big fight with the Pope. One of the things they fought about was that Henry thought that the King should be in charge of the church, like it was in the Bible. Of course, the Pope thought that HE should be in charge of the church. So Henry left the church and made his own church, the church of England. And the Catholic Church excommunicated him. However, at that time anyway, there was only one differing belief between the Catholic church and the church of England. And that belief was about who should be in charge of the church - the King or the Pope? All of the other doctrines that were held by the Catholic church were the same doctrines that the Church of England held, whether they were Biblical or not. Like the ones I mentioned above. These churches commissioned their own translations of the Bible, including the KJV which is one of the most inaccurate translations today. They translated them to say what their doctrinal beliefs were. And isn’t that the way most people today understand the Bible? They read it with the understanding that supports the beliefs that they already hold. In the case of the KJV, King James actually held the right of final edit, which means that if he didn’t like the way the scholars had translated a passage, they had to change it to read what he believed. The common people couldn’t have a Bible. In most places they were banned from the common people. The Church held the policy that the common people could not understand theological things and so the clergy should teach them. And in all of the world at that time, most people just couldn’t read. Furthermore, when the clergy held masses, they spoke in Latin - a language that the common people could not understand. The little doctrine that was actually taught to the people was mostly the doctrines that facilitated the running of the churches, just like in all denominations today. This is where the man made doctrines of life after death, hell and purgatory came in handy for the churches. Unfortunately, most of today’s translations are based upon those same doctrinal beliefs. The truth can be found but it takes a good study of history and the Bible.
An excellent example of these changes is the Sabbath. Nowhere in the Bible will you find a change of God’s commanded day of worship from the 7th day to the 1st day, Sunday. The Church of Rome, under the authority of Constantine, changed it and proudly take credit for it, even having it in their Catechism.
The 7th day Sabbath was instituted at Creation, (not to the Jews). It was reaffirmed in the Ten Commandments, although, according to Scripture, they had already been keeping it holy before they came to Mt. Sinai. Jesus kept the 7th day Sabbath, and He is to be our example in all things. His disciples kept the 7th day Sabbath, even after His death and resurrection (see Acts in multiple verses). Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles and the New Covenant, kept the 7th day Sabbath, and even wrote in Hebrews 4 that God would not have chosen another day in reference to the 7th day Sabbath of Creation. The Bible states in Isaiah that we will all gather and worship God on the 7th day Sabbath on the New Earth after Jesus comes again. (You will find several detailed studies on this topic in our Advanced Bible Studies unit).
This is not surprising since the Bible also says that our God of love does not change. You will not find one place in the Bible where we are commanded to keep any day holy or to worship God on any day but the 7th day Sabbath. And yet 99% of the Christian world worships God on Sunday, the first day, despite the direct command from God to worship on the 7th day.
WHY?
Some people say we do not know which day the 7th day Sabbath is because of calendar changes. There have been calendar changes. But the Jews never stopped keeping the 7th day Sabbath for literally thousands of years. We know exactly what day the 7th day Sabbath is.
ST. PATRICK, in his writings, talks about keeping the 7th day Sabbath. It was one of the reasons that the Catholic church hated him and excommunicated him. It was several hundred years after his death that they adopted him back in to their church and made him a saint in an attempt to gain the Irish people who still stubbornly followed his teachings and Bible truth, which included many Druidic teachings by the way. I’m pretty sure he would not actually have been happy about that but he was long dead so….
SO HOW DID IT GET CHANGED?
About 100 years before Christ, Egyptian Mithraists introduced the festival of Sunday, dedicated to worshiping the sun, into the Roman Empire. Later, as Christianity grew, church leaders wished to increase the numbers of the church. In order to make the gospel more attractive to non-Christians, pagan customs were incorporated into the church’s ceremonies. The custom of Sunday worship was welcomed by Christians who desired to differentiate themselves from the Jews, whom they hated because of the Jews’ rejection of the Savior.
The Roman Emperor Constantine, a sun-worshiper, professed conversion to Christianity, though his subsequent actions suggest the “conversion” was more of a political move than a genuine heart change. Constantine named himself Bishop of the Catholic Church and enacted the first civil law regarding Sunday observance in A.D. 321. In A.D. 325, 325 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, Pope Sylvester officially named Sunday “the Lord’s Day,” and in A.D. 338, Eusebius, the court bishop of Constantine, wrote,
“All things whatsoever that it was the duty to do on the Sabbath (the seventh day of the week) we (Constantine, Eusebius, and other bishops) have transferred to the Lord’s Day (the first day of the week) as more appropriately belonging to it.”
Nowhere in the Bible can one find a change of God’s commanded day of worship from Saturday to Sunday. In fact, God says in several places that He does not change, and in Hebrews 4 Paul even clearly states that God sanctified the Sabbath at creation, and that He would not afterward have spoken of another day. History, however, is clear about who changed it. And yet 95% of the Christian world, including almost all Protestant denominations, follow man’s commands and not God’s. In their Catechism, the Catholic church blatantly states that they were responsible for the change from the 7th day to the 1st, and state that all people and denominations who worship on Sunday are accepting the authority of the Catholic Church. Let’s not forget that in Revelation, one of the signs of the Beast is that it thinks to change God’s times and laws.
My point in all this is that the churches of the Dark Ages had doctrines and beliefs that actually went against the Bible, most of which painted God as a vengeful tyrant instead of the God of love that He is. And these are the same people who defined and condemned “witchcraft.”
Often they accused women who used herbs to heal and midwives of being “witches” and of consorting with the devil. Crones, hags and witches were sages, leaders, midwives and healers in their communities and were revered for their wisdom and knowledge and healing abilities. As history evolved and a patriarchal society took hold, the definitions of a crone (crowned one), a hag (holy one) and witch (wise one) were distorted by the men who’s professions were threatened by these successful women. King James is famous for his “witch” hunts. And doesn’t that still happen today to some extent in some places?
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CRAFT. IT WAS, AND IS, THE MOTIVE BEHIND IT’S USE THAT IS THE KEY TO WHETHER IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO GOD.
I do find that God often reveals Himself with feminine attributes and I do not believe that He/She minds when we call upon Him/Her in the Mother form. I actually believe that the Holy Spirit is female. The Hebrew word “ruach” in the OT is the word for “spirit” and “breath.” This is the word “spirit” used in the name Holy Spirit. It is feminine in gender. So is the word “Shekinah” which is also used to describe the Holy Spirit in both the OT and the NT. Shekinah is referenced as either a flaming sword, flaming presence, Sword of the Spirit, or tongues of flame. Again, this is a feminine word indicating a female deity. One of the names of God is El Shaddai which means “the many breasted one,” as in the mother who feeds and cares for her children. The Bible tells us that She longs to gather us under her wings like a mother hen. She loves us and counts the hairs on our head and the tears that we cry. She exults over us with loud singing! (We have several detailed studies on this topic in our Advanced Bible Studies unit).
WHAT THE BIBLE CLEARLY STATES is that God does not want us to worship or pray to other deities (or saints or ancestors) outside of the Trinity. Our God of love is everything we could want or need and more! We do not need a plethora of “gods.”
IN THE BEGINNING, God created nature for us. It is natural for us to feel a connection with nature. Jesus spent a lot of time alone in nature to recharge His spiritual batteries.
GOD ALSO GAVE US GIFTS. For some people She gave gifts that are considered witchy by modern religions. But they are God-given gifts none the less. So do not feel that you are bad or unnatural. It is those who suppress their God given gifts that are unnatural. And those without these types of gifts don’t understand those who have them. They are afraid of what they don’t understand. And what they fear, they believe to be evil or bad. But the gift itself is not good or evil. It is how you use your gift, your intentions, that make it good or bad. It is the same with magic.
YOU ARE NOT EVIL OR BAD. YOU ARE GIFTED AND UNIQUE. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT YOU ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE!
You see, Christianity is a RELIGION that, depending on the denomination, worships the God of the Bible exclusively. I am a Bible believing, God loving, light preaching Christian through and through.
Being what we call a WITCH simply means that God has given us gifts that have, in the past, been demonized by the “church.” But they are God given and good gifts. You don’t have to call yourself a “witch.” Society has definitely labeled the word “witch” as evil and bad. But what you do need to do is be true to the woman or man that God created you to be. If you have gifts, you should embrace them and use them for God’s glory!
I also choose to live my life in a way that honors creation, and that utilizes energy that most people choose to ignore even exists - what we call magic. It is not my religion. It is both who I am, and a way of life.
SO YOU SEE, BEING A CHRISTIAN AND A WITCH ARE TOTALLY COMPATIBLE!
There are so many times where you’re either having a bad day, have a lot on your mind, or you just aren’t feeling up to par. How do you tackle these ailments so that you can move freely throughout the day?
WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL BATH?
So what exactly is a spiritual bath?
A spiritual bath is nothing more than a cleansing session where you take the necessary time to yourself to cleanse the physical body, your aura and you mind.
There is no set way to take a spiritual bath, your ritual is completely up to you. We’ll go over some examples of what you can use and how you should proceed with the bath later in this post.
Now I bet you’re wondering, “Why should I take these baths? How do I benefit from them?” Let’s start by saying that there are no negatives to indulging in a spiritual bath. Many of you already bathe in the tub anyway, so why not take an extra step to heal yourself and your mind? Along with cleansing, relaxing, and attracting positive things into your life, the baths aid in grounding the soul. Listed below are some of the possible steps and tools you can implement when you begin to take your much needed spiritual baths.
PREPARING FOR YOUR BATH AND SETTING INTENT
One of the first and most important steps you should take before taking your spiritual bath is setting your intent. Setting your intent is basically figuring out and knowing the reason why your doing something. I find that it helps to write it out on paper as I say it out loud. That way I am using multiple senses. I am using touch (writing), sight (reading), and hearing (my voice as I read).
You can draw your bath and expect healing results without knowing where to direct the healing energy. To get the best and most effective results, be sure to cleanse your space. Remove the clutter, get rid of any trash, and open the windows to let in fresh air. It may also be a great idea to shower before the bath, to be sure your body is open to new energy.
GATHERING YOUR NECESSITIES AND SETTING THE MOOD
The items you bring into the bathroom with you should all be there to support the intention you are focusing on. There are not set rules on what you should have or use during your spiritual baths.
One way to set the mood is by utilizing candles. Candles are great because they serve so many roles. They can be used in place of inorganic light, the aromas are extremely therapeutic, and create an ambience like no other.
You may also want to incorporate herbs and essential oils. You can choose ones for health or relaxation or that correspond to the intention you choose to set. There are tons of herbs you can use, it’s just the matter of picking the ones that suit your needs. In The Grimoire for the Green Witch, Ann Moura lists several herb blends to incorporate in your herbal spiritual baths:
FOR COMFORTING: Calendula (Marigold), Chamomile, Lavender, Mint, Raspberry Leaves, Rosemary.
FOR ENERGY: Heather, Lemon Balm, Rosemary, Savory.
FOR PEACE: Chamomile, Hops, Lavender, Peppermint, Rose.
FOR RELAXATION: Chamomile, Dianthus, Heather, Jasmine Flower, Lemon Balm.
FOR STRESS RELIEF: Chamomile, Dianthus, Lemon Balm.
Music is another component that I believe could really help bring in wanted energy. You could listen to meditation music, nature sounds, or your favorite songs. You can also use white noise machines, which are pretty unique on their own. Of course, be sure to keep all electronics away from the water because you can’t go into a spiritual bath creating additional problems for yourself.
Sea salt is another must have in my opinion. Sea salt is used to help draw out the impurities in the body, such as bacteria and other debris. When choosing you salts, be sure to pick the best quality, unprocessed salts. Normal table salt should be avoided because it takes out needed minerals, instead of drawing them in. 100% natural, raw and unrefined Himalayan Pink Sea Salt is wonderful.
COMBINING IT ALL AND DIVING IN DEEP
Now that you’ve cleansed your space, and gathered your intent and tools, it’s time to combine it all together. Step into the water filled with lovely scented herbs, sit down and begin to take that mental dive into the world of relaxation. If you are tense, this bath just won’t work for you. As the water rushes around the tub, imagine all of the negative energy being pulled from your body and your intentions being manifested. When you are settled in, take some time to pray and then be still and listen for God’s response. When your bath is complete, release the water down the drain and envision all of that unwanted energy flowing away, and thank the universe for all it has done and will do for you.
This lesson was loosely adapted from an article by Star Wolf’s Den.
Shadow work has become a hot topic in witchy circles lately. What is “shadow work” and is it something we should be doing?
WHAT IS SHADOW WORK?
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In Jungian psychology, Carl Jung theorized that the shadow (also known as id, shadow aspect, or shadow archetype) is either an unconscious aspect of the personality that the conscious ego does not identify in itself; or the entirety of the unconscious, i.e., everything of which a person is not fully conscious. In short, the shadow is the unknown side.
From one perspective, the shadow “is roughly equivalent to the whole of the Freudian unconscious;”[1] and Carl Jung himself asserted that “the result of the Freudian method of elucidation is a minute elaboration of man’s shadow-side unexampled in any previous age.”[2] Contrary to a Freudian definition of shadow, however, the Jungian shadow can include everything outside the light of consciousness and may be positive or negative. Because one tends to reject or remain ignorant of the least desirable aspects of one’s personality, the shadow is largely negative. There are, however, believed by some, positive aspects that may also remain hidden in one’s shadow (especially in people with low self-esteem, anxieties, and false beliefs).[3] “Everyone carries a shadow,” Jung wrote, “and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is.”[4] Jung theorized that it may be, in part, one’s link to more primitive animal instincts,[5] which are superseded during early childhood by the conscious mind. According to Jung, the shadow, in being instinctive and irrational, is prone to psychological projection, in which a perceived personal inferiority is recognized as a perceived moral deficiency in someone else. Jung writes that if these projections remain hidden, “the projection making factor (the Shadow archetype) then has a free hand and can realize its object—if it has one—or bring about some other situation characteristic of its power.”[6] These projections insulate and harm individuals by acting as a constantly thickening veil of illusion between the ego and the real world.
SO IS THAT TRUE?
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Despite the current popularity with the topic, Freud himself has been largely debunked by modern psychology and serious scholars and psychologists and other medical professionals do not take his work seriously. Jung has a larger following and many good theories which we do still appreciate today. But was he right about the supposed need for us to to delve into our “shadow?”
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
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“God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” 1 John 1:5.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” James 1:17.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” John 8:12.
“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness” John 12:46.
“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” Ephesians 5:8.
“For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness” 1 Thessalonians 5:5.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” John 1:5.
It is a common misconception among witches, and among people in general, that light and dark are opposites, just like left and right, up and down, empty and full, yin and yang. It’s a concept that was popularized with things like the movie Star Wars where the good guys use the “light” side of the force and the bad guys use the “dark” side. But the truth that Jung and most people today fail to realize is that light and dark are actually NOT scientifically opposites at all, like the other pairs. You see, darkness cannot exist in the light, but light CAN exist without darkness. They are not “opposite” sides of the same coin. And that is scientific fact. So all that stuff that you read about how you can’t be a light witch and be balanced, that you must embrace your dark side, and all that, is poppycock.
There is no darkness in God, and there is no darkness in heaven. Heaven is a perfect place, without sorrow, sickness, pain, or death. A place without selfishness, lying, hatred or fear. This is our ultimate goal.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid” Matthew 5:14.
SO SHOULD WE DO “SHADOW WORK”?
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I believe in and practice positive psychology (and positive and love-based parenting) in my counseling. Positive psychology’s focus is on what is going right with an individual. A love based approach reacts to negative behaviors or negative occurrences in positive, kind and loving ways. I do not believe that there is benefit in going back into the darkness (revisiting traumatic experiences, shadow work, etc). We can’t change the past and there is great benefit in looking forward to a positive future. The light dispels the darkness and the shadows and we should always search for the light. It is well known that there is power in thoughts and words and actions and we should always follow God’s example and think and speak and act positively.
Just as there can be no healing when a person is still in an abusive or traumatic situation, there can be no healing if a person is looking backwards to or is stuck in that experience mentally and emotionally, even if they have removed themselves from the situation physically. Staying in or returning to the situation - physically, mentally and/or emotionally - results in a cessation of healing and often even a reversal of healing. In fact, this is pretty much the definition of PTSD.
We cannot find healing in the shadows and darkness. We must move into the light.
So the question was, do we need to do shadow work. My answer is NO. Fly towards the light, my witches. Let the past go. Let the darkness go. Let the light of our God of love illuminate you and heal you.
REFERENCES
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1. Anthony Stevens, “On Jung.” (London 1990) p. 43
2. Jung, C. G. “The Practice of Psychotherapy.” (London, 1993).
3. Young-Eisendrath, P. and T. Dawson. “The Cambridge Companion to Jung.” (Cambridge University Press, 1996) p. 319.
4. Jung, C.G. “Psychology and Religion.” In Psychology and Religion: West and East, (Collected Works of C.G. Jung 11, 1938) p. 131.
5. Jung, C.G. “Answer to Job.” In Psychology and Religion: West and East, (Collected Works of C.G. Jung 11, 1952) p. 12.
6. Jung, C.G. “Phenomenology of the Self.” In The Portable Jung, 1957) p. 147.
By definition, divination is the practice of seeing the future and answering questions by supernatural means. This definition is correct, but it leaves out the fact the word divination has the word divine as its main syllable. Divination also means to receive messages or to communicate with the divine (God, the Universe, Source). Divination is practice at receiving the Divine’s messages and learning lessons along the way. Divine messages are answers to questions about life, love, the past, the future, and more. Because really the Divine knows all, there is no limit to the questions that can be asked through DIVINation. Learn the basics of divination for beginners here.
Divination for Beginners: The Three Pillars
Because of the lack of simple instructions for divination for beginners, I came up with the concept of Three Pillars of Divination. This is a concept that will help the beginner learn how to divine, step by step. Focus on one pillar at a time and take your time learning each. This is an ongoing process. The more you learn about divination, the more you will apply these learned concepts to your practice. And if things get confusing, you can always return to the basics. The Three Pillars of Divination are: Observation, Symbolism, and Intuition. If you are studying divination for beginners seriously, I suggest writing these down in a journal or notebook.
1st Pillar: Observation
The first pillar, and probably the most important, is Observation. You can’t receive a message if you’re not listening, right? You can’t interpret a sign if you’re not paying attention. Observation is about being open-minded and mindful at the same time. You are open-minded to any and all messages or images you receive from the Divine through divination, which means you are willing to receive messages in whatever form they come to you. This also means you don’t allow the “logical” side of your brain to completely block out the intuitive (we will get more into this later). It is my belief and experience the majority of people walk around on a daily basis, totally oblivious to their surroundings, totally oblivious to the fact that God is trying to speak to them in different ways. By being mindful of your surroundings and by being in the present moment, you are allowing God to speak to you in whatever form that might be (through nature, symbolism on TV, random conversations, etc). People wonder why they can’t hear God or speak to God, and yet they truly aren’t listening. Observation, mindful observation, is key to hearing the Divine speak to you.
How to be Observant
When learning divination for beginners, be observant. If outside and awaiting a sign from the Divine through nature, be open to whatever appears. Take in the world around you—the environment, the sounds, sights, smells, and sensations. Be observant of yourself—your emotions, your physical sensations, etc. By being present in the moment, you are being mindful of what messages the Divine sends you. This is the same if you are using tarot cards, crystal balls, runes, scrying mirrors, etc. First observe before moving on to symbolism and interpretation.
2nd Pillar: Symbolism
The 2nd Pillar of Divination is Symbolism. Symbolism is the use of symbols to represent concepts or ideas. Symbolism is used in many ways: in mainstream media, literature, religion, politics, etc. The human brain uses symbolism without even realizing. Symbolism is so ingrained in our way of thinking and living. For this reason, symbolism is a big part of divination. The Divine uses symbolism to speak to us. It is an inherent part of divination and should be in the forefront of your mind when you are Divining.
Symbolism in Divination
Symbolism is seen in all forms of divination: tarot, oracle, the Elder runes, the Ogham, numerology, astrology, and more. For example, if we take a look at the runes, the rune Algiz is a symbol (or letter) that represents the concept of protection. This is symbolism in its simplest terms. In oracle, we are presented with various images that each represent a moral or concept of some kind. For example, in the Goddess oracle, the card with the goddess Baba Yaga represents wild freedom. And on and on these symbols go. The point is, whatever form of divination you choose, dedicate time to studying and learning the symbolism therein. As you become more experienced in divination, you will realize many of these symbols carry over to other forms of divination. At this point, divination will become easier for you to perform.
3rd Pillar: Intuition
The Third Pillar of Divination is Intuition. Often when we are beginning to learn divination we’re told to use our intuition. But what does this mean, exactly? Intuition is defined as something one knows immediately without conscious reasoning. You know that feeling you get before walking into a place that tells you not to go in? Or that feeling when you meet someone and your gut tells you not to trust them? Your logical mind will say this is illogical. But this initial feeling is your intuition, your god-given instinct, that will keep you safe in many situations.
How to Use Your Intuition in Divination
Use this instinct, your intuition, when practicing divination. It’s as easy as drawing an oracle card, and letting your first initial thought or feeling serve as the divine message. Practice this so that it becomes natural, as your conscious brain will try to shrug off your intuition at first. Be aware intuition comes to us in different ways. For example, when I divine and use my oracle cards, I will draw a card and look at the image. Typically I get a “flash” of an image or scenery in my mind, this is how I use my intuition. But you might draw an oracle card and hear a word in your mind. Or you might get a particular emotion. These are all forms of intuition, and depending on the person will be different. With practice, you’ll learn how your intuition speaks to you. Each time you practice using your intuition, write down your experience. Did you let your intuition speak to you and show you the answer? Did your conscious mind try to block? Were there symbols or images in your mind? What words did you hear? Did you feel any emotions?
Putting it All Together
Applying intuition to the other Two Pillars of Divination: you will observe, apply the learned symbolism, and use your intuition. Intuition and symbolism will eventually mix together cohesively, and sometimes you might not know where your intuition and symbolism separate. That is the beauty of divination and receiving messages from the Divine. Keep in mind it will take time to get in tune with your intuition…sometimes it can take years to fully connect. Be patient and keep practicing.
Choosing a Form of Divination for Beginners
With the Three Pillars of Divination in mind, choose a form of divination to study. By focusing on one form, you can apply the three pillars and hone in on your divination skills before moving on to another form of divination. For beginners, I recommend using nature to learn divination. This could mean interpreting the cloud patterns in the sky, going for a walk and allowing certain birds or insects to come to you then interpreting those signs, or scrying with fire or water. These may seem very basic, but you will find it isn’t always easy. However, learning how to read patterns and symbols in nature will teach you mindfulness (observation), as well as symbolism and how to use your intuition flawlessly. Then you can move on to other forms of divination that take even more study and time such as tarot or the runes.
Study One Form for One Year
I recommend studying one form of divination for at least a year. You can’t fully connect with that form of divination unless you’ve given it considerable time and study. Spending a month on the runes or tarot will not do. The same goes for other all divination. These forms of divination have been used by our ancestors for hundreds (sometimes thousands) of years and thus have developed their own personalities. You will give honor to your ancestors and to those forms of divination by putting in the time and effort to really connect. Divination for beginners isn’t as difficult as it may seem – it just takes time and practice.
Thoughts by ~ Otherworldly Oracle
Psalms 119: 30~38 THE Remedy Bible
I have chosen the way of truth;
I am committed to your design for life.
I hold fast to your methods, O Lord,
and I am not ashamed.
I eagerly live in harmony with your design,
for you have healed my heart, enabling me to do so.
Teach me, O Lord, the way you have designed life to operate,
so that I might conform and be transformed.
Enable me to understand, and I will practice your principles
and live out your methods with all my heart.
Lead me to live according to your ways,
because it brings me health and happiness.
Transform my heart to desire your methods of love
and hate selfish gain.
Turn my interest away from all worthless things;
recreate me to live according to your way.
Establish your promise within your servant,
so that you may be worshipped and admired.
I’ve said this quite sometime! If you are pagan or wiccan, take what resonates with this teaching! I post as a Christian Witch, but feel free to take this lesson! Learning is for everyone, and knowledge is power!
How many of you have heard someone say “there is no such thing as a Christian witch?” Maybe I should say, how many times each week do you hear this phrase?
Many pagans just cannot understand people self-identifying as Christian Witches. But they don’t have to understand something to be accepting of it. There are an amazing number of Witchcraft traditions that have Christianity quietly tucked into their DNA somewhere. Nothing emerges in a vacuum and for the last 1700 years Christianity has been the elephant in the room, and Christianity stemmed from Judaism, whose texts originate back well before a lot of paganism’s.
Christianity has influenced Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam over the last 1500 years, and ancient paganism was influenced by the believers in the God of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel. This is how religions and belief systems work, and to think that modern paganism or “the witch community somehow stands outside of that paradigm is sheer hubris” (a quote from the pagan whose article influenced this lesson).
“One document consisted of notes originally taken by a man who was initiated into a group of four elderly women in the Oxfordshire village in which he lived in the years around 1940. They were a part of the teachings of this group, and consisted of the various magical uses to which twenty-six of the Biblical Psalms could be put sometimes consisting of the whole psalm and sometimes of a single verse. They are obviously classic Christian folk magic, of a sort recorded copiously from the early Middle Ages to the twentieth century, although the special importance of the psalms to Protestants would suggest that this use of them post-dates the Reformation” (Ronald Hutton writing on a witch book owned by Andrew Chumbley in “Triumph of the Moon,” in 1999 (p. 306-307).
You may not have heard of Andrew Chumbley, but his impact on Modern Witchcraft over the last 20 years has been extraordinary. Much of the current rise in “Traditional Witchcraft” can be traced in no small part to the work of Chumbley, who spent years documenting magical techniques and practices, most notably his own Sabbatic Tradition. Chumbley wasn’t a Christian, but if he used the text written about above in his magical work, he was most certainly influenced by Christianity. And in the world of Traditional Witchcraft, such influences are common, not rare. Chumbley is also majorly responsible for the boom in high quality Witchcraft books from specialty publishers.
The first person most of us think of when it comes to Traditional Witchcraft is Robert Cochrane, whose witch group is still called The Clan of Tubal-Cain. Tubal-Cain was a descendant of Adam and Eve, and was a famous blacksmith that is mentioned in the Bible. He was not a figure from Greek mythology, as some believe. He was also not an Incan or a Mayan, as others believe. Traditional witchcraft also often references figures such as Lucifer or Satan or the Devil, and we all know where he came from.
If you have seen the book “The Red Goddess,” you will immediately notice the quotation from the Song of Solomon (that’s a book in the Bible) on the back, not to mention all of the quotes from the book of Revelation which feature prominently in its text. And if you read a lot of Traditional Witchcraft books, you’ve no doubt run into figures such as the Nephalim, Watchers, and Enoch. Where do people think this stuff comes from?
In addition, there is a long history of Christians using magic. Many practices are influenced by charmers or cunning-folk. These are techniques practiced overwhelmingly by self-identifying Christians. Are you into Pennsylvania Dutch Pow-Wow? That’s another thing developed by Christians.
Guess how many of the witches who were killed during the infamous witch hunts were pagans? None. None of them were pagan. They all identified as Christians.
Wiccan-witchcraft has also been heavily impacted by Christianity. The early modern grimoires which helped to shape a lot of Wiccan ritual practices were mostly written by Christians, and those that weren’t were written by Muslims and Jews. All three of these religions worship the God of Abraham and their beliefs systems all stem from one religion. Abraham and his God are documented in ancient texts found in archaeological excavations. The names of many of those grimoires give away their Biblical roots: “The Key of Solomon,” “The Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses,” and “The Grimoire of Pope Honorius” are just three examples of grimoires that were written by Biblical or Christian figures. And don’t overlook just how impactful some of these books have been on Wicca especially. There are a lot of Wiccan teachings that read like they came straight from “The Key of Solomon.”
Wiccans have borrowed a whole lot of stuff from Freemasonry over the years, from vocabulary to ritual techniques, and the Masons were overwhelmingly Christian. Many of Masonry’s most esoteric architects were Christian too, and many Wiccans have taken a little from them over the years too. Groups such as the Theosophical Society honored Jesus, and one of the world’s all time favorite occultists, Dion Fortune, always found time for her Master Jesus.
So, yes, modern witchcraft owes Christians no small debt of gratitude for many of their practices. Today the world calls many of these things “witchcraft” so it makes sense that Christians looking to engage in these practices would call themselves Christian Witches.
Many witches who seem aghast at the idea of Christian Witches in their midst often quote the Bible to back up their outrage. And they have no idea what the verses they are quoting actually mean even! The word “witchcraft” can have a whole host of different meanings, and its use usually comes down to who is doing the translating.
The Bible condemns a lot of different things – such as lying and gossip and sexual immorality and fits of anger and arguments and envy and dishonoring your parents and drunkenness and breaking the Sabbath, among many others (for an example see Galatians 5:19-21) - and it says that those who do these things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But Christians seem to ignore most of these and focus on two communities – the LGBTQ community and the witchcraft communities – both of whose translations were mauled by the early Bible translators who were ALL under the influence of the man made doctrines of the churches of the Dark Ages.
If witchcraft is simply a magical practice, void of religion or spirituality, how can there not be Christian Witches? That is like saying that there can’t be Jewish herbalists. Certainly the idea of witchcraft is not compatible with an overwhelming majority of Christians, because they believe the lies, but why should anyone else care if some of us DO believe in the power of magic that we KNOW we have been gifted with, while finding spiritual fulfillment in the God of Adam, Noah, Abraham, the disciples, Paul, and a multitude of others throughout history? It doesn’t hurt them unless we try to start speaking for all of them. But all we can do is present the truth in love, and then back off to let the seed of truth grow in their hearts, watered by the Holy Spirit.
Witchcraft is empowering. Shouldn’t Christians and pagans alike be all in for anyone with an open mind using it to take charge of their life? Shouldn’t they be all for more witches in the world, not less?
This was based on an article by a well published pagan, Jason Mankey, who also agrees that Christians should be able to identify as witches if they feel drawn to do so, and that the witchcraft community should support this. Thank you, Jason.
