Spyrit Dancers' Musings On All Things Wiccan

While I was setting up for my full moon ritual last night, I took some pictures of my ritual space and altar.  Of course, as I state on my one picture, it is always at that time I remember that I still don’t have an altar cloth that will cover my table to the ground.  My altar currently consists of a sheet of scrap plywood that is atop a stack of cinderblocks that are stacked on top of each other.  I’m a firm believer in not spending a ton of money on things, so I use what I have on hand.  Eventually, I want to put some wooden 2×4 legs on my table so it is a bit more stable, and burn some images into it.  But for now it works.

This is a side view of my altar looking east.  For my directional candles, I use candles you can pick up in a grocery store usually in the Hispanic section.  I got mine at Albertsons.  They come in the correct colors too, and are inexpensive.  I ended up during the ritual taking the rocks they are on, putting them on end, to create a windblock.  It wasn’t too windy, but enough that they blew out initially.

My circle is big ,12′ across, for a solitary.  I do this as in the winter I wear heavier clothing, and have no desire to catch myself on fire from the directional candles when dancing around the circle.   This is one area of our yard we still have not put the weed cloth then gravel down.  I like too that I can see it out my office window, and I have a very clear view of the moon, even when low in the sky, from my circle.

This is a picture of my Altar.  I don’t have all my candles on it yet.  I put 3 white candles that are in jars for light, and my Goddess and God candles on the top of it by my “cock rock” and my Witchy Goddess.  I also had my mistletoe, and mint that I brought out to empower during the ritual.

You don’t need expensive tools and trappings.  My first athame that I used for years was a wooden letter opener.  I made the wand, the bell, the incense burner, and the salt holder.  I found my “cock” rock. The vace is a $1 vase from WalMart we spray painted copper.  I use bottled spring water for my water, and organic rock salt for my salt.  My book of shadows (not shown) is a 3 ring binder, because I find it easier to keep it organized.

Intent is the main thing.

My goal for next month is to have a cloth that drapes to the ground on all 4 sides.  If I don’t it doesn’t matter. The material works fine for me. Blessed Be everyone.

$12.00
This kit contains items to perform a draw money envelope ritual.

1. Envelope made of recycled paper.

2. Green Aventurine stone that has the rune Fehu hand carved in the face of it. (Aventurine is the lucky or money drawing stone)

3. Gold, Purple, and Green ribbons.

4. Cinnamon stick.

5. Bottle of my Fast Money Oil

6. Organic mint (it will be dried not fresh as shown) that was picked on the full moon of 6/26 and empowered by me during a full moon ritual.

7. A green votive candle

8. A spell scroll with instructions on how to perform this spell, and the words to a spell.

This kit is to be used to help draw money into your household for bills, food, repairs, rent, or whatever you need it to be.


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SHIPPING
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I ship this first class MAIL for FREE in the USA. Please allow 5 – 7 days for delivery after it is mailed.

$14.95
his necklace is one of my own design, and the picture doesn't do it justice. I took a photograph of the Venus of Willendorf goddess and stylized it with cross hatching. I added the words Real Goddesses Have Curves.

The Glass is 1" wide by 2" tall.

It has an antiqued copper bail, that has a sun symbol on the back. The back has been sealed with a glaze making it water resistant, but not water proof. You should remove the necklace before swimming or bathing.

For too long society has celebrated thin as in. This necklace not only celebrates the mother goddess, but the goddess within all of us, including chunky goddesses like myself.

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SHIPPING
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This is shipped first class mail for FREE in the US. I ship International First Class Mail overseas. Sorry, due to cost, all other countries will have to pay for shipping.

This was posted up on the Enchanted Forest by Rev. Carol Ingle. If you are not a member, I highly suggest it, it is a wonderful group of people.  Since I care for feral cats, this really touched my heart, so I wanted to share it with you.

I am an animal rescuer.

I will never bring about world peace. I will not save the rain forest.

I’m not a brain surgeon and I’ll never transplant an organ to save a life.

I don’t have the ear of a powerful politician or world power.

I can’t end world hunger.

I’m not a celebrity, and God and Goddess knows I’m not glamorous!

I’m not looked up to by millions around the world. Very few people even recognize my name.

I’ll never win the Nobel Prize.

I’ll never end global warming.

There are a lot of things that I’ll never do or become.

But today I placed a dog!

It was a small, scared, bundle of flesh and bones that was dropped off in a shelter by unfeeling people that didn’t care what happened to it, but yet who were responsible for it even having existence in the first place.

I found it a home.

It now has contentment and an abundance of love. A warm place to sleep and plenty to eat. A child has a warm fuzzy new friend who will give them unquestioning devotion and teach them about responsibility and love.

A wife and mother has a new spirit to nurture and care for. A husband and a father has a companion to sit at his feet at the end of a hard day of work and help him relax and enjoy life. And a sense of security, that when he is gone all day at work, that there is a protector and a guardian in his home to keep watch over his family.

No, I’m not a rocket scientist but today I saved one of God’s and Goddess’ precious creatures. Today, I made a difference!

I Am An Animal Rescuer.

My job is to assist God’s and Goddess’ creatures. I was born with the need to fulfill their needs. I take in new family members without plan, thought or selection. I have bought dog food with my last dime. I have patted a mangy head with a bare hand. I have hugged someone vicious and afraid. I have fallen in love a thousand times and I have cried into the fur of a lifeless body.

I have Animal Friends and friends who have Animal Friends. I don’t often use the word “pet.” I notice those lost at the road side and my heart aches. I will hand raise a field mouse and make friends with a vulture. I know of no creature unworthy of my time.

I want to live forever if there aren’t animals in Heaven but I believe there are!

Why would God and Goddess make something so perfect and leave it behind?

We may be master of the animals, but the animals have mastered themselves. Something people still haven’t learned.

War and abuse make me hurt for the world but a rescue that makes the news gives me hope for humankind.

We are a quiet but determined army and making a difference every day.

There is nothing more necessary than warming an orphan. Nothing more rewarding than saving a life. No higher recognition than watching them thrive. There is no greater joy than seeing a baby play who only days ago, was too weak to eat.

I am an Animal Rescuer.

My work is never done. My home is never quiet. My wallet is always empty, but my heart is always full.

In the game of life, I have already won!

Just took this quiz, and I’m a Prophet Soul

You Are a Prophet Soul

You are a gentle soul, with good intentions toward everyone. Selfless and kind, you have great faith in people. Sometimes this faith can lead to disappointment in the long run. No matter what, you deal with everything in a calm and balanced way. You are a good interpreter, very sensitive, intuitive, caring, and gentle. Concerned about the world, you are good at predicting people’s feelings. A seeker of wisdom, you are a life long learner looking for purpose and meaning. You are a great thinker and communicator, but not necessarily a doer. Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul

I’ve been thinking about this for some time, as some of my chunky friends of facebook, and have been posting up articles about how thin is in, despite the fact that a whole lot of us are not size fours. (Or even 14′s).  So I wanted to do something that celebrated not only the Goddess, but curvy women.  After looking around for various mediums, I decided on an altered art type glass pendant.  (which talking with my husband this morning, might evolve into something else eventually.)

So My “Real Goddesses have Curves” necklaces were born.  I have some that feature the Venus of Willendorf  Mother Goddess figure on them.  And some that feature artwork I purchased from the artist with the words added to them.  All of them hand made by me.   Check out my Etsy Store and pick one up. If you follow my blog, follow me on twitter, or join my facebook fan page, you can get 10% off!

$14.95
Celebrate your love of the goddess with this necklace! It features a stylized goddess with raised curved arms over head. On her abdomen is a spiral for the spiral of rebirth. She floats over a pretty blue background.

The Glass is 1" wide by 2" tall.

It has an antiqued copper bail, that has a sun symbol on the back. The back has been sealed with a glaze making it water resistant, but not water proof. You should remove the necklace before swimming or bathing.

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SHIPPING
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This is shipped first class mail for FREE in the US. I ship International First Class Mail overseas. Sorry, due to cost, all other countries will have to pay for shipping.

Did you do anything special to mark the occasion?  This year I did something different in that I harvested Mistletoe from my Mesquite trees.  The druids believed that Mistletoe had the most properties harvested on Midsummer when the sun and moon were both in the sky, so I did.  I now have bundles hanging upside down in my garage drying, and plan on hanging them over the door ways of my home, garage, and greenhouse.  I’ll have a few left over to sell, but not many.  My husband filmed me harvesting some, and bundling them up…my first at him filming any kind of craft/ritual/celebration.  I hope to have it up on YouTube by tomorrow.

Today is Litha, which marks the division of the year between the powers of the sun and the powers moon.  The God, and the Goddess. The waxing half of the year and the waning half of the year on Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year.

Litha is one of the four Esbats of the year.  It honors the Sun God, or the horned God at the peak of his powers.  The Oak King gives way to the Holly King.

It is a fire festival, and almost all of Europe had a long tradition of lighting bonfires at Midsummer. They were kindled for fertility, health, love, sacrifice, or for purification.  They also though the fires drove away the dragon that caused diseases in people and animals.

As much as I want to light a bonfire to celebrate tonight, we have a fire ban this time of year (for a good reason, the fire danger is extreme) and I have yet to buy one of those patio things you can safely light a fire in.  So I’m going to make do with candles in candle holders that can’t burn out, and dance around and through them.  To me, the practice of dancing around the twin bonfires of Midsummer, asking for inspiration, purification, and good crops is the most appealing of all the traditions.  I’ll have to settle for twin candles instead.

Today it is also said is a good time to commune with the fairies.  I plan on slicing an apple, revealing the star, and leaving slices out for the fairies by my grapevines tonight, and ask for their protection of care of them.  I will be using this invocation written by Ember in the Witches Spell A Day Almanac.

Longest night, a time to play,
I leave this gift to honor the Fey.

Frolic and dance from Dusk ’til Day,
Then with goodwill be on your way.

Altar decorations should be in colors of summer, gold, reds, yellows.  I plan on picking some Marigolds, the only gold and red flowers I have growing, and putting a small amount on my altar this afternoon.  We don’t have oak trees here, but I have silk oak leaves I place on my altar.

I will also be gathering some Mistletoe,  a druid tradition, from my trees on this day, tying twine around them, and hanging them upside down  to dry.  Mistletoe has all kinds of magickal properties.   One can carry or wear for aid in conception.  It was believed to provide protection against lightning, fires, and misfortune.  Burning mistletoe banished evil. (I plan on burning a few pinches tonight to help keep evil from my home) It is also believed that  placed at the head of the bed, it gives restful sleep and beautiful dreams.

The major use I have for it is protection against lightning and fires, a real danger this year due to our wet spring.  So I will be hanging sprigs up to protect my home, garage, and greenhouse to protect them from lightning and fires.  I’ll also be burning a pinch (since it is wet, not much) to banish evil from my property.  I will also keep some to dry for use in future protection ceremonies where I am banishing harm from my property.

So what is everyone else planning for Summer Solstice today? I’d love to hear your plans!

$35.00
This sexy figurine that is incredibly detailed featuring Nyxie the Dark Witch. She is wearing a purple corset with spider web and lace accents. A pentagram/triple moon necklace, a pentagram buckle, and a long brown skirt. She has thigh-high fishnet stockings on a brown boots and a purple witches hat. She is holding a crow on her right hand, and leaning on a broom in her left. A wonderful figuring/statue for your altar, and one I really want for myself.

Dimensions: Aprox: 8 1/2" tall x 3" wide at the base.

This is commercially made, and the only one I have left.

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SHIPPING
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This is shipped in a priority mail box for FREE in the US. I ship International Priority Mail oversees. Sorry, due to cost, all other countries but the US will have to pay for shipping.

I hunted around for themes again today, and found the one that is currently on my blog.  To me, it symbolizes Balance.  To the left, a woman looks to the left as the sun rises.  To the right, a man looks to the right of a cloudy dark side.  Ying and Yang.  Sun and Moon.   Goddess and God. The circle of the year.  All of it to me is represented in the images across the top and bottom.

As Wiccans, we all have to find that inner balance within us.  How to live our magickal life that is close to the earth, yet still work in the modern world and keep food on the table.  Balance family, work, meditation, and our connection to our Goddess and God.  To balance the dark and light parts of the path.  I am one who believes in harming none, which includes myself and those around me.  Yet, it doesn’t mean I’m perfect and never get angry at situations or people.  Balance is learning not to pick up your wand/spell/power and focus and direct it when you are upset.  Like most in the craft, been there, done that, with bad karmic results.

Finally, I think it is apropos to select this the day before Summer Solstice.  When Day and Night are equal and in balance…another reason this theme calls to me.  So as this day progresses towards tomorrow and a day of balance, enjoy the new theme.  Let me know if anyone has issues with readability.  I’ve tested it in Firefox, IE, and Chrominum so hopefully it looks great for you too.