The Wheel of the Year - Pagan Holidays

Alright everyone, how is everything going? Today, we are going to be going over, very briefly, about the Pagan holidays that are and have been celebrated for hundreds of years! These holidays are called Sabbats, or days of power that one can be closer to Nature.

Yule / Winter Solstice on or near December 21st 
Here in the northern hemisphere, nights get longer and days get shorter until the day of the Winter Solstice when the cycle reverses. The word Yule comes from the Norse Jul meaning wheel. On this darkest of nights, the Goddess becomes the Great Mother and once again gives birth to the Sun God. This is a fire festival so celebrate with a Yule log in the fireplace, candles on the table and lights on the tree. Evergreens, holly, ivy and mistletoe, symbols of fertility and everlasting life, remind us that the cold darkness of winter will eventually give way to the warmth & new growth of spring. 

Imbolc / Imbolg / Candlemas - February 2nd 
Imbolc means, literally, 'in the belly' (of the Mother) and in the womb of Mother Earth new life is truly stirring. The young Sun God is growing and his strength is beginning to be noticeable. If you look closely, you may notice a snowdrop or a crocus pushing its way out of the still-cold earth. This is traditionally a day of purification, of sweeping out the old to make room for the new... both physically and emotionally. Celebrate by lighting LOTS of candles to encourage the young Sun; if you like to make them yourself, this is an auspicious day to do it. As nuts and seeds symbolize new beginnings, enjoy some sesame cookies or nutbread while visualizing yourself co-creating a loving, joyous & prosperous future. 

Ostara - Spring Equinox - on or near March 21st 
Named for Eostre the Teutonic Goddess of New Life, Ostara is the first day of Spring. Light and darkness are in balance, but the light is growing stronger as days continue to grow longer. The Young Sun God continues to mature and grow; small tender leaves appear on the trees, young buds are swelling and, here in New York, cheerful white and yellow daffodils are already in full bloom. The Life Energies are building quickly now and the very air seems to vibrate with promise. Celebrate by coloring eggs, an ancient symbol of fertility. 

Beltaine / Beltane / May Day - May 1 
From the Irish Gaelic Bealtaine meaning Bel-fire (the fire of Bel, Celtic God of light) Beltaine is primarily a fertility festival; the Land represented by the Goddess is now ripe and fertile and the Sun God expresses His Love for Her. Celebrate by establishing a woodland or garden shrine and gathering flowers to adorn your living space... and yourself! 

Midsummer / Summer Solstice - on or near June 21st 
Midsummer is the longest day of the year. It's not harvest time yet, but Mother Nature is impressively lush. The veil between the Faerie realm and our world is thin so don't be surprised if you catch a glimpse of an otherworldly someone on Midsummer's Eve! Celebrate with a bonfire and if you're into herb magick, any plants gathered at this time are particularly powerful. Or just stroll through a park or woodland area and bask in the glory of our natural world. 

Lughnasadh / Lammas - August 1 
Even though Lughnasadh occurs at the warmest time of the year, it marks the time at which days become noticeably shorter and so is considered the starting point of the autumn quarter of the year. The autumn season contains three harvests, and Lughnasadh is the first of these, the time when the first corn harvest is cut. The name is derived from Lugh (pronounced 'loo'), a Celtic deity of light and wisdom. At Lughnasadh, bread from the first harvest was eaten in thanks. Baking, sharing & eating bread is a wonderful way to celebrate this holiday and if you can, attend a Renaissance Faire, Medieval Festival or Highland Games competition. The jousting matches and caber & sheaf tosses were no doubt inspired by that aggressive war god Lugh :-) 

Mabon / Autumn Equinox - on or near September 21 
Mabon is the time of the second harvest, when fruits are ready for collection. The land is showing clear signs of the journey towards winter - leaves are beginning to turn and birds are gathering for migration. Mabon is a time to consider which aspects of your life you wish to preserve and which you would prefer to discard. This is the Pagan Thanksgiving, a time to appreciate and enjoy the fruits of your labors. Commemmorate Mabon by making wine, feasting with friends, planting bulbs to bloom in the spring and put out feeders to help those brave birds who don't migrate get through the long winter ahead. 

Samhain, All Hallow's Eve, Hallowe'en - October 31 
This is the Last Harvest and New Year's Eve to the ancient Celts. Being "between years," it is considered a very magical time, a day when the veil separating the the physical plane and spiritual realms is most permeable. This is a good day to practice divination: scrying, Tarot readings and Rune casting are all particularly effective. The practice of donning costumes... especially scary ones... grew out of the ancient fear of evil spirits passing through the veil along with the benevolent ones and pumpkin carving evolved from the practice of painting hideous faces on gourds to keep "gouls and goblins" away from the home. Samhain is also a day for honoring our ancestors and one of my favorite rituals is the Dumb Supper... laying an extra place at the dinner table for those who have passed over to the Summerlands. 

Now, to kind of clarify, Wiccans believe in a place called the Summerlands. This is what some would believe to be paradise, the afterlife, etc. Also, Yule is celebrated kind of  like the Christian Christmas, but different; it is celebrated because of the passing of the old king that is to be reborn for another year. I still haven't gotten a grip onto it very well, but if you look it up some more, I think you will understand it more. But the rest is very simple and very easy to understand I hope. Next time, we'll get more into the topic of hand-fasting and soul mates, because I believe it's a very strong topic that Pagans do believe is very important. Well, blessed be!

Information for this post came from the following website: http://www.catanna.com/paganholidays.htm

How To Work Spells - Power and Success Spells

Now we are going to go deep into the mystery and magic of success spells. Whatever you need to make your life a successful, happy, and satisfied life is going to be taught to you right here and now. Witches have been using success spells for centuries to help them tap into the abundance of the earth. And, if you keep in mind very important principals about life, you can do the same. The most important, especially when you make your own spells, is "Harm none". So it's perfectly fine to do a spell to manifest success and abundance-go right ahead! Just make sure that by doing so, you are not taking away from someone else.

For instance; you shouldn't cast a spell that asks to give you something that belongs to someone else, like your neighbor's car or your best friends designer bag. It's okay to ask for these things, and there is enough abundance in the Universe to give them to you, without taking from someone else.

Now, let's talk about what you want to achieve with your magical practice of success spells.

Maybe you know exactly what you want already. Maybe you are just looking for the perfect spell to get what you want. And if you do know, then that's great! But not everyone is as lucky. Not everyone knows their true heart's desire. Not everyone has the security of knowing what it is they are supposed to be doing. They don't know what path will bring them the most success and happiness in life. It's just a given, so if this is happening to you instead, don't worry about it!

There are a few ways for you to discover your path in life. Most people know deep down what it is they should be doing, but they convince themselves that, for some reason, they can't do it. They tell themselves they won't make enough money, it's too much work, they don't have what it takes, and a million and one other reasons. The trick is to get past all those EXCUSES and get in touch with your inner self and your true desires.

Quick Practice Meditation 

So, we are going to try an exercise. Imagine that you are living in a world where you cannot fail. Everything you try to do, you know that you will succeed. Once you have that down, ask yourself "What would you be doing?". What would you study? Where would you live? What would your job be? What would your family look like? What would your dream house look like? Try to imagine these things in as much detail as you can. Write them down, because this is your path and these should be your goals. Even if they seem temporary, reach for them! 

Here is a good saying for you "The sky is the limit, but in case you miss it, you can always land in the stars." Take this saying into account and make sure that your goals are YOU and do everything you can to follow through with them! You can move mountains with your own will, so move the mountains in your way to follow through with your dreams. Not too long ago, 1950s?, teenagers had to do what their parents want them to, to the tiniest detail and so on, but now is our chance to succeed and take control of our own destinies.

Now, if you had trouble with this exercise, then your true desires must be too deep in your subconscious mind to reach without a little help. Don't worry about this, it just means that you may not be ready for what our minds want to tell you, and this happens to everyone. Maybe this next meditation could help you.

A Guided Meditation With A Friend

Find a quiet place and have a trusted friend read the following with you slowly, and trust that your inner mind will guide you to where it needs to be. Don't be afraid of trying to reveal what the subconscious, because it may be very important for you. And if you have your most trusted friend with you, you have all the back up you could ever need. Let's begin.

Sit comfortably, with your back straight but not stiff, and your hands resting on your knees. Take some deep breaths, now. Inhale through your nose, taking in as much refreshing air as you can. One, two, three, four...good. Now, exhale through your mouth, and as you exhale, feel the tension leaving your body. Inhale long, slow, deep breaths, exhale, and feel your body relax even more. Relax all the tension in your body. 

Feel all the muscles in your body relax, starting with your shoulders and moving down in a powerful wave to the soles of your feet and the tips of your toes. Breathe and relax.

Now, once you are totally relaxed, reach inward, inside your mind. Keep calm and relaxed, because you will begin to either see a bright light or a doorway. Either way, when you are ready, step through; keep trust with your mind that whatever is on the other side of that door/light, you are ready for it and that you are not afraid. (For Reader: Give Person A Moment To Sink This In) (For Reader: This Next Part Take Slowly For Person, Give Them Some Time)

Now, you find yourself in a field, surrounded by trees. You are on the edge of a deep, peaceful forest. You can hear the birds singing, and feel a gentle breeze blowing across your face. The sun is shining and warms your face and hands. Take a moment to enjoy the peacefulness you feel in this place. (For Reader: Give Person A Moment To Themselves On This Part).

Then, when you are ready, you start walking towards the forest. With each step you take, you feel the magic of this place, the peacefulness and serenity of the woods. With each step you take you are more deeply in touch with your spiritual self. As you get closer and closer to the trees, you see a narrow path in front of you. This is the path that will guide you through the forest. As you step onto the path and into the forest, you notice the deep, dark green of the trees around you...then you notice the sunlight filtering through the canopy of trees above you...you see birds and small animals flittering by...and you keep walking along this narrow path.

As you continue walking down the path, it gets narrower, and the trees and bushes start getting closer together, and yet you keep walking.

After a while, you reach the end of the path, and right in front of you is a giant, ancient, tree. This three is directly on the path, and there is now way around it. Hanging from the tree, right in front of you, within your grasp, is a bag. You pull the bag off the tree, and you are curious as to what's inside. You open the bag, and the bag starts to glow with a bright white light. You reach your hand inside the bag and pull out a small piece of paper.

This paper has something written on it, a message that you know is meant only for you. You read the message, you understand it, you memorize it, (pause for a moment) and then you slowly put the paper back in the bag, and hang it back on the tree.

This message is perfectly clear to you. You are thankful to the tree, and the forest, for giving you this message. And you turn around and walk back down the narrow path, out of the forest. As you return to the field, you feel the magic of the forest slowly fading away. You are returning to the world you left behind. You are suddenly aware of your breath, aware of your slow inhale and exhale, aware of your surroundings. But you are still deeply relaxed and peaceful. When you are ready to leave the field, open your eyes slowly. You have returned, but you have brought an important message with you.

What was the message you learned in the forest through your meditation? Many times, this meditation will reveal something very important about yourself that can guide you and help you make decisions. Use this meditation whenever you are feeling confused or lost.

If you want to, the next time you try this meditation, look at the details: What are the colors of the flowers? What kind of trees are there? How about animals? Are there mountains? What color is the sky? Pay attention to all these things and write them down when you return, because this helps to tell what kind of person you are.

Well, good luck and I hope that this has helped. Blessed Be!

P.S. If there are those of you who need to have any of these posts emailed to you, there should be a bar that you put your email in at the bottom and all my posts will be be emailed to you in case you are still afraid of having your parents or anyone else to see this blog in your history. Hopes and best of wishes!

How To Work Spells - Love Spells

Hi everyone! To follow off on the last post, and the book, I'm mainly going to explain love spells to you, because they can be easily confused about what they are used for and how to use them correctly. If the information stuff doesn't bore any of you, then I might put the practice spell at the bottom. Don't forget to put this in your Book of Shadows if you want and we'll get started!

So, pay close attention, because love spells, when done correctly, are extremely potent and powerful. They can do a lot of things; positive and negative, so you better watch what you are doing first.

Each culture has their own kind of love magic, but the ultimate purpose is really the same: to find, keep, and enhance love through magic. Love spells have been practiced for centuries on every continent, by almost every culture, so it's kind of widely known.

Believe it or not, love magic is actually everywhere you go. It may have been that you have even practiced some kind and form of love magic before. If you have ever worn jewelry to make yourself more attractive, then guess what? You have used a love charm! If you spray on perfume or cologne, it probably contains some aphrodisiac flowers or smells...and, yes, that's a love potion! And if you've ever read your horoscope in the paper to get advice about your love life, well...you're using divination!

Love magic is all a round us. And really, any time that you consciously choose to do something to make yourself attractive, or to attract someone special, you are sending out your own personal love vibrations. And you are invoking a kind of love magic. But because love magic is so powerful, it must be taken seriously. Love is such a powerful force that anyone who tried to play around with love spells incorrectly may find themselves getting burned.

There are many things love spells can do for you. They can make you more desirable and attractive. They can send out vibrations to attract a specific person. They can put out positive energy that will attract your soul mate. And they can create the perfect atmosphere for love to grow. But once the spark of love is ignited, the rest is up to you and your partner. Because even the most powerful love spells have their limits.

A love spell can bring two people together, but it can't force someone to love you. And a love spell cannot keep two people together against their will. Remember the Wiccan Rede I mentioned before "Harm none." When you use love magic to interfere with another person's free will, you are causing them harm. Make sure, like REALLY MAKE SURE, that the love spell you want to do does not interfere with someone's free will. NEVER attempt to use love magic to manipulate someone else's emotions. Not only does this violate the Rede, but it also falls into the category of black magic.

So, before you really do your first love spell, here are some things that should  be useful information:

Most witches recommend that you perform love spells to attract love in general, not a specific person. This way you avoid the problem of interfering with free will.

If you DO have someone specific in mind, then you can cast a spell to attract that person, with the intent that it should work ONLY if you are right for each other and no harm will come of it. If you have sincere intentions, then you can safely cast a love spell for a specific person. But be prepared to accept that the spell will not work if you are not right for each other. If the person you have in mind is not your true love, then the spell won't work.

A very important component of magic is emotion, feeling, and concentration. A love spell will not be effective unless you have very strong feelings about what you are attempting to do. This may all sound WAY too serious, but just think about it like this:

Love is the MOST powerful feeling in the world. And magic is extremely powerful too. When you put the two together, wouldn't you want to do it the right way?

The best time to do a love spell, is on a Friday, while the moon is waxing (or getting bigger). When doing love spells, they will be a lot more powerful if you visualize and concentrate on the desired results of your spell.

And when you are about to do something, your rituals and spells should be kept as secret as possible. Don't share what you are doing with people who will just laugh at you or mock you. You don't need those kinds of  negative people messing with your energy. Keeping your spells and rituals as private as possible will give it more meaning to you and make it even MORE important, and they will be more effective.

So, I think that we can actually look at a REAL love spell. I'll do my best to keep it simple, but when you do spells, you follow them like they own your life, because you want them to go right in every way possible. And remember that you want to FEEL for the spell: feel the love you want, have, and need/desire. Picture the most amazing memory of love and let it surround you and fill you. Think of doing a spell kind of like a play. You have to BE the role and part in order to make it more effective.

What You Will Need:

a) Two candles, preferably red or pink (one for you, one for he lover) 

b) Candle holders 

c) Paper 

d) Scissors 

e) A pen or pencil

What You Will Need To Do:

Write your names on two pieces of paper which stand underneath the candle holder. On a third piece of paper, write both your names and draw a circle around them.

Place the candles about a foot apart on their respective pieces of paper, with the third piece of paper exactly in the center.

Light your candle first and say:

Burn bright, burn true,
heart of (your name)

Then light the other and say:

Burn bright, burn true, heart of (lover's name)


If you have a wand, trace a figure of eight around the two candles, making sure to cross over exactly each time over the third piece of paper. If you don't, use the original inbuilt human wand - your index finger.

Say with each pass slowly:

A meeting of two hearts
if it is ordained
must come to pass. 

Stop, take a deep breath in and out, and start on the second set. Three passes again, full fig. eight around the candles.

Let no-one and nothing
stand in the way
of the meeting of two hearts. 

Stop, take a deep breath and start the 3rd set of 3 passes.

Two hearts beat as one
it is my will
and it is done. 

Now sit down and focus on the paper with the circle and both your names which is the power focus of this ritual.

See yourself and the lover together, being honest and true together, talking, making love, making decisions. Just you and her, keep that completely clear and powerful in your mind.

When you are ready, move both candles together and tip them so their flames combine. Take the circle paper and say:

My will is transferred
my spell has been heard
As I will, so mote it be. 
Burn the circle paper in the single flame.

Blow out the single flame as one.

Wrap the candles and the name papers in tissue and dispose of them. 


Remember, you are only doing this spell with GOOD INTENTIONS. Taking a person's free will is basically a spiritual crime that will haunt you for a very very long time. Be careful if you ever think about doing this spell or any other love spells. Blessed be.

How To Work Spells - Introduction Exercise

Alright everyone, merry meet, and let's get started! Today we are going to be learning more about spells: making them, using them, all the shabam! The book that I will be using is called Wicca Power Spells by Aurora; I'm just taking concepts from it, so don't worry and I will be including some other cool stuff. You may want to take some notes and write this stuff in your Book of Shadows so it can help you later! So, let's get started!

When you use magic (please don't judge before you hear me out!) don't be mislead or misunderstood about it. Magic is not supernatural. Magic is actually one of the most natural forces in the world! Only people who fear it call it supernatural, so try to learn what magic really is and how to respect it, because there's nothing to be afraid of if you respect it.

Magic is considered the projection of natural energies to produce needed effects. Say you are doing a love spell just to make yourself more attractive to someone; the energy required for that is positive and love energy. Where better to get that energy from than the Earth? The energy that it gives off is natural and clean (except what us humans have done to it).

There are three main sources of energy in the Universe (but let's just stick to the world for now so it's not a lot to take in). It's important to know what kinds of energy we are talking about when we cast spells.

The first kind is personal energy. This is our own personal life force. We take in energy from the sun, water, and food, and we release it through exercise, movement, and even as we exhale.

The second type of energy is earth energy. This is the energy found within our planet. Each natural element has its own power which can be used in magic: earth, trees, stones, wind, fire, and crystals are some examples of earth energy.

The third, most powerful type of energy, is divine power. This is the energy that makes up the entire Universe (world). This is higher power energy, life force-whatever you want to call it. It's the universal (world) power source, and it's what we tap into when we perform magic.

Those times when we just say a simple, quick chant, we are performing magic. Either to protect us, to help us pass a test, or to feel confident, magic is being used.

When using a spell, there's one, very important, VERY, to concentrate! You have to focus on what it is that you really want when you cast a spell and you have to really feel it! You can't just burn some candles and say some magic words-you have to actually MEAN what you say.

And keep very well in mind to remember the Wiccan Rede. Even though some of you won't be following the Wiccan path, it's not against the rules to mix and match things like a really awesome and personalized outfit, because there are no rules about that! Still, remember that when you cast a spell, it's not supposed to harm anyone! If you intend your spells to harm someone, you will create negative energy. This means your spells are going to backfire on you or have consequences that you did not intend. YOU ARE WARNED!

Now, let's talk about the divine powers that should help us with our spells. In Wicca, Wiccans believe in a lord and a lady, a god and goddess. For us/you, you can use different deities. Like the last post I did, it can be your patrons or it can be totally different gods that are required for you spell. It doesn't mean you need to believe in them in order to practice spells, but you need to be able to focus on a higher power, and the power of nature. If you can do this, then you are on a roll!

Keep in mind that magic is working with higher powers of the Universe (world) to create a better world for you or for others. It all depends on who or what your spell(s) are intended for.

While reading this book, I read that there are certain tools needed in order to cast spells. This is news to me and this may be news to you, so let's get a look at that list!

Believe it or not, some of the tools needed are actually used to stereotype witches: the broomstick, the cauldron, and the magic wand, all are important parts to certain rituals. Here's what they are used for:

The broom is used to purify and cleanse the space you are doing magic in. As you sweep, you are sweeping away any bad energy that can interfere with your magic. A classic broom is made of ash, birch, and willow. These kind of woods are protective and purifying. Of course, any broom will do the job, so you don't have anything to worry about.

A magic wand is used to direct and channel energy, and to invoke the god and goddess. You can use just about any fairly straight piece of wood as your magic wand. You may decide to decorate your wand, carve it or paint it as you choose. Make it special to you and feel free to personalize it.

Another important tool for casting spells is incense. Our sense of smell is very powerful, and certain smells create very potent magical effects. You can use stick or cone incense, or buy a special granulated kind from occult stores. (Specific spells will call for specific scents, so watch out in case you want those exact ones.)

The cauldron is the container in which transformations occur. It is your very own tool for creation. Usually, cauldrons are made of iron and rests on three legs, but they are kind of hard to find, so you can always brew whatever it is you need in a pot on the stove or a substitute. Remember, it's the intention that matters when it comes to magic!

Candles are very important when practicing magic. Most spells require you to light candles, or use them to contain energy. You can use any candles you wish, although certain spells will require a specific color. We'll get more into that later, but not too much later. Herbs and essential oils are also important for spell casting and potion making. so watch out for those too.

You will also need a place to practice you magic; your alter. I have already gone over what it is that you should need for this, so don't worry about this!

Last, but not least at all, is your Book of Shadows. This is your personal book of magic and a record of everything you do (a combination of your personal journal and a spell book). This I have also went over, so if you have already created your amazing, elaborate Book of Shadows, great! If you haven't, that's still good, you can use a substitute notebook and then place all your information into it. I suggest, this I forgot to add, that you write your spells and things in hand because it makes it more personal, but if not that doesn't disrupt the magic! Don't worry!

When doing a spell, two common elements that is included during a spell are the magic circle and the alter. The circle is a powerful tool. It's the space where you magic will happen. It is a sacred space that only you can create for yourself. The magic circle protects the witch from the forces that he or she is raising. It's also used to shut out any energy or forces from outside which will interfere with the ritual. The circle also contains your own personal power while you are working magic, holding and channeling it for your purposes. Essentially, the circle creates the atmosphere for all the magic you will do. It is a sphere of energy that forms the boundaries of your magical space. As you set up your circle, try to feel its energy moving around you. focus on creating your perfect magical space, the place where you can access your true power.

Now, let's talk about "raising your power" stuff. There are different ways to tap into the power that runs through your veins. First of all, anyone can cast a powerful magical spell. If you think you're not powerful enough, or not magical enough, or you're still skeptical about this, don't worry! You will be able to perform very effective magic, if you can follow some pretty simple instructions.

There is a very important principle that underlies all magic spells you perform; some people call it The Secret or the Law of Attraction, but the point is you WILL attract what you think about and focus on. That is how powerful your mind is! If you focus on protection, like you REALLY focus, then it will be given. Call it Faith if you'd like, but it's not just faith in the divine or in the Earth, it's mainly faith in yourself. And if you do not of faith in yourself, your spells will not work. You have to put your ENTIRE BEING into achieving your goal.

Here is an example: making negative statements WILL cancel out any positive energy created by your spell. This basically means that the spell won't work. How great is that? (Sarcasm). When you cast a spell, you need to be CONFIDENT that it WILL work, that it WILL succeed. In fact, the more confident you are, the more successful your spell is likely to be.

--->So I can tell that you are just SO excited to tap into that river or power that flows right through you, am I right? Great! Let's start with an exercise. First, we are going to tap into our personal energy. Find a comfortable place to sit and make your breathing long, deep, and slow; like meditation. 

FEEL your body relax and your mind get quiet; begin to ignore the outside world and its problems, tune into yourself. Now, start rubbing your palms together, taking deep and calming breaths. Do this for about twenty seconds, or when you feel like stopping. Start slowly, and then rub faster and faster; go at the tempo you want/need though. Now, feel your muscles begin to tense up. Feel your palms begin to get warmer. Stop. Hold your palms about two inches apart. Can you feel them tingling? This is the energy that you have built and released, and it's now flowing through your hands!

Once you have created this energy, you can now try to manipulate it. Using your mind and powers of visualization, give this energy a color, like your favorite color. Form it into a ball of pulsing energy and let it move between your hands. Now, you can make it bigger or smaller as you choose. And finally you can choose to let it return to your body. Simply let it flow back into your palms into your arms, and be absorbed by your body again.

Once you have practiced with your personal energy, it's time to start sensing Earth energy. For this exercise, find a plant. Any herbs,plants, or flowers will work-but it's better if they are still growing, not cut. Now, breathe deeply for a few moments and, like before, relax yourself. Hold your left palm a few inches above the plant now. Focus your awareness on your palm. Think about the following: what do you feel? Is it a dull throbbing, a hum, a wave of heat, or a kind of energy shift in your hand? If you can feel something different, then you are feeling the energy of the plant. You can do this exercise with any natural object: stones, crystals, and trees for example. They all have their own earth energy.

For many reasons, it's better to draw energy from the earth and other natural objects when you are performing magic. Using your personal energy is very draining and this enhances your own power with earth energy, making your spells more effective.

The power, as you may guess, comes from the divine. When you perform magic, you are asking the divine to contribute this power to your spell. You may be able to sense this incredible power as you are doing a spell. Over all, divine energy is what makes magic truly magical.

To help, let's just get an idea of what we learned in this post:

You have learned more about the meaning of magic

You have learned all bout the three types of energy and how to tap into them

You have learned exercises to help yourself feel this energy

You have learned of the supplies needed to perform magic

You are ready to practice real, effective spells

Blessed Be!

Making An Altar

This is something I haven't done because of the fact that I don't have any money to buy stuff for this, my parents/family members can't find it, and it doesn't seem like I have space for this stuff. Okay, that's kind of a white lie, but there seriously isn't any place I can put my own alter because I share a bedroom & bunk bed with my seventeen year old sister who hates the fact that I am Pagan. And my bedroom is basically my step-mom's computer/cat room. Yes, it smells of bad cat litter, but I'm used to it right now. So, I started looking for easy and crafty ways for us Teen Witches and other Pagans could make some pretty cool alters.

I won't post the entire article, but it's called Be A Crafty Teen Witch by Gwinevere Rain  and she wrote about how most Teen Witches have a budget, which is REALLY true, so the best time, she advises, to get stuff is the after Halloween sales. There are a lot of stores that have some pretty good Halloween clearence sections that can be used for alters, but we also have to get CREATIVE. That probably means going to yard sales around town and finding items (snow globes, china dolls, glass figures, flowers, etc) that we like, define us or what we believe to be the Goddess and God. Also, we can just go around and find plants and natural things that we can use. 

Here is a video that gives examples of different alter ideas and what you should do with/for your alter.

And this video is like any teenager witch that will help you to understand why and what to put on your alter. Some of the things on here may not matter to Pagans, but if you want you can include whatever you want because this is YOUR ALTER.

And here is a picture so that you can get a better look to how to set up your alter. Like I said, I haven't set one up yet, but hopefully, soon, I can and I'll be able to take pictures for you guys! Well, good luck, and start thinking about what you want to put on your alters. In the next couple of posts, I will explain to you the esbats and moon phases and then I will explain about how to find your own Goddess and God. It's more of a Wiccan thing, just so you know, but since there are many cultures that have many Gods, you have a lot of chances of getting picked. I've heard that you get picked and that you get to pick or someone picks for you, but that's for later. Alright, well good luck and have fun!

Book of Shadows- To Do And To Make

Let's take a small and quick break here. I'm going to help all of you create your own Book of Shadows. Mainly, the Book of Shadows comes from the Wiccan religion, but I think that it's best to use it for whatever any of you want, because it will be the book where you store all your knowledge about spells, rituals, holidays, how to use things, etc. And a Book of Shadows is used for your personal self and you can pass it on to your children and their children, to follow the generations. My Book of Shadows I started about three years ago, and I haven't really added on because I wasn't really sure about joining my religion. Now that I am, I am not only going to add on to it, but I'll make it pretty amazing. In my book of shadows, I have a number of different spells I can use for any occasion, such as healing spells, beauty, luck, protection, etc. I need to really get all the information modernized because most of it isn't up to date, but I plan to make it really stand out.

For your book of shadows, you can either write in a blank book or you can type it. I usually type it because I can type faster, but I like to write, so I may do both! But you can do whichever you prefer. I'm going to post a video to help all of you to help give a general idea of what your Book of Shadows some thickness. If you don't want a Book of Shadows because you are afraid that your parents will find it or something, that is perfectly fine. There is actually a way to "code" it, if you know what I mean. But here is the video, and after that you can check out how I code things. There will be a video about an idea of things that you should put in  your Book of Shadows and there will be one for some idea of ways for you to make your Book of Shadows full of life and more interesting.

When you look at these two videos below, think about the different ways she personalized her Book of Shadows; how she made it fit to what she likes, how she made it more interesting, how she took into consideration of matching colors to their spells. If you have ever seen the Spiderwick Chronicles, think about Arthur Spiderwick's book that tells about the Fae creatures and how he made included flowers Faeries might have liked or some plant samples. Go outside the box if you want to!!!

In this next video, take account of how Flora has set up her Book of Shadows and all the things she has included to her Book of Shadows.

Now, if any of you are interested in "coding" your Book of Shadows, please continue down to below, the rest of you, enjoy setting up your book of shadows and good luck! Because I know I have some future ideas for my Book of Shadows.


Coding Your Book Of Shadows.
The form of code that I use is simple for me, because the day I learned it I used it OVER AND OVER because I was just so excited about it, and I will show it to you today. Just to warn you, it's a little like math. It's something new, like algebra, that you are learning and when you keep practicing and practicing over and over again you aren't sure about getting it until BAM!!! it clicks!

With this exercise, you will need a piece of paper (doesn't matter what kind) and something to write with. Now, on your piece of paper, make two rows of twenty-six columns. On the bottom row, write the letters of the alphabets in order. When you are finished with that, stop. Now, you will have to think of a word. For now, just a simple one. Like TOE. So write TOE in the first three columns at the top. What you do now, is continue writing the alphabet after the E. If you look at the example below, yours should be correct as well. (When you continue the alphabet order, the next letter you get to is O, skip it and move on to P and the same goes for T; skip it and go to U).

Now, let's try something a bit more challenging. Let's use the word MAYBE. Do the exact same format as you did before, then write MAYBE at the top and continue off of that. If you get the concept, your table should look like below:

If you got that, then great! I'll explain to you the next process. The next step is words with two of the same letters in them, like APPLE. Since we have to stick to the twenty-six letter rule, we won't put APPLE at the top row, but we'll put APLE at the top. Since there is a double letter, we have to take out the one that appears second. So go off like you originally would while using APLE. It should look like this:

 If you got that, awesome! Now let's try the word PURPLE. What we'll do, since the letters aren't next to each other, we'll still take out the second letter and it will look like PURLE. Use the same process and it should look like this:

If you want to look at a better way to example it, here is a picture:

And that is how to use my way of coding. If there are other ways you would like to use, instead of using letter against letter, you can use symbols, numbers. colors, anything! The sky is the limit!


So, good luck everyone! If you would like, please post some other ideas that you have or some pictures of your own Book of Shadows. When I get mine together and actually have some money, I'll show all you guys! Blessed be!

Prayers For Death (or Things Having To Do With Death)

Tonight my dear childhood pet, Tobey, passed on. He may have been just a rabbit, but he was a good friend of mine. I have noticed, while I was looking for prayers to help his spirit move on to the next world, that there wasn't really much of any that had to do with Death. So, here is a list of prayers that will help in case you come across these problems. The subject of Death I will touch on later on, but right now I grieve. Blessed be.

Deep Peace to You
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the infinite peace to you.
- Adapted from Ancient Gaelic Runes -

Prayer For The Dying
Time has passed, the Wheel has turned.
It is time for you [person's name] to move on.
You will walk hand in hand with the Lord and Lady
and with your ancestors who came before you.
Great Mother, welcome [name of person]
back into your womb.
And Great Father welcome [him/her] back
into your divine instruction.
Let [him/her] come to you and
know that [s/he] has been blessed
by your gracious gift of Life.
Let [him/her] come into your Divine Love,
and let [him/her] know
that [s/he] has left behind a life of legacy,
that [s/he] shall be remembered and loved.
As [s/he] enters your world,
wrap [him/her] in your loving arms,
and welcome [him/her] back home.
Let [him/her] speak to the Ancient Ones
to learn the greater mysteries
that lie beyond the veil.
Give [him/her] the strength to take these final steps,
and allow [him/her] to do so with peace and dignity.
Those of us left behind
shall indeed mourn [his/her] death,
but we shall also know
that [his/her] Soul and Spirit
is coming back
to Holy Mother and Holy Father,
and that [s/he] shall be made whole again.
We shall cry, but we shall also laugh,
for we shall celebrate the Life
that had been given to [person's name.]
And let [him/her] also know
that as we now merry part,
that we shall also merry meet again.
And we now, with these candles {light candles}
respect the flame of [person's name]'s life,
and though these candle flames shall die out,
we know that [person's name] shall live on,
and [his/her] flame shall never cease to burn,
and we also know that [s/he] shall be reborn anew.
Take [him/her] by the hand and
guide [him/her] back into your heart,
for this is what is right and just.
Let [him/her] walk unerringly
down the path that leads to your Love.
This is our will and so mote it be.
Amen and Amen.
- Crimson Peaceful Wolf -
- Wiccan Prayer -

Carry On Prayer
Beloved one, you are dying [dead],
but you are not alone.
We are here with you,
the beloved dead await you.
You go from love
into love.
Carry with you
only love.
May our love carry you
and open the way.
- Carry Only Love

Wiccan Prayer for One Assisting
Someone in Dying
Goddess of death,
I stand here as your priest/ess
knowing that life
must be winnowed
to thrive.
This is a holy act I perform:
to open a gateway
for a willing one
to come to you.
This is an act of healing,
a release from suffering,
an end to pain.
Here is one
whose arms are open
to embrace you.

Wiccan Prayer For One Who Has Had
a Miscarriage
Mother of life,
Mother of death,
here is a spirit so new
that the gates of life and death
are just an archway in [his/her] dancing ground.
[S/he] has danced [his/her] way back to you.
[His/her] passage is easy
but mine is hard.
I wanted to hold [his/her] living flesh
and feel [his/her] soft breath and [his/her] heartbeat.
I nurtured [his/her] in my body;
I would have fed [his/her] from my breasts.
I would have cared for [him/her]
and watched [his/her] first steps
and listened for [his/her] voice.
No other child that may come to me
will ever be what [s/he] would have been.
Nothing, nobody, will ever replace [him/her].
Whatever healing I may find,
this loss will always be a part of me.
Bless my womb,
which has the power
to create life and death.
Bless my arms that would have embraced [him/her].
Bless my hands
that would have lifted [him/her].
Bless my heart that grieves.


May the Blessing of Light Be on You
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
like a great peat fire,
so that strangers and friends may come
and warm themselves at it.
And may light shine out of the two eyes of you,
like a candle set in the window of a house,
bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm.
And may the blessing of the rain be on you,
may it beat upon your Spirit
and wash it fair and clean,
and leave there a shining pool
where the blue of Heaven shines,
and sometimes a star.
And may the blessing of the earth be on you,
soft under your feet as you pass along the roads,
soft under you as you lie out on it,
tired at the end of day;
and may it rest easy over you
when, at last, you lie out under it.
May it rest so lightly over you
that your soul may be out
from under it quickly;
up and off and on its way to Heaven.
And now may Spirit bless you,
and bless you kindly.
- Pagan Invocation -

For Samhain Dreams of the Dead
Magic of Samhain dreams
Spirits of mystical north,
O’ guardian of earth, heed our prayers
Throughout this rite, come forth.
As the stars crown our brow,
This song of wicca we hear,
Open the gates that our loved ones may pass
And our words draw them near.
Magic of Samhain dreams
Spirits of mystical east,
O’ guardian of air, heed our prayers
At behest of wiccan words.
As on wings of warding we soar
This song of wicca we hear,
Open the gates that our loved ones may pass
And our words draw them near.
Magic of Samhain dreams,
Spirits of mystical south,
O’ guardian of flame, heed our prayers
And spare us lengths of drouth.
As your touch warms our souls
This song of wicca we hear,
Open the gates that our loved ones may pass
And our words draw them near.
Magic of Samhain dreams,
Spirits of mystical west,
O’ guardian of water, heed our prayers
And deem we sisters and brothers blessed.
As your rushing rivers flow
This song of wicca we hear
Open the gates that our loved ones may pass
And our words draw them near.
- Samhain Chant for the Dead -
- A la Wesley Lowe -

A Wiccan Prayer for the Dying
Time has passed, the Wheel has turned.
It is time for me to move on.
I will walk hand in hand with the Ancient Ones,
and with my ancestors who came before me.
Great Mother, welcome me back into your womb,
I come to you and know I am blessed,
for my life has been one I am proud of.
As I enter your world,
wrap me in your loving arms,
and welcome me.
Lord of Death, I wait for you to take me,
I come to you willingly, with eyes wide open,
as my last moment approaches on the horizon.
May I look upon you without fear, without pain,
and knowing that those who walked before me,
await me on the other side.
O Ancient Ones, give me strength to take these final steps,
and allow me to do so with peace and dignity.
Let my family mourn my passing but not my loss,
and let them heal knowing I will see them again.
Time has passed and the Wheel has turned.
It is time for me to move on.

Information for these Prayers came from the website http://www.a-good-dying.com/wiccan-prayers.html

Divination 101 - The Tarot Deck Continued

This post is to explain what the cards' meanings are in a simple form.. The deck that I had chosen for myself almost a year ago now is the Shadowscapes Tarot by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law. She is an amazing watercolor artist and I enjoy her art, it has inspired me artistically and spiritually. When you choose your deck, it doesn't have to be only ONE, you can have multiple decks, but I recommend trying to create a connection between you and your deck(s). An impression if you will. Each card is a door that can open up many other worlds, your very own portal. Like two strangers catching each other's eyes across a room in a glance of just the briefest of moments that holds many possibilities, that should be you and your deck(s).

Now, close your eyes and pick one card and just look at the picture, study it, drink in the picture and it's meaning. Look at it for so long that you can see it with your eyes closed. Step into the image. Imagine how it feels, how it smells, how it sounds. This is both the hardest and the easiest part of reading the cards: to simply look at a picture and say what it means is something we have lost when we grew away from our childhood, but adults struggle with it, thinking they'll "get it wrong". Do not worry about this, because this connection is based off of the emotional and spiritual. Nothing can go wrong there!

Now, the second hard part to the deck: memorizing what each card means. I imagine it takes many years or the most simplest of time, either way it is NOT a necessity  but it is nice to just know what the cards mean off the top of your head. Here are the meanings:

The Major Arcana
The Fool	Upright: New beginnings, new adventures, new opportunities, unlimited possibilities, pleasure, passion, thoughtlessness, rashnessReverse: A bad decision, indecision, apathy, hesitation, a faulty choice
The Magician	Upright: Originality, creativity, skill, will-power, self confidence, dexterity, sleight of handReverse: Weakness in will, insecurity, delay, no imagination
The High Priestess	Upright: Wisdom, knowledge, learning, intuition, purity, virtue, a lack of patience, a teacherReverse: Ignorance, lack of understanding, selfishness, shallowness
The Empress	Upright: Action, development, accomplishment, mother/sister/wife, evolutionReverse: Vacillation, inaction, lack on concentration, indecision, anxiety, infidelity
The Emperor	Upright: Accomplishment, confidence, wealth, stability, leadership, father/brother/husband, achievement, a capable personReverse: Immaturity, indecision, feebleness, petty emotions, lack of strength
The Hierophant	Upright: A need to conform, social approval, bonded to the conventions of societyReverse: Unconventionality, unorthodoxy, an inventor or Upright: Mercy, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, conformity, a sense of historical importance, inspiration Reverse: Foolish generosity, errors are repeated, impotence, vulnerability, frailty, unorthodoxy
The Lovers	Upright: Love, harmony, trust, honor, the beginning of a romance, optimism, a meaningful relationship/affairReverse: Unreliability, separation, frustration in love, fickleness, untrustworthy
The Chariot	Upright: Perseverance, a journey, a rushed decision, adversity, turmoil, vengeanceReverse: Unsuccessful, defeat, failure, last minute loss, vanquishment
Strength	Upright: Strength, courage, conviction, energy, determination, action, heroism, virilityReverse: Weakness, pettiness, sickness, tyranny, lack of faith, abuse of power
The Hermit	Upright: Counsel, inner strength, prudence, caution, vigilance, patience, withdrawal, annulment, a lonerReverse: Imprudence, hastiness, rashness, foolish acts, immaturity
The Wheel of Fortune	Upright: Destiny, fortune, a special gain, an unusual loss, end of a problem, unexpected events, advancement, progressReverse: Failure, bad luck, interruption, outside influences, bad fate, unexpected events
Justice	Upright: Harmony, balance, equality, righteousness, virtue, honor, advice, a considerate personReverse: Bias, false accusations, intolerance, unfairness, abuse
The Hanged Man	Upright: Suspension, change, reversal, boredom, abandonment, sacrifice, readjustment, improvement, rebirthReverse: Unwillingness to make an effort, false prophecy, useless sacrifice
Death	Upright: Transformation, making way for the new, unexpected change, loss, failure, illness or death, bad luckReverse: Stagnation, immobility, slow changes, a narrow escape, cheating death
Temperance	Upright: Moderation, temperance, patience, harmony, fusion, good influence, confidenceReverse: Discord, conflict, disunion, hostility, frustration, impatience
The Devil	Upright: Ravage, weird or strange experience, downfall, unexpected failure, controversy, violence, disaster, an ill-tempered personReverse: Divorce, release, handicaps are overcome, enlightenment
The Tower	Upright: A sudden change, abandonment of past, ending a friendship, unexpected events, disruption, bankruptcy, downfall, loss of money or securityReverse: Following old ways, a rut, entrapment, caught in a bad situation, imprisonment
The Star	Upright: Hope, faith, inspiration, optimism, insight, spiritual love, pleasure, balanceReverse: Unfulfilled hopes, disappointment, dreams are crushed, bad luck, imbalance
The Moon	Upright: Deception, trickery, disillusionment, error, danger, disgrace, double-dealingReverse: Deception is discovered before damage can be done, trifling mistakes, taking advantage of someone
The Sun	Upright: Satisfaction, accomplishment, success, love, joy, engagement or a happy marriageReverse: Unhappiness, loneliness, canceled plans, broken engagement or marriage, a clouded future, a lack of friends
Judgmentor Rejuvenation	Upright: Awakening, renewal, a well lived life, better health, a quickened mindReverse: Fear of death, failure, possible loss, ill health or Upright: Atonement, judgment, the need to forgive, rejuvenation, rebirth, improvement, development, promotion, efforts are rewarded Reverse: Delay, disappointment, indecision, procrastination, theft, worry
The World	Upright: Completion, perfection, recognition, honors, the end result, success, fulfillment, triumph, eternal lifeReverse: Imperfection, lack of vision, disappointment

The Minor Arcana
Wands	Usually predict energy, growth, enterprise, animation, and glory.
Ace of wands	Upright: A creative beginning, a new business venture, a profitable journey, an inheritance, a new career, a birth in the familyReversed: Selfishness may spoil the venture, setbacks for a new enterprise, a journey may be put off, a lack of determination
Two of Wands	Upright: A kind and generous person, an interest in science, patience, creative ability, courage, good things to comeReversed: Caution is advised against impatience, a possible domination by others
Three of Wands	Upright: A cooperation in business affairs, trade and commerce, success brought by a good partnership, practical help may come from a successful personReversed: A tendency to scatter energies, mistakes are made through carelessness, disappointment, caution against pride and arrogance
Four of Wands	Upright: The beauty of the harvest home, perfected work, prosperity, peace, celebration after labor, end of romance in marriage, happy holidays to comeReversed: Learning to appreciate the little things in life, beauty of nature, peace, harmony
Five of Wands	Upright: Competition, possibility of a lawsuit or quarrel, obstacles, courageReversed: Harmony, new opportunities, generosity
Six of Wands	Upright: Good news, victory, success after labor, helpful friends, leadership during journeyReversed: Rewards are delayed, postponed trip, bad news, an insolent winner, pride in riches/success
Seven of Wands	Upright: The ability to "hold one's own" against adversaries, stiff competition in business, a fight won, a fight one may have to face soon, victory, energy, courageReversed: The threat will pass by, don't let others take advantage, caution against indecision, patience
Eight of Wands	Upright: A Goal is approaching, new ideas, a journey by air, love will find its mark, love of open air, gardens, meadowsReversed: Jealousy, violence, quarrels, domestic disputes, a force of courage or boldness is applied to suddenly
Nine of Wands	Upright: Preparedness, eventual victory, good health, strength in reserve, tendency to obstinacyReversed: Unpreparedness, refusal to fight, weakness in character, ill health, bending over adversity
Ten of Wands	Upright: An oppressive load, pain, all plans or projects ruined, complete failureReversed: Strength, energy, a desire to ruin the happiness of others, a clever person
Page of Wands	Upright: Brilliance, courage, beauty, sudden anger or love, great enthusiasm, a messengerReversed: Superficial, theatrical, unstable, a broken heart, bad news to come
Knight of Wands	Upright: An impetuous nature, generous friend, a lover, haste, a journey, the coming or going of a matter is of much concernReversed: Discord, work interrupted, jealousy, narrow-mindedness, suspicion, the journey is delayed
Queen of Wands	Upright: A woman, fondness of nature or of the home, attraction, command, someone who is well liked or honorableReversed: Strict, domineering, a jealous and revengeful nature, deceit, infidelity
King of Wands	Upright: A gentlemen, father, passionate, generous, noble, a good leaderReversed: Severe, unyielding, strict, intolerance, prejudice, quarrels
Cups	Usually predict love, happiness, fertility, and beauty.
Ace of Cups	Upright: The beginning of love, joy, beauty, or good healthReverse: Hesitancy to accept the things that come from the heart, love under a selfish grasp, egotism
Two of Cups	Upright: A new romance, a well balanced friendship is beginning, harmony, cooperationReverse: A loss of balance in a relationship, a violent passion, love turning bad, a misunderstanding
Three of Cups	Upright: A good fortune in love, a happy conclusion, unknown talents are discovered, a sensitive and sympathetic person, hospitalityReverse: Pain, gossip, unknown talents remain hidden, overindulgence
Four of Cups	Upright: Reevaluation, a dissatisfaction with success, kindness may come from othersReverse: New relationships possible, new goals, new ambitions, action
Five of Cups	Upright: Sorrow, loss of a loved one, a broken marriage, disillusionment, vain regretReversed: Return of hope, new relationships are beginning, return of a loved one, courage is summoned from within
Six of Cups	Upright: A gift from a childhood acquaintance, happiness and pleasure brought from the past, good memories, a new friendship, a gift from an admirer, new opportunitiesReverse: Living in the past, outworn friendships, disappointment
Seven of Cups	Upright: A long-worked imagination, unable to choose one's direction in life, illusory successReverse: A good use of determination, will-power, a definite path will be chosen
Eight of Cups	Upright: An abandonment of one's current path in life, disappointment in love, misery and repining without cause, desire to leave on'e success for something higherReverse: Search for pleasure, seeking joy or success, a new love interest
Nine of Cups	Upright: An assured future, physical well-being, a wish may come trueReverse: A lack in money, overindulgence, illness, a wish may not come true
Ten of Cups	Upright: A happy family life, true friendships, lasting happinessReverse: A family quarrel, loss of a friendship, children may turn against their parents, waste
Page of Cups	Upright: Gentleness, sweetness, kindness, an interest in poetry or art, newsReverse: Selfishness, little desire to create, a poor imagination
Knight of Cups	Upright: Intelligence, romantic dreamer, the coming or going of an emotional matterReverse: Trickery, fraud, sensuality, idleness, an untruthful person
Queen of Cups	Upright: Imagination out-ways one's common sense, a good wife or loving mother, happiness, gentle, a good natured personReverse: An over-active imagination, perverse, pleasure and happiness may turn bitter
King of Cups	Upright: A business man, a man of law, kindness, a considerate person, a willingness to take on responsibility, and enjoyment of the arts or sciencesReverse: A powerful man but a double-dealer, crafty, violent, scandal
Swords	Usually predict aggression, force, ambition, courage, strife, misfortune
Ace of Swords	Upright: Beginning of a victory, ability to love and hate with ardor, a valiant leader may be bornReverse: Caution when trying to use power to gain an ending, obstacles, tyranny
Two of Swords	Upright: Well balanced emotions are needed, indecision, trouble ahead, in need of directionReverse: Release, beware when dealing with the unscrupulous
Three of Swords	Upright: Affections may experience "stormy weather", lovers separated, possible civil warReverse: Disorder, confusion, loss, sorrow due to loss
Four of Swords	Upright: Rest after strife, retreat, temporary exile, a change back to the "active life"Reverse: Renewed activity, social unrest, labor strikes
Five of Swords	Upright: Failure, defeat, cowardliness, cruelty, an empty victoryReverse: A lesser chance of loss or defeat, an empty victory, unfairness in dealings
Six of Swords	Upright: A journey, passage away from sorrow, harmony will prevailReverse: Journey will be postponed, no way out of present obstacles or difficulties
Seven of Swords	Upright: An unwise attempt, unreliability, betrayal, insolence, spying, possible failureReverse: Excessive help is given, good advice, counsel, stolen items are returned
Eight of Swords	Upright: Restricted action, indecision, censure, temporary illness, weakness, a prisonerReverse: Relaxation, new beginnings possible, freedom
Nine of Swords	Upright: Suffering, doubt, desolation, illness, injury, death of a loved one, suspicion, cruelty, misery, loss, dishonesty, pitilessness, slanderReverse: Healing over time, unselfishness, patience, good news of a loved one
Ten of Swords	Upright: Sudden misfortune, ruin of plans, defeat, failure, pain and tearsReverse: Evil forces are overthrown, courage, some success, better health
Page of Swords	Upright: Dexterity, grace, diplomacy, understanding, an upsetting messageReverse: A cunning person, an imposture, ill health, unexpected events
Knight of Swords	Upright: A headlong rush into life, a strong man, bravery, a skillful and clever person, an unexpected coming or going of a matterReverse: Tyranny, a troublemaker, a crafty and secretive person
Queen of Swords	Upright: A quick and confident decision, a widow, one who can bear their sorrowReverse: Cruelty due to keen observations, a sly and deceitful person, narrowmindedness, a gossip
King of Swords	Upright: A judge, a powerful commander, a firm friendship holder but often overcautious, a wise counselorReverse: Evil intentions, an obstinate person, decisions or judgments may seem unfair
Pentacles	Usually predict money, industry, and material gain
Ace of Pentacles	Upright: A new business venture, the beginning of prosperity, beginning of happiness or pleasureReverse: Possible greed or misery, money may not be everything
Two of Pentacles	Upright: The ability to handle multiple situations, harmony is maintained during change, new projects may be difficult, expect a helpful messageReverse: Difficulty with handling problems, expect a discouraging message
Three of Pentacles	Upright: Reward for skills or abilities, approval, success through effortReverse: Quality in workmanship is neglected, good work is expended due to a preoccupation with money, common place ideals or ambitions
Four of Pentacles	Upright: Love of power or money, a lack of give-and-take, miserly or ungenerous natureReverse: Some earthly possessions may be lost, obstacles or delays in business affairs, a spendthrift.
Five of Pentacles	Upright: Loneliness, destitution, loss of possessions, poor health, despair due to spiritual impoverishmentReverse: New employment, revived courage, a new interest
Six of Pentacles	Upright: Sharing of prosperity, one will soon receive what is rightfully theirs, charity, gifts, philanthropy, three-foldReverse: Bribes, unfairness, prosperity is threatened, jealousy, miserliness
Seven of Pentacles	Upright: Effort and hard work will cause growth, a pause during development, reevaluationsReverse: Little progress, impatience, anxiety, investments may be unprofitable
Eight of Pentacles	Upright: Learning a trade or profession, employment is coming soon, skill, handiwork, small money gainReverse: Skills are not being used properly, a dislike of hard work, ambition is void
Nine of Pentacles	Upright: Well-being, things in life are enjoyed alone, solitude, a green thumbReverse: Loss is possible, danger from thieves, caution
Ten of Pentacles	Upright: Stable family, gain in wealth, property is acquiredReverse: Family misfortune, caution, mind is dull, slothfulness
Page of Pentacles	Upright: Scholar, generosity, kindness, a careful person, learning new ideas/opinionsReverse: Wastefulness, luxury, rebellious, opposing ideas/opinions, bad news
Knight of Pentacles	Upright: Trustworthy, a heavy and dull outlook, patience, accepting of responsibilities, an animal lover, a nature lover, the coming/going of a matterReverse: Irresponsible, impatience, timidness, carelessness, a standstill in affairs
Queen of Pentacles	Upright: Intelligence, thoughtfulness, a creative person, talents are used well, melancholyReverse: Too much dependence, neglected duties, mistrust, suspicion, not a very creative person
King of Pentacles	Upright: A chief of industry or a banker, a reliable person, a married man, solid, steadinessReverse: Materialistic, slow to anger, 'head is on the ground", bribes

Information for this post came from: http://www.themysticeye.com/info/tarotcardm.htm

Earth Day in Sickness and Health

Hey everyone, I am sick, but that will not stop me from posting! Today, if you didn't already know is Earth day. Today is the day to honor the Earth and to meditate on the deity manifesting as Mother Earth. So, here is a spell especially for Earth Day! It's easy to do and if you are not able to cast a circle, like myself, then you can just envision it all. 

This is to plant a plant for today, because the Earth is our home and we are supposed to respect and care for it. You will need a circle of earth (or just any kind of soil, it doesn't have to be special because it already is!), and a collection of seeds and plants. Begin by tilling the soil and use any fertilizer you would like or none at all, it is all up to you. Next, start by blessing the soil by getting down on the ground and placing your hands in the soil saying: 
Mother of Creation
Grant me your blessings
So my garden will thrive
Creating joy and love while it's alive.
Plant your seeds or your transplants into your garden. Finish by watering your garden thoroughly. Visualize your garden becoming florescent with life. Each day visit your garden , and as you tend to it, say a blessing for it's continued health and well being for the good health of our Mother Earth.

Congratulations! That was our Earth Day spell and here is a spell to make sure that you don't get sick like me!

To help speed recovery from an illness, write the sick person's name on a white human shaped candle of the correct gender (we will talk about this soon). As you anoint it with 3 drops of myrrh or mint oil, visualize healing energy in the form of white light flowing from your hands and into the candle. Recite:

"In the divine name of the Goddess who breathes life into us all, I consecrate and charge this candle as a magical tool for healing."

Place the candle on top of a photograph of the sick person and then light the wick. As the candle burns down, focus on the person in the photograph, willing him/her to be well again. Then recite:

"Magick mend and candle burn,
Sickness end, good health return."

Continue to focus and recite until the candle burns out on it's own. (At this point I suggest taking the remains of the candle, wrapping it in clean white cotton and burying it outside, thereby burying the sickness.)

Information for today's post came from the book Wiccan Spell a Day: 365 Spells, Charms, and Potions for the Whole Year and from http://www.everythingunderthemoon.net/spells/healing_spell.htm