Divination Segment - Spirit Boards

I have never used a spirit board. I have never really been interested in them until more recently. The most popular spirit board is the Ouija board. Ouija boards are sold commercially as a game. When using spirit connection as a game, spirits that would otherwise best be ignored are called to the idea of messing with someone who is just trying to contact something. For this reason, even when using protection, I do not recommend working with the Ouija board. This specific board has a stigma to it and all of those negative associations can effect the outcome of the readings you might do with it.

However, I do believe a spirit board that is made in a different pattern can be very useful. Of course, any time you are asking for help from the spirits, it is a good idea to have some sort of protection. Be it an amulet you can call on if something happens, or a full blown circle, or of course anything in between, it couldn't hurt to be cautious.

If you are really ambitious, it would work best to make your own board. If you put your own energy and intent to something, it is easier to use it in the way you prefer. If you have a certain deity you call for protection, you can add a representation to them to your board. Make an inscription stating that this board can be used only to speak with those who have good and helpful intentions and that any entity must leave when the conversation is over. The possibilities are endless, but as with anything in magic, putting personal energy into something will always lead to a better result.

Have you ever used a spirit board? What was your experience like? Do you have any suggestions for people like me that have never used a spirit board? Please add your comments below!

Kitchen Witchery Segment - Alfredo Chicken

This is an amazing and super easy recipe.  Also great when served with noodles.

Alfredo Chicken

Vegetable oil
1 package frozen boccoli, thawed(16 oz)
1 jar alfredo sauce(16 oz)
5-6 boneless, skinless, chicken breast halves
1 green bell pepper, chopped

Preheat oven to 375*. Brown chicken breasts with oil. Transfer to sprayed 9x13in baking dish. Microwave broccoli according to package and drain. Spoon broccoli and  bell pepper over chicken. In small saucepan heat Alfredo sauce with 1/4c water. Pour over chicken and vegetables. Cover and bake 15-20 min.

We discussed chicken before as making the most out of what you have. Also, it can be used to please a crowd of people and make people comfortable without breaking the bank. I am going to interpret this particular recipe as a comfort food that allows people to calm down and enjoy the company of others.

For this recipe we will ignore the oil since it isn't a major part. Alfredo sauce is different types of dairy products mixed with spices. Dairy is about fertility and nourishment. In this instance, let's use the abundance to multiply the joy and well being of everyone that eats this. Garlic is popular for this type of sauce, so garlic can be used to ward off all unhappiness or emotions that may bring down a gathering.

Next we have vegetables. Bell pepper is to me a staple in flavoring. Peppers have a sharp flavor but are healthy, so use the peppers to bring good health to your guests. Broccoli - this one is tricky. Haven't thought too much about this one. The original recipe called for florets, but I don't like only using certain parts of a vegetable that can all be eaten. So, since most people prefer just the tops of the broccoli, use the stems as well and have it symbolize the inclusion and happiness of all.

There you have it, a great dish to bring people together! Add pasta to represent comfort and nourishment of the earth to round it out.

Divination Segment - Pendulums

So I have been doing some research on pendulums lately, just because, and I have realized something very interesting. I am not sure why I never noticed it before. Pendulums especially, but really any sort of divination if you think about it, accesses your subconscious for answers. If you do not specify in a divination sitting what power you want to speak to, in the end you are just talking to yourself.

Pendulum specific. A pendulum doesn't have to be anything fancy. Any weight on a string will work. When choosing a pendulum, remember to let it choose you, and you will know which one is right.

Each pendulum has it's own language as much as each person has their own way of communicating with a pendulum. Make sure to take time to get to know your pendulum and if you have more than one, you might want to consult more than one for accurate answers.

When talking to the pendulum, statements work better than questions in my experience. Be sure to concentrate on the statement and do not let your ideas of an answer enter your brain as that will be the answer you receive.

The pendulum can be used to get to know yourself on a very intimate level. Remember, what you think you know may not always be true, and the truth may not always be easy to deal with. If this frightens you, you may want to make sure to call upon protection before doing any sort of divination.

Kitchen Witchery Segment - Skillet BBQ Chicken

Love this one - super easy and very good.

Skillet BBQ Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
8 oz bbq sauce
1 can 7up (12 oz)

Put the chicken in a sprayed skillet. Combine sauce and 7up and pour over chicken. Bring to a boil and simmer for an hour until tender.

Okay, I know that it is controversial in paganism to use meat for 'spells'. I am not a vegetarian, and I believe the meat deserves to be honored and used just as much as the other ingredients in a recipe.Chicken is traditionally a cheap meat, so it can represent making due with what you have and making the most of it. Barbecue sauce normally has a sweet as well as a smokey taste. The sugar is an amplification of natural flavor and already present traits as well as a touch of happiness or sweetness to an unhappy situation by adding sweetness to the smoke. Smoke can be the power of air, or the potential trapped within the self. Now for the 7up. Lemon and lime are both associated with love or energy.

Put all these together and at the very base we are getting the most out of what we have to reach the untapped potential within ourselves for love and for change.

Blessed be!

Kitchen Witchery Segment - Mayonnaise Rolls

This is a super easy recipe that has a lot of potential. On it's own, it is good, but a little bland. Herbs could be added to turn this into a very potent food.

Mayonnaise Rolls
2 cups flour
1 cup milk
1/4 cup mayonnaise

Preheat oven to 400*. Combine all ingredients and pour/scoop into a sprayed muffin pan. Bake for 22 minutes.

So let's see what we can do with this one. Remember, the correspondences I use are all based on my own intuition. If you want something that has been a bit more researched, I am sure there are sites out there for that...feel free to share them with me. First, the flour. We talked about this in the segment on bread, but basically flour can be abundance and the comforts of home. Okay, milk. Milk can be a symbol of fertility, nourishment, love, and richness. The mayonnaise I use is made with olive oil, so it takes on the basic ideas of the oil itself, which we will talk about in a minute because that's what I use to grease the pan, and works well with some general ideas as well. Mayonnaise is a basic bonding ingredient that tends to make foods into something much more vibrant. It is a comfort food as well. The olive oil can have a variety of meanings. It has a connection with Greece, so olives contain sun and warmth. Traditionally it was also lamp fuel, so light and comfort can be seen. There is also the idea of oil as a fat(even if it is not necessarily a bad fat), so it can also be used for overabundance, and things to be taken in moderation.

Overall, this basic bread is great for abundance, love, fullness, and the warmth and love of the home. This could also be a good food to use for success and moving forward because your base is firmly in tact.

3 years!

It has just come to my attention that this blog has been up for 3 years! I feel like I have been very lax in keeping up with it in the way I had planned. I understand all things change, and at least I have been able to put up a few more posts recently. In light of this three year anniversary, maybe you can do me a favor. Tell me what you would like to see more on this blog. Do you want me to talk about herbs? Or post more recipes? Or maybe something else entirely. Tell me! The purpose of this site is to help you. So, 57 posts up till now isn't bad...but let's hope I can do way better in the coming months/years!

Splashed by a Bear.

Started a new meditation series yesterday that I came up with that is a two week program about connecting deeply with the elements. Today's meditation was about connecting with the spirits of the water element. I was rather surprised when my connection to water happened to be a bear. A big brown bear sat beside me on the banks of a river and talked to me for a bit. He said that he was the connection between other elements and water, as each element connects with the others. He decided to go fishing when he was telling me this...and turned around to look me in the eyes. And splashed me. He said it was to connect me to water. I think it was cause he knew I don't like to be splashed.

Cauldron Tile

Since I am updated my practice to focus on my kitchen, I decided I need something to set my cauldron on so I don't mess up my counter...since my alter tiles are too big for my counter. Well, got a wood circle and decorated it. Perfect!

Incense

I found a bottle today that was perfect for keeping incense that is specifically created for my kitchen goddess. I wrote on it with a permanent marker, stuck it in the toaster oven at 200 for 30 minutes so the marker wouldn't come off (haven't tried to scrub it, but it at least doesn't rub off) and now I have a beautiful container for my Kitchen Goddess. Woot!

Super Excited!

So over the last few days I have been on a kick to reorganize my kitchen so that it is the perfect place to relax and do magic. I am loving every minute of it! Well, I have also been using my kitchen as a place to sit and relax. Yesterday while I was relaxing I was called to follow another goddess. Hecate called to me and I knew at once that she was meant to be my Kitchen Goddess. Let me explain what I mean. She watches over my kitchen and my craft, and aids me in addition to my already established patrons. In researching her a bit, I see why she called to me and am super excited to work with her. That on top of keeping my kitchen clean as a result of all this - things are looking up! I made a few things for the kitchen today, and I will explain them in posts that follow.

Kitchen Witchery Segment - Bread

I can't believe I haven't done a segment on bread yet! Bread is the most versatile food that I can think of to use.  Bread can include a variety of flavors and each different spice you add puts a new element to the already symbolic food. Let's start with the basic bread. At the very least, bread is about growth. In other words this is not a food for banishing or diminishing the bad. Bread is about enhancement. The yeast expands and the dough grows. Because it is made of wheat/flour, bread can be used for prosperity, success, abundance, the basics of home (shelter, food, happiness, etc.) or anything focused on bringing good things into happiness and life. Now, to put specific associations with that base you can add spices. Add sugar and cinnamon for comfort and family. Sage and rosemary for protection. Cinnamon and rosemary for scrying ability. The possibilities are endless. Post your best bread ideas below!

Divided

She threw away her future to be with him.
The bright.
The beauty.
The light.
To the dark below she escapes it all;
Her all too daunting fate.
An abduction?
A rescue.
He knows her heart,
And made it his.
The summer.
A time of joy,
But not for the one who brings it.
Her cold lover,
Far below.
Flowers mask her pain.
Duty to be done,
The world she springs to life
And in the end
Will always drag it back
To the Underworld.
Her dark domain
Her secret seclusion
A Queen to the one forbidden.
But she is his,
And he is hers,
And in drought she hides the tears,
The sun will slay the shadows of her heart.

Oops

Wow, it has been a long time since I have posted! Since my last post, I started a podcast with my best friend. Dagon Darkwater and I have a show called Texan Heretics. You should check us out. So...why am I posting now? I am trying to get back into all of the things I had forgotten about and generally have been slacking on. I am still on the internet, but the podcast has made it where I rarely think about doing anything else on the wide world of the internet. So, if I slack of here again, you know where to find me (texanheretics.blogspot.com) but, I encourage you to instead find me here and post that you want to hear from me! This will keep me motivated. Either way, I am trying to stay more active in the things I love. So stay tuned!

Everyday herbs - Salt

New segment!

Salt is something that we use in magic as well as in daily life. But do we really think about its use when we add it to a meal? Here is a simple way to add magic into your daily life. Next time you pick up a salt shaker, think about what you are adding to your food. Food is grounding, it keeps us connected to the earth. While salt is grounding in the same way as any other food in this context, it has much more to it. Salt can be healing - it is used in cold remedies when you use a salt water spray or for your throat. But magically can it not be use in the same way? Consider this. Most of the water in the world contains salt. If water is healing since it washes away impurities, salt that is found in water or from deposits where once was ocean should have the same properties. If anything, salt enhances that natural tendancy of water by absorbing negativity. Personally when I want to cleanse a particularly tainted tool for magical use, I will put it in a bowl of salt. Consider this next time you buy salt at the store and don't know wheter to get iodized or sea salt.

Aside from the obvious, here are a few other uses for salt you may not have thought of. Salt is white, thus a symbol of purity. This ties back to its ability to absorb negativity. Some people add salt to their coffee to make it less bitter. If you do this, when you add that pinch of salt to your coffee in the morning, bless that coffee through the salt to start your day with purity. The fresh brewed coffee brings a fresh start aided through the purity of the salt. A simple reminder is all it takes.

Salt also bonds together, though that bond is easily broken. Here is an idea for a simple spell to remove negativity from your life. Pour some salt in a clear or black vessel and add water to cover it. Place this by your bed. If desired, burn a black candle beside it for 30 minutes before you sleep to pull in negativity. Disclaimer, don't leave it burning when you fall asleep! You can say something such as 'Negativity absorbed from my life will release me from it's hold.' Do this for three nights, or until the water is dissolved. The salt should for a solid, or at least part of it should be in a clump. In the sunlight if you can, take that clump of salt and say something like 'as negativity builds up, it takes control of my life. As this negative influence in my life is broken up, may the negativiy in my life be broken up as well.' Crumble the salt clumps so that the salt is no longer bonded. If you wish to dissolve it completely you may, or throw it to the wind to release the negativity.

Perhaps one of these ideas can help you.

Cross-dressing

Just some curious thoughts rumbling around in my head today. Why do we hold a double standard from dressing in the clothes of a different gender? For example, if a man wears a skirt, it is still a skirt, but if a woman wears a kilt, now its a skirt. This occured to me when I was discussing with my male best friend and my boyfriend that I wanted a kilt. They both informed me that if I wore a kilt, it would just be a skirt. The annoyance here I am sure comes from years of seeing men's costumes and thinking how unfair it was that the coolest costumes could not be worn correctly by women. A tunic falls wrong for our build, so being a musketeer or a templar (since I am a RenFest geek) requires a complete re-tooling of the costume. I have since realized that I can deal with that, but it is the everyday clothing that I look at now. As a woman, I have realized I can wear almost anything with the understanding that there is nothing wrong with what I wear, other than it is not fashionable. I wear men's clothing all the time. But if a man goes out in women's clothes, it is odd and always commented upon. Perhaps I am making a too big of deal of something that isn't a deal at all. But to me, I see these fights for everyone to be equal and as a straight person, I have no right to complain. I am the one seen as normal. Is it bad that I want to be seen as different? Perhaps I just want the double standard removed.

Well that is just my little rant on differences for the day.

Kitchen Witchery Segment - Chocolate Apple Pie

I am going to skip defining a kitchen witch for now, and jump straight into a recipe I made last night.

Chocolate Apple Pie

Sliced apples (enough to fill your pie, this varies on apple size and size of pan)
Pie crust (I used frozen)
Cinnamon
Sugar
Chocolate chips

I find apples to be a wonderful way to celebrate fall/winter months to represent the bounty of the earth. In this instance, I used the apples to represent abundance and happiness. Do a layer of apples, I prefer thin sliced, and cover it with cinnamon and sugar. I used this to represent the comfort of home. Do two more layers of apples and cinnamon and sugar, then do a layer of chocolate chips. I recommend just making sure there is chocolate everywhere, but not coating the apples. Chocolate is the remedy to all ailments in this instance, to tie together the happiness and rest within the home. Do a few more layers of apples and sugar/cinnamon. Bake at 425 15 min until brown, then at 350 and additional 25 or until apples reach desired softness.

Feel free to use this however, just sharing my ideas. Ask any questions in the comments, and hope you like it as much as I did!

Scrying - divination segment

In honor of the season and the thinning of the veil  as it is said, I decided to have the discussion group I run make some scrying mirrors. I myself have never had much luck with scrying, but it is something I have always been interested in. So I provided clear plates and photo frames to be painted. For a twist, I printed out some magickal alphabets to use to paint along the edge of the mirror for those who wanted to add a message. I noticed something about myself in doing this. I was the only one in the group that used the alphabet. I was trying to add magic in the making, while others were using the magic of surroundings and such with the understanding they would add magic when the mirror was consecrated.  Both ways of construction are interesting to me, but I can't help but wonder at the difference. A few others did designs to  add magic as they went, so I just wanted to know some of my readers' opinions on the making of magickal tools. What are some benifits to leaving the tool plain? What are some reasons to dress it up? In either case, I provided to my group a special scrying candle and incense. This was mostly for myself in that I wanted to see if the candle and incense would make a difference. For those interested, the incense was made of blessed thistle, sage, rosemary, and cinnamon. But I guess the whole scrying thing is a mystery to me. I have 2 other 'mirrors' I have made, and a crystal ball. None of these have worked for me. I hope to consecrate my new tool tomorrow, and will have to let you know how it goes. In any case, let me know how you go about scrying. Maybe it will help.

Into the Depths part 1

Into the depths will be our divination segment. Today I am going to talk a little about something new I have been dabbling with. 

Dice

Dice can be a quite interesting divination tool. Based on numerology, there is much to be said for reading dice. What little experiance I have had with the dice so far has lead me to believe that dice are very direct, but bring up the most important issues that need to be considered. The cool thing about dice, is you can play with them without raising too much attention. Multi-colored sets or a set of like dice, whatever you have, can suit the purpose. My set I have put together is a set of 15 different types of dice, all of different colors, but I made sure to include at least 3 of each type of die used to make readings more fluid. I have been using 3 or 6 dice per reading, and using my notes on numerology to interpret the dice.

Does anyone else have any experiance with dice? Do you want me to talk more about my methods or the meanings of numerology? Let me know!

What to expect

So, I decided that there is no reason for me to teach the basics on a blog. There are plenty of places you can go for that information. With my resurgance, I will be focusing on the stuff I find important to daily practice. Correspondances, ways to use them, and little bits of other information that can be useful. It looks like I will for sure be featuring Kitchen Witchery, Earth Witchery (garden witchcraft mixed with stone magik), Divination, and correspondance information. That gives you something to look forward to! I am excited. I may do a section on basic spells as well. We will see how it goes. Woot!

OMG 500 page views?!

People actually read this? I realize it goes up every time you see a page but still that means more than one or two people visit here. Holy crap. Thanks to everyone for reading! That will absolutely motivate me to get this up and running.