Tag Archives: Witchcraft

Samhain 2022.

Today doesn’t need to be all bells and whistles. Well, if you want to do that, that’s your prerogative. Giving thanks with a simple phrase, or even just those two words will suffice.

It’s all about intention.

Decorating your house is a fairly new concept here in the UK. Witch types have been known to decorate their home for Samhain, but ordinary folks not so much. But nowadays it’s a lot more common. But still isn’t a necessity.

Sweets/candy are a must if you have children of your own, or live in a neighbourhood where children are likely to come knocking.

Dressing up yourself is kind of cool, adding a touch of fun to what might be a busy evening.

Or maybe Samhain/Halloween isn’t your thing. In that case enjoy your evening relaxing, doing something you love.

The thing with magic(k)/witchcraft.

There’s always plenty to say when it comes to this subject. There’s always plenty of people who have an opinion, one way or another. I don’t care much about the opinions of others when it comes to my practice. I wrote last week about how I stumbled upon my own path and how I had to keep things on the down low. Well, I didn’t mention how many different paths I’d looked at before I got to where I am today.

Thirty seven years I have practiced. Well, knowingly anyway. I always class my practice as starting at the age of fourteen because what I was experiencing before that age was not anything I had a name for. I pay no heed to those people who wish to entangle themselves in the so called witch wars that were a thing of forums circa 2004 upwards. It was all bullshit then and I haven’t changed my opinion. But if you happen to say you are a solitary that taught themselves their own craft that they practice, well, there are those who like to flame you, trying to call you out for whatever claptrap they’ve got beef with you about.

Yes indeed, the witchy community has its fair share of liars, cheats, bullies and scammers. It has its fair share of people who claim their way is the right way and anything else is wrong. It has its fair share of people who will call you names just for daring to spell magick like I just have. Frankly I like spelling it that way because it bristles some people the wrong way. My take is this: it’s a word and maybe some witches claim the spelling with a k is authentic because xyz says so, but I just like it and spell it that way. There is nothing elaborate about that, it’s just my preference.

There are some who will say that what you claim to be true for you is untrue, but how do they know? If they’ve never met you and you’re in a group on Facebook and you’re talking about your own personal practice. How do they know what you’re saying is true or untrue? Well, the thing is they don’t know, they just claim they do. I used to give myself the label of Eclectic witch. I felt it suited my path at the time. For the past few years I’ve just said my practice. There’s no real definitive name for what I do, I just do it. Yes, it’s eclectic, but it’s just my own personal practice. I now just don’t feel like I need a name for what I do.

This is what I’ve found out about myself since getting well and reaching cronehood, I write my own rules and focus on me. I don’t spend a lot of time on social media anymore, I’ve just got too much to do. Besides, I now have quiet mode scheduled for my Facebook every day and have found I actually sleep better.

It doesn’t matter what your own practice is labelled, or not, what matters is being true to yourself. You don’t need to follow any particular path in order to be true to yourself, I think it’s something that should be taught in schools, but that’s a story for another day. There’s also nothing wrong with individuals who join groups and covens, their choice. I just find the in-fighting tedious. Just go do your own thing and leave others to do their own thing. Remember, your opinion is just that, an opinion, unless an individual is following a Wiccan path – or another organised form of witchcraft- then there are no real rules that say you have to do things a certain way. So your way is just as valid as my way, and so on and so forth.

Be yourself, always.

Ancestors.

I’ve been working with my ancestors since I was a small child and looked to dead family members for guidance. They would come to me in my dreams when I was older and that’s where I found my passion for dream knowledge.

I grew up with the belief that we should revere our ancestors, listening to stories from long ago, traditions and beliefs. I found out that I have Romany ancestors from my paternal grandmother. I also found out that my family have a long line going way back to the Celtic tribes of what is now the UK. My ancestors were the Carvetti tribe, the area they occupied is modern day Cumbria.

I have always been different to my peers, as a child I knew things before they happened. I had dreams of things yet to happen, I understood my dreams and learnt to interpret dream meanings. I’ve never really wanted to fit in, it’s just not who I am.

Working with my guides and ancestors has given me comfort when life has thrown a whole shit show at me. I’ve also been as pissed as hell with them when things haven’t worked out in a way I’d hoped.

When I need them, I know they’re ready to come to my aid. My bloodline, my heritage, my ancient tribe. They’re behind me, they’ve got me.

People talk about paganism, witchcraft, et al. and feel that one group or another should define you. Belonging to a group, a coven, a working circle can be useful, but it can also be a pain when the in group fighting starts up. And it usually does start up. No matter how long a group has been going, there can be warring factions within that fracture the group, test the loyalties of the founding members, or those who are more recent additions. I’ve been involved with groups that have had so much drama they could give a tv soap opera a run for their money!

But define you? Should a group define who you are? I guess we are all different when it comes to answering that. Personally I don’t let a group define who I am. Especially nowadays when most group workings are done online. Can you really trust those you meet online? Even those you have known for years? There will be those who can be trusted, and those who can’t. It’s like everything else in life to be honest, some good people and some bad.

But the ancestors you choose to work with and build a trusting rapport with, they can always be relied upon. They want you to succeed. They will protect you, guide you, counsel you. You are their future. You are who they fought for, gave their lives for, worked hard for. They knew that one day someone would be born into the world and would recognise that they wanted to carry on the work they started. They stand with you. Always.

A recent discussion with someone I know online reminded me how imperative it is to have the backing of your ancestral line behind you. It’s also important to remember that ancestors don’t have to have been a witch or a wise woman. The family line isn’t always defined by witch working. My parents weren’t witches, although my Dad always had books on witchcraft, as well as other religions. My kids are, my grandchild is whether she knows it yet or not. There are wise women around 200 years ago and back in time, but those who weren’t witches in life are forces to be reckoned with, as in life so in death. They are fierce and protective.

Ancestral work can be so rewarding, but if new to the practice you should definitely give it time to gel.

Monday Musing – 24/01/2021.

This Hamsa hand is a beautiful decoration that adorns my home. It also is used as a protection amulet to ward off the evil eye, or in other words, bad vibes being sent my way. People can send bad vibes even without thinking, although there are some who will deliberately rain on your parade.

Vibes, energy, call it what you will. Everything is made of energy. We are made of energy. I can’t explain this from a scientific point of view, I’m not even going to pretend I know how to. But from a magickal point of view – and yes, I’m “one of them” who uses a k in the spelling of magick. I have been doing so since my late teens and I don’t really care what anyone else thinks of me for spelling it this way. But I digress: from a magickal point of view energy can be shaped – or bent at will – for any reason.

I’m not naïve enough to think that someone, somewhere, at some point hasn’t thought negatively about me. This is where my amulet comes in – along with my energy poured into it. It’s not going to stop people thinking bad thoughts about me or my family, but it does protect us from the effects as it reminds me to focus on protective energy whenever I look at it.

The Hamsa hand meaning has a long and important history that spans centuries and civilizations. It is adored in several major religions and is globally recognised as a symbol of protection and good fortune. It’s protective use is what I’m interested in.

I got my hasma hand as part of a set of protective items I was buying, but the hasma hand can be purchased from many metaphysical shops, Amazon, and so on. Buying an expensive one won’t work any better than one that’s cost a fiver. The power is in the symbolism and whatever energy you put into yourself.

It isn’t the only tool I use for protection, it’s part of my witchy arsenal. As with any item used for spiritual or witchy purposes, it’s the intent that comes from you that really seals the deal. When my kids were little I couldn’t have any witchcraft paraphernalia on display because they’d have had their hands all over it. I soon learnt that none of that stuff mattered, it was intent and visualisation that brought everything together.

That said, I can never resist a pretty and inexpensive item and these hands are usually decorated with gorgeous colours that are pleasing on the eye.

Samhain.

My life has changed dramatically this last year. Today I honour what has been good in my life and release that which no longer serves me.

I will also be doing my usual divination, it’s one of my long standing traditions on Samhain. This year I’m going to be trying these spreads.

And as always, I’ll be honouring my ancestors.

Whatever you’re doing this Samhain, I hope you have a marvellous time.

When the ancestors listen but you don’t realise.

I’ve never worked with my ancestors, ritually speaking. I had a problem recently that needed everything I could throw at it and someone suggested working my ancestors. But I didn’t really know how, everything just felt wrong, all of the methods I’d researched just didn’t feel right for me. I ended up throwing my arms in the air and just asking out loud for them to help. I had no way of knowing if they were listening, if they’d heard me, and so I went about life and forgot all about my petition to them.

Today I was talking to a friend about synchronicity and that was when the penny dropped. Recently I’ve had a certain song play repeatedly in my head, I’d also felt the need to listen to it quite a lot. But I’ve only just made the connection as to why today; the song is The Sound Of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel, and it always, always reminds me of my Dad.

Guess the ancestors were listening after all. 😀