Samhain: Pumpkins October 15, 2009
Posted by frootbat31 in sabbat, tips.Tags: pagan, sabbat, wicca, witch
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Originally the Jack O Lantern was carved from a turnip. Once Americanized, the pumpkin filled the role as scary lantern against the spooks of Samhain.
Some things you may not know about pumpkins:
- Pumpkins are in the family of squashes and gourds. They are considered a fruit.
- The word pumpkin came from the Greek word pepon, meaning ‘large melon’.
- Pumpkin (and the seeds) are an excellent source of protein, zinc, Vitamin A,potassium and even Tryptophan, the same chemical you find in milk to help you sleep.
- The flowers of the pumpkin plant are edible
They also make a tasty pie, but the you need young, small sized pumpkins which are sweeter.
Carving tips:
- Draw the face ( or whatever you want to carve) onto the pumpkin first.
- When carving the ‘lid’, make the shape jagged to make it easier to fit back in place when carving is finished.
- The lid should also be cut at an angle, creating a ‘cone’ like shape. This will prevent it from falling back into the pumpkin.
- Sprinkle the inside with Cinnimon and Clove to add a nice scent through the holidays.
Symbols of Halloween October 12, 2009
Posted by frootbat31 in Uncategorized.Tags: celtic, pagan, sabbat, witch
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Black Cats- Black cats originated with the belief that witches kept an ‘imp’ or demonic spirit to serve them in their magic. All black animals, not just cats, were seen as a bad omen.
Pumpkins- Originally, the Jack-O-Lanterns were carved in Turnips, being that Pumpkins are indigenous to America. There is a story of Jack of the Lantern, where a man named Jack tricks the devil and ends up spending eternity walking the earth with only a coal form the pits of Hell to light his way. The belief of the jack-o-lantern is that the scary faces will ward off and confuse evil spirits.
Ghosts on Halloween- According to the Celtic calendar, October 31 belongs to neither the old year or to the year ahead, thereby allowing the Veil between mortals and the dead to thin. Thus, allowing ghosts and spirits to walk among us. These can be both good or bad ghosts.
Tarot reading and other divination practices- Being the Veil between the worlds is thinnest, what better time to ask the spirits for their guidance?
Bobbing for apples was one of many games traditionally was a fertility game. Apples are symbolic of love and fertility. The first person to bite the apple will be the first to marry.
Trick or treating is nothing that it was originally. Originally, begging for soul cakes or other food on All Hallow’s Eve. Dressing up in costumes were to confuse or placate the spirits.Years ago, if you didn’t give the treat, the trick-or-treater would play a trick such as soaping windows or spreading toilette paper on your lawn.
Samhain- Day of the Dead October 4, 2009
Posted by frootbat31 in sabbat.Tags: pagan, sabbat, seasonal, wiccan, witch
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The sabbat of Samhain (pronounced SOW-ain) will soon be upon us, wrapping us into the Veil between the worlds, and coaxing all sorts of mystical and haunting situations. I love this time of year, despite the chill and shortening days.
Samhain is one of the eight sabbats pagans celebrate through the year. Marked in the Celtic calendar as New Year’s Day, it was belonging to the past year nor to the year ahead. The Veil between mortal man, and the spirit world grew thin; allowing the dead to walk among us.
Popular traditions include:
The Dumb Supper- no, not dumb as in stupid, but dumb as in silent. You do not speak during the Dumb Supper to honest those how passed on. You cook the dishes your ancestors might like, and eat in silent introspection.
Honoring the dead- This can be done in many ways. Most common traditions include lighting candles for the people and pets who passed on through the past year. Stories are often shared of those gone.
Divination- Fortune telling such as Tarot reading is very common this night. What better time to speak to the dead, or ask the Spirits for answers. As ever, however, ask/speak with respect and honor.
Feasting- Every sabbat includes a meal including traditional foods. For Samhain, the last harvest of the year, you eat just about anything. It was traditionally the time you made sure all the crops were sown and herds culled by this night.
What traditions do you enjoy on Samhain?
Coven or Solitary? September 21, 2009
Posted by frootbat31 in coven, tips, wicca.Tags: pagan, wicca, witch
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Now that I’ve started a new witches meetup group, for socialization and education, I encounter a number of pagans who just started on this path. One member asked about covens, while another mentioned she has no interest in joining any covens. This makes for an intriguing topic to cover in this blog.
What is a coven? The word coven comes from covenant, or ‘assembly’. A coven is often a group of pagans (wiccans, witches, other) who follow a tradition, sometimes evolving into their own tradition of practices and beliefs. The aim is to educate members in that tradition, often providing education on how to run their own groups later on. It can also provide a social network, very much like a spiritual family.
Members join and go through a period of time, or mandatory list of duties, they need to perform to reach the next level to their group. These levels are often called ‘degree’, and can take a specific time to achieve. It depends on the tradition of course.
Our coven had no degree system. We didn’t offer training outside of the basics, and had no priest/esshood in which members could move up the ranks for. Our focus centered on each person’s individual spirituality and their goals they set for themselves. This is definitely unorthodox, and we knew that. Our belief was that religion- any religion- falls between you and your personal relationship with the Divine, however you define that.
Your first question to ask when considering joining a coven is ‘why?’. Why do you need to join a coven, what are your goals, and how to expect the coven to help you accomplish those goals? Could you accomplish those goals as a solitary pagan? Do you need someone to teach you? Do you learn better on your own or in groups?
Once you join, then you need to consider the dynamics within the group. Are you comfortable with the coven leaders? Do you feel they listen as well as they teach? Do you get along with everyone else in the group?
What is a solitary? Solitaries are just that- on their own with their spiritual learning. No only is this considered a type of pagan, its often embraced as the preferred style of spiritual learning. They read and perform ritual on their own, letting the gods themselves guide them through their education.
Solitaries enjoy the freedom to learn as they want and how they want. There are no time schedules or demands on personal education. You don’t need to master Tarot reading, or how to make your own wand, as some covens demand. You can also follow whatever deity/deities that call to you, as opposed to the coven’s view on what the gods appear.
Being Solitary provides the freedoms, but some solitary pagans voice how an interest in a group if not to socialize or even partake in circle now and then.
Coven and Solitary are not the only options open for pagans.
Study groups often allow the social network and learning without the strict bylaws of a formal coven to abide by. Finding a study group can be tough. Many solitaries still enjoy being anonymous and don’t want just anyone to join. Sometimes you have to form your own group.
Open circles provide any pagan to join a group for that specific circle/ritual for celebration or magical working. Most offer the Sabbat (holidays) that occur eight times throughout the year, while others hold workshops open to the public. Check occult stores, or even Google your area for pagan groups that hold open circles.
www.witchvox.com provides a database for events and groups you might consider joining.
I’ve been in both covens, solitary, and even formed two study groups over the years. You can find pluses and setback for any of the choices. The best thing to do when deciding is to ask yourself what your needs are, and be particular to the groups you join. If it doesn’t feel right, get out. Its not for you. You might also want to consider forming your own group, which is another blog entry all its own.
The Darker Side of the Year August 21, 2009
Posted by frootbat31 in Uncategorized.Tags: motivation, pagan, planning, success, witch
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The dark half the year traditionally serves a time of planning. Its the time of year to consider your goals for the next year How you’ll achieve those goals? What tools will you need? Will you need to prepare the soil before planting? (to use the metaphor)
This is also the time to look within ourselves, to see what parts of ourselves hold us back from growing and evolving spiritually. Do you harbor fears and anger that hold you back? Is a bad habit keeping you from being the best you can be? This is the time to weigh those parts of ourselves, to work through our fears and inhibitions. Remove all that obscures you from seeing you for what you truly are.
Faults are like weeds in our gardens. They choke out the plants we want in our lives. The first step is recognizing the ‘weed’, and recognizing if its effecting the rest of your goals. Does your fears, habit, resentment, anger, etc hold you back from moving forward in life? Then you need to weed your garden.
Know that what faults you bear does not make you a bad person, but it holds you back. Accept the fault and also challenge yourself to work through it. See if the fault can work for you instead of against you. Is the fault rising out of fear? Face that fear and grow.
I find it helps to also find something to replace the fault. If you have fear, then replace with courage. If you resent someone, replace with forgiveness. If you have a bad habit, find a healthier, better habit that will help you along your Journey. For instance, find exercise instead of smoking. Be creative.
Witch: Heal thyself July 6, 2009
Posted by frootbat31 in tips, wicca.Tags: healing, insight, journey, learning, meditation, pagan, tips, wicca, witch
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Through my experiences over the years with groups and the pagan community, is encountering so many pagans who look for answers to fix the problems they face. Unfortunately, the teachings of the pagan religions tend to be lax on insight, providing more a recipe for fixing problems with a spell rather than looking deeper into the issues at hand.
Sometimes you need the bad experiences of life to strengthen your soul. Here are a few tips you don’t often find in the pagan books;
Do not look outside yourself for answers. All the answers to your questions and problems lie within you. Although at times outside influences can spark an answer, provide insight, or even smack you into the actualization; you have the answers already. Whatever your spiritual guide or power animal, tarot cards, or even scrying will reveal to you is what you already know inside. They provide a realization, not answers.
Do not presume to know answers for others. It really peeves me when I see pagans who believe they are empathetic enough to provide answers to someone else. Being able to sense another’s emotion doesn’t give you permission to spoon feed your enlightenment to another. In fact, if you were enlightened, you would present the ‘answer’ as a possible answer amid many others.
I’ve seen occasions where an individual needed desperately to go through a process in order to find their answers, to evolve, and just handing them over (your) answers like a prize not earned is both unfair and pompous. The spouse enduring a bad relationship needs to come the decision him/herself, to weigh that decision against needs and wants, and even to be open for possible fixing of the problem. The shy witch may need to go through various obstacles to discover the inner strength within, or the drunk needs rock bottom to find his way back up to the top.
Helping can, in fact, enable a person’s bad behavior or habits, rather than help in the end. Ask yourself if you’re really helping this person. Sometimes being a friend is enough, where you withhold your judgments and assure them that its okay to make mistakes now and then.
Don’t wallow in your misery. If you find yourself sharing with others all the health conditions and emotional issues you carry, then perhaps its not healing you’re after but pity. Are you hoping others can help you or are you looking for a way to excuse behavior?
I remember once a woman managed to snap at a group of drummers as she entered the room, teling them they shouldn’t wear rings and do this or that. I’m not sure what her intention was at the time, but she managed to alienate everyone in the room. When confronted with what she did, her excuse was that she was in a fight with her husband just before that. She wasn’t apologziing; she was giving excuses to her behavior. Instead of dealing with the issue of the fight with her spouse, she lashed out to people who had nothing to do with it, then expected them to forgive her for that behavior (despite her not being sorry let alone saying she was sorry).
Instead of focusing on the negative, look at the situation as a learning experience; that the problem is something to be solved, not endured. Lost your job? Maybe the next job will be better for you. Have health problems? Maybe its time to start taking care of yourself, to explore various healing methods, or look deep inside yourself that the illness manifests from some deeply ingrained emotion you haven’t comprehended yet.
Don’t expect a spell or prayer will get you out your mess. In fact, with many problems I’ve seen over the years that pagans are facing, it has more to do with some idiosyncrasy they have and refuse to overcome rather than the ‘powers that be’ having any influence. No amount of magick or prayer will fix that until they’re willing to move forward. If anything, the Divine/God/dess places situations to teach you, not fix your problems.
Take a moment to consider the problems you have in your life and consider how YOU are the main issue in them.
I can use myself as an example; I am a huge procrastinator which stems in fear. Where did this fear come from? How to overcome fears I’ve carried since childhood? It was, I discovered, a fear of failure stemming from the numerous times my family would point out my setbacks, labeling me as quitter or somehow lacking in this or that skill. No encouragement mind you, no words to help me figure out things for me, but the constant haranguing of what I did wrong. This soon developed into not wanting to do anything for fear of screwing my life up more than it had.
Now I realize it was ultimately me that was my biggest obstacle. Whatever reasons the fear started, I still picked it up and went with it. I’m an adult now. I can’t blame others for the fear I carry now. I have to choose to drop it, release it, or deny it, or however I wish to deal with that fear.
“Its okay to make mistakes” was one of Life’s most powerful lessons for me that I had to learn on my own through a process of mediation, reading books, talking to others, etc. Fortunately a series of serendipity kept hammering that idea into my head, and now it struck home. Wow, its okay to make mistakes.
You’d think such a lesson is basic and ‘everyone knows that’, but some of us don’t…or rather didn’t, and need to go through the process to get to that place. Its like Dorothy in Wizard of Oz, where she had the ability to go home any time she wanted, but she needed the Journey to discover that for herself.
Spells: What we want versus what we need June 11, 2009
Posted by frootbat31 in spells, tips.Tags: pagan, spells, wicca, witch
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I’m finding more and more as of late a tug towards Buddhist teaching. Not that this interfers with my being pagan. If anything, Buddhism meshes very well with the concepts of “An it harm none” and the “Threefold Law of Return”. I find, however, that Buddhism lends more in explanation of these principles.
We could argue on the topic of ‘harm none’ and what it means, but many religion teach us to harm others harms ourselves. It creates an imbalance and often anger is met with anger, fear is met with fear. I’ve also discussed in a previous post how the 3-fold law isn’t the same as Karma. Karma is from the Sanskirt, meaning ‘action’. Its the culimination of our actions (good or bad) towards our reward. We must weigh what is considered good or bad. I personally see things as balanced and those that are imbalanced.
Take for instance when dealing with a difficult person. Your gut reaction tells you to deal harshly and with defined assertiveness, when some people work so much better with a gentler hand. What do you hope to gain by dealing with a difficult person? Is it to crush their overinflated ego into dust, or is there hope to nurture them into being stronger and better people?
This leads into the idea of what we want, and what we need. Our gut instinct always reaches for what we want- and what we want and to get it NOW. What we need, however, might not have anything to do with what we want, let alone when we want it. To simplify; I want a huge piece of chocolate cake right now, but a bowl of red grapes for a bedtime snack is the better choice for me. Tomorrow, I will likely regret even wanting the cake to begin with.
This is why when casting spells you should always meditate beforehand, to search through the feelings of instinct, anger, fear, and all the muck of emotion to realize what you need to grow and learn from situations.
Meditation and monkey mind March 23, 2009
Posted by frootbat31 in learning, resource, tips.Tags: meditation, monkey, pagan, wicca, witch, zazen, zen
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I’ve been reading lately some bits on ‘monkey mind’ and meditation. What prompted me to go on that path of thought was my therapist’s suggestion of calming the mind and learning to focus on one task at a time. I nearly panicked right then. Me? Focus on just one thing?
I’m a multi-tasker. Some people say I also talk fast. I also type fast, and read fast. I do things fast, and often more than one thing at a time. I guess in an odd way, I’m sort of addicting to overthinking. So when someone suggest I slow down or take things one at a time, it provokes an odd sense of fear in me. I’m not sure why. Perhaps busying myself helps fend off boredom, or even slowing down enough to grasp the real situation I find myself in. Who knows?
So I found a book I set aside called The Idiot’s Guide to Zen Living. It really simplifies concepts of Zen that are difficult for the Western mind to grasp. One metaphor often used to illustrate meditation is ‘monkey mind’. This is when your mind is racing, like a monkey jumping around a tree, chattering, and flailing about. Meditation helps calm the monkey mind to the stillness you might find on a pond’s surface, its ripples calmed.
This is tough to do if you’re someone who enjoys lots of thinking.
But my therapist is right; I need to find that stillness within me in order to focus on one thing at a time in order to accomplish things. Its like trying to catch petals on the wind, when if you wait for them to land, they’re easy to pick up.
Here is a video that best explains how to meditate; Check it out.
There are also many benefits for doing meditation, and not just to de-stress your life. It enhances the immune system, and increases Serotonin levels in the brain- you know the ‘happy’ chemical.
Meditation techniques- covers the basics of meditation
Meditation InfoCenter- lots of information here
Here’s a meditation timer you can use.
Out of the closet March 15, 2009
Posted by frootbat31 in humor, tips.Tags: pagan, wicca, witch
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I was fourteen when I realized my beliefs matched that of pagan religions. Like the sun emerging from a cloudy day, the realization left a profound and lifelong impact on me. I’m also a very open person, so telling my parents of my faith, or explaining to friends or coworkers my beliefs lent to various methods to ‘breaking the news’. Fortunately, I didn’t find myself the object of ridicule or harassment because of it. Well very little, anyway.
My family were supportive, though some maintained that I followed ’superstitious nonsense’. Friends were intrigued. Co-workers were mixed with perceiving me as ‘odd’ or ‘freaky’. Most co-workers, I found, listened and accepted me.
This is not to say that some pagans haven’t faced persecution for their religion. I’ve heard horror stories of losing jobs, having to move from homes, and even losing kids because of it. Although we have ‘freedom of religion’, many places have judges, employers, and communities that will not accept anyone different.
So here are a few tips I found helped me when (and if) I wanted to tell someone what I was;
- Do not start out with announcing your label. Not everyone has the same idea to what the words ‘pagan’ or ‘witch’ even mean. They have no idea the history or origins of such words, so avoid using the words that might spur the walls of prejudice.
- Do not take the attitude you have to convert them into believing as you do. In fact, I strongly suggest be as accepting as their belief to assure them you have no intention of changing that about them.
- Explain the basics of your beliefs. By telling them your beliefs, rather than the actual label, allows them to listen to what your religious views are before they have a chance to put their own bias.
- Keep it simple. Don’t complicate or confuse with giving too much information. If they’re curious, they’ll ask questions.
- Invite questions. I’m very open to what I believe and do, and have no issue in telling someone who is interested on what I do.
- Do not assume they will agree. Some people won’t- ever. Just agree to disagree and leave it at that.
- Take in consideration the ‘need to know’. I don’t believe that everyone needs to know your religious beliefs. For instance, your place of employment shouldn’t ask and certainly shouldn’t hold it against you. Some work places do anyway, finding some other issue to fire you over. You’ll have to judge for yourself if you want to let the cat out of the bag.
- Do not let fear or anger guide your words. Some people decide to ridicule or insult others for their religious views. Take this in stride. I often use humor to defuse them, such as the guy who asked if I could turn him into a toad. I explained that someone already turned him into an ass, so such a spell would be pointless. ZING!
- Recognize that family might want to convert you. I often agree with the teachings of Christ, but I also point out that religion is between me and God, and would they please stay out of it?
Be patient with the ignorant, and flexible with the curious.
Coven Issues: The troublemaker February 9, 2009
Posted by frootbat31 in coven, tips.Tags: coven, dedication, pagan, priest, priestess, ritual, wicca, wiccan, witch
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Not only pagan groups have them, of course. Any group eventually face one or two members that earn the title of ‘troublemaker’ . They are the ones that gossip, form cliques, and create dissension where ever they go. They sow seeds of doubt, jealousy, and ego, yet portraying themselves as loving, intelligent individuals that serve the greater good. Do not be fooled. Let their actions speak louder than their words.
The difficulty is how to handle them. Its the role of the coven leader(s) to handle conflicts amid members. On occasion the issue can be one of the leaders. Quite often when this is the case, you have to weigh the benefits form staying in the group. If a regular member causes issues, then you need to face them directly and voice the problem. Speak up, even if your voice shakes.
When confronting anyone, its important to stay on the topic of ACTION, not on the person. Its not really about them, but what they say or do. Everyone has emotional baggage, and sometimes being understanding can nudge them into growing some maturity. Avoid insults and using the ‘you always’ phrases. You want to focus on the defined words or actions and your reaction to them.
Let them know how the action or words affect you. If they have any sense of empathy, this can end the trouble right here. If not, you might need to speak to the leaders, or consider leaving the group. Unfortunately many wonderful groups have been known to fall apart due to troublemakers and the leaders inability to tackle the problem head on.
As leaders, recognize that although you want to practice ‘love and trust’, this does not mean you let people give other people crap. Sometimes tough love works best, and by asking them to leave until the behavior is corrected solves the problem. Its your responsability towards the rest of the group, to protect them, to handle the troublemakers.
Leaders should also consider including group bonding exercises in the group. This builds trust and opens dialogue between people. I tend to also encourage confrontation exercises so that the members who are too shy and find confrontation difficult a less trial to endure. Its important to know that if you cannot handle the situation, you will lose members. People do not join covens to endure conflicts, but you also lose a valuable lesson-learning experience if you avoid it.
Ask yourself, “Is this person (troublemaker) have the ability to learn from this experience?” What is their intent by their actions? Are they trying to tear others down, build up their fragile egos, or perhaps they carry emotional baggage they haven’t managed yet? If you think there is hope for them, then try to work through the conflict.This means the troublemaker acknowledges the problem and shows some semblance of being sorry. Giving excuses negates the situation- Its important they understand the impact they have on others, and they harm themselves in turn.
If you’ve tried working things out and the person refuses to evolve, or they simply refuse to work things out, then they really have to place in the coven. A study group or coven depend on the trust and love between members. Gossip, slander, and put downs have no place there.
