I'm very excited. Hopefully it will work out well and it'll help others beyond just me.
Sunny Spoone's del.icio.us
Weren't we here a month ago? Yes, I suppose we were. I've unfortunately fallen victim to the too-much-work and not-enough-pleasure routine. I've turned into a woman who hates sleep simply for the inefficiency of it all. I'd much rather be reading and exploring than piddling the time away with sleep. My dreams of late haven't been worth the time, to be honest.
My candles haven't been burning evenly. I'm getting a little worried about it; that they won't burn entirely. The most frustrating thing about it is I know it stems back to my sister lighting them first and not taking proper care. I'm grateful she gave them to me, but every attempt to make them burn more happy has just exacerbated the problem.
My personal relationship with a man we'll call Louka has been a little shaky. It's caused me to retreat within myself, as I am wont to do when I'm frightened. I've been doing my best to think about my actions before speaking and doing, to try and think about what I want, but sometimes it is too difficult. Bad tempers are bad things to have.
I'm trying to refocus. The apartment is too cluttered, is the problem. I just need to give it a good cleaning, get out all the dust mites, and start over. Plant my garden. Spring cleaning, yes.
I started reading The Body Sacred yesterday. It has so far impressed me as a witchy take on The Beauty Myth. I don't think this is a bad thing, just an interesting observation. More information to be processed, categorized, understood.
I don't feel like I know what I'm doing all the time. I've set out on this journey and I know it is a good one to take, but there are just so many places to go. I'm in this big adventure, but I'm not sure where I'll end up.
I think for now, trying is all I can do. I've had many positive changes in my life recently, and I'm much happier than I was before. Perhaps, if it weren't so cold, I'd be able to embrace the world enough to venture into the dirt. My fear of the outside world has prevented me from so many experiences. I think I'm ready to step out, though. I think I just might be here.
Apogee - When the moon is at its farthest point from Earth: 252,700 miles away.
Blue Moon - The second full moon that occurs within one calendar month.
Earthshine - The dark, smoky portion of the moon that you can see shining alongside a brilliant crescent. Described as
seeing "the old moon within the new moon's arms."
Harvest Moon - The full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox. Typically these occur in September, however one out of
three harvest moons do fall in the month of October.
Lunation - One lunar cycle phase.
Occultation - An astronomical even that happsn when one celestial body passes in front of another, manking an object
partially or fully hidden in the sky, such as a solar eclipse.
Partial Lunar Eclipse - When only part of the moon enters the umbra (the umbra being the darker inner section of
Earth's shadow).
Penumbra - The outer part of the Earth's shadow where sunlight is not completely blocked out during an eclipse. It only
dims the moon slightly.
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse - This occurs when the moon only passes through Earth's outer section of the shadow, the
penumbra.
Perigee - When the moon is the closest distance to Earth: 221,550 miles. If the perigee falls on a full moon phase, the
moon will look slightly larger than normal.
Total Lunar Eclipse - This occurs when the moon goes entirely into the Earth's darkest, most inner part of the shadow,
the umbra.
Total Penumbral Eclipse - A rare type of lunar eclipse where the eclipse stays only within the penumbra section of
Earth's shadow, but the sections of the moon closest to the umbra will look a bit darker than the rest of the moon.
Totality - The phase of an ecplise when it is total.
Umbra - This is the region of the complete, darkest shadow created by Earth in eclipse. In lunar eclipses it has a
reddish hue.
Zenith - The point in the sky directly above the viwer. Also the highest point of the moon's--or the sun's--arc across the
sky.
As the Moon shifts through its cycles, so do women. Our bodies menstruate with the Moon, and are fertile with her, too. While she goes through her cycles ad infinitum, we make the rounds once in our lifetime.
We are maiden, mother, and crone; just as the Moon, and just as the Goddess. While they die and are reborn, our life cycle has an end. Women are inextricably linked to the Moon, and to the Goddess.
Men, too, are affected by the cycles of the Moon, though the influence is much more subtle. In times past the phases of the Moon were studied and used to create the first calenders, to determine the timing of the hunt, and the best time to start gathering.
The phases of the Moon are an integral part of the rhythm of life. They are also an integral part of magick.
The waxing moon is a time to celebrate growth and potential. It is a good time for spells that draw things to you.
Second Quarter (from the waxing half moon to the full moon)
This is an all-purpose time. Spells and charms will come quickly to fruition.
Third Quarter (from the second night after the full moon to the waning half moon)
This is a powerful time of internal energy and an opportunity to quietly look within. While the moon wanes, work magick to remove negativity and obstacles that you are facing. This is a good time to dissolve problems.
Fourth Quarter (from the waning half moon until the dark of the moon)
This is the time to tackle serious issues, such as extreme protection magick, bindings, or banishings.
New Moon workings can be done from the day of the new moon to three-and-a-half days after. The new moon is for starting new ventures, new beginnings. Also love and romance, health, or job hunting.
Waxing Moon Magic
From seven to fourteen days after the new moon. The waxing moon is for constructive magick, such as love, wealth, success, courage, friendship, luck, or health.
New Moon Magic
From fourteen to seventeen-and-a-half days after the new moon. Prime time for rituals for prophecy, protection, divination. any working that needs extra power, such as help finding a new job, or healing for serious conditions, can be donw now. Also love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money, and dreams.
Waning Moon Magic
From three-and-a-half to ten-and-a-half days after the full moon. The waning moon is used for banishing magick, for ridding oneself of addictions, illness, or negativity.
Dark Moon Magic
From ten-and-a-half to fourteen days after the full moon. The dark moon is a time for ridding oneself of bad habits. Binding spells, for exploring our darkest recesses and understanding our angers and passions. Also bringing justice to bear.
I've read good reviews of this book, as well as bad reviews. The bad reviews really surprised me until I noticed a trend among them. A lot of those who disliked this book seemed to be Wiccans who felt the book wasn't helpful at all unless you were doing exactly what Ann Moura was doing.
I've found that Wiccans, in general, are very concrete and like to follow step-by-step instructions. Ann Moura is not a step-by-step kind of woman. Many complaints also involved the fact that she talked too much about her own family's experiences with witchcraft and the history of her family. Those who feel that way have missed the forest for the trees.
The message Ann Moura preaches in Green Witchcraft is 'follow the path which seems right to you.' Her personal anecdotes serve as an example of what the craft can look like, breaking away from the bonds of step-by-step ritualism that most beginners encounter. She spreads a message of practicing what feels right, not what someone else told is right. Her path is a naturalistic one, and as another naturalist, I appreciate it.
I think much of the confusion comes from the fact that Moura uses the terms 'witchcraft' and 'Wiccan' interchangeably. While she may be technically correct in this usage of the two words, it is not practically correct with today's implications of the word 'Wicca.' Her downfall is she doesn't explain how she is employing 'Wiccan' until page 92. While she briefly touches on it in her introduction, until page 92 it is very easy to see how someone may be confused by her word choice.
Overall, I think the book was a very good read and belongs on my bookshelf. It's full of a wealth of information on the foundations of witchcraft and is very reassuring to those who want to break off from traditionalism and ritualism but aren't sure if they are right to do so. I'd say they are.
Moura also takes the time to go through the history of witchcraft and paganism. This information is very much appreciated since I haven't found many books that bother with the history and transformations of paganism. In my experience, it's general just history or just practical knowledge; never both.
There are many charts that are useful as reference, and she provides plenty of information to be able to employ the provided charts, as well. These includes charts for color associations, divination symbols, runes, tarot reading and regular cartomancy, incenses, herbs, etc. She also provides a breakdown of the eight Sabbats, and a sample ritual for each. Another thing she provides are suggested activities you can do with the family at each Sabbat that wont get you funny looks.
It's a wonderful book for beginners, though more advanced practitioners might not find much use for it as a practical guide. It is wellwritten and the personal experiences she gives are well worth it. I highly recommend this book who are looking to carve a path of their own.
According to the open source dictionary Wiktionary:
witchcraft \ˈwich-ˌkraft\
(n) 1.
the practice of witches; magic, sorcery or the use supernatural powers
to influence or predict events
Witchcraft is not my religion; it is my craft. Witchcraft is what I do; it is not my god or my goddess. Witchcraft is something to be practiced, not something to be worshiped.
On a spiritual level, I am a Tao Buddhist. I view Buddhism as the way of the self while the Tao is the way of the world. They are two sides of the same coin.
To me, witchcraft is a physical meditation making use of the Tao, or that which connects everything together. It is exerting my influence into the world to create change. It is a form of prayer, looking outward rather than in.
My Groups
-
Occult & New Age Spirituality Updated: 2 days ago
-
Pagan Ponderings Updated: 5 days ago
-
Tarot and Tarot Studies Updated: May 18, 2008
