The Ramblings and Wanderings

Archive for May, 2009

 

 

See you after the weekend folks!

Correspondences: Figuring it Out For Yourself

Many years ago, people had no microscopes or laboratories to tell them what to use a certain plant for. They relied on shamanic practitioners and their own daring to discover the properties and uses of the plant life that grew around them.

Here is an exercise to help you see what it must have been like for early humans learning about our world.

 

Choose one culinary herb, your choice, fresh if possible but dried is fine. It will be best if you choose a herb you do not know much about, just head on over the grocery or fresh greens shop and choose a bundle of fresh (or dried) herbs that strikes your fancy.

You will want your notebook handy. Take a moment to clear your mind and relax. Gently touching the herb, feel free to say any prayer, blessing or charm in gratitude for this gift from the earth. Now take some of the herb in your hands and close your eyes.

 Breath slowly and deeply until you are relaxed. Try to turn as much of your focus and attention on the herb. With respect, ask the herb to share with you its nature, it’s energies, its purpose. Be still and calm and just let any feeling impressions and such drift across your consciousness for a while. Remember to keep your attention focused on  the herb. Write down any thoughts, feelings and impressions you have about the herb.

Put some of the herb in your hand and just look at it for a few minutes. Go ahead and write single words, anything that goes through your mind about the herb. Feel free to draw if your are an artist.

Spend sometime considering what the lifecycle of this plant must be, where it might like to grow, what sort of soil it would prefer?

Rub a few leaves against your cheek and through your fingertips. Write down any thoughts, feelings and impressions you have about the herb.

Now smell the herb a few times, taking slow deep breaths. Pinch some and rub it between your fingertips as you smell. How would you describe the smell? Any feelings associated with the smell, or when breathing in the herb’s scent?

Put some of the bruised herb on your tongue, and move it around your mouth. Focus on how it tastes. (You can rinse your mouth and spit it out if you want) How would you describe the taste? Any feelings associated with having the herb in your mouth?

Crush some of the herb and mix it with a small amount or warm water. Mix into a paste. Now rub that paste on the inside of an elbow. Leave there for as long as you like (at least a few minutes), and concentrate on that area with the herbs on it. Then wipe off. Feel your skin there, your energies there. Write down any thoughts, feelings and impressions you have.

Boil a small amount of water and then add your chosen culinary herb to the water, making a tea. You can use a tea ball or some such thing, or just let a small amount of the herb float in the cup. Once the tea is steeped, drink it. Going through the same observations, as before, how does it taste, would it be better with honey or sugar? Would you ever drink it again? Write anything down.

Thank the herb for sharing its lore with you as its last act. With the remnants, you may eat them, compost them, give the back to the land in some way, make incense etc…

Now go and research this herb! Compare what you felt in the exercise with what you discover as you research.

Can you find it growing or planted anywhere? From your backyard, to the woodland outside the city, to a planter in a garden store …

 
Need some ideas of what sort of info to look for? Below is a list of suggestions, you can go as in depth as you’d like. A good place to start is just by putting the chosen food and the info you want such as “Peach parts used” or “Rice Cultivation” into a search engine.

Info Outline

Common Name:
Botanical or Scientific Name:
Other Names:
Genus and Species:
Type (tree, flower, herb etc):
Leaf/Needle:
Form:
Flower:
Fruit:
Twig:
Bark:
Wood:
Climate and Habitat:
Soil Preference:
Places Commonly Found:
Places I have Found In Wild:
Parts Used:
Poisonous Parts:
Safety and Warnings:
Bouquet (aroma):
Flavour:
Magickal Gender:
Elements:
Celestial Bodies/Zodiac:
Special Date or Holidays:
Medicinal Uses:
Medicinal Actions:
Magickal/Ritual Properties:
Aromatherapy and Essential Oil:
Culinary Uses:
Cultivation:
Preparation:
Storage:
Mythology and Folklore:
Constituents:
Other Uses:
Other Notes:
Feel free to share folks ~ Juniper

I’m on my way, from ignorance to enlightenment today
I’m on my way, from ignorance to enlightenment today
I’m on my way, to what I want from this world
And years from now, I’ll make it to the next life
And everything that I receive in the yonder
Is what I gave to the world in this life

I took a right, I took a right turning yesterday
I took a right, I took a right turning yesterday
I took the road that brought me to a Goddess
I met a God who fills my heart with gladness
I walked the woods to find the Path I’d looked for
I climbed the hill that lead me to Nature’s door

And now that I’m learning the Mysteries
I’ll have Al Jolson sing “I’m sitting on top of the world”!

I’ll do my best, I’ll do my best to do the best I can
I’ll do my best, I’ll do my best to do the best I can
To keep my feet connected to the ground, gods
To keep my heart from jumping through my mouth, gods
To keep the past, the past and not the present
To try and learn, when You teach me a lesson

And now I’m that learning the Mysteries
I’ll have Al Jolson sing “I’m sitting on top of the world”!

I’m on my way, from ignorance to enlightenment today
I’m on my way, from ignorance to enlightenment today
I’m on my way, to what I want from this world
And years from now, I’ll make it to the next life
And everything that I receive in the yonder
Is what I gave to the world in this life

I’m on my way, to what I want from this world
And years from now, I’ll make it to the next life
And everything that I receive in the yonder
Is what I gave to the world in this life
I’m on my way …

A paganised version of the original by the Proclaimers

It’s fun and cute, what can I say? Actually its pretty darn good, if I say so myself.

Imagine how cool it would be if, someday while wandering around a pagan gathering or fest, I hear someone singing it. Just because they liked it. Hehehe

I wish I could sing, well!

(and yes I know there are even more Christian versions than the original. So what? This one is better … lol)
Love, Juni

“Not I” Said the Witch

(Based on a children’s folk tale called Little Red Hen or “Not I”, Said the Cat)

Once upon a time, a Hedgewitch was working on her farm when the spirits there reminded her of a promise she had made; to give up the use of some of her land for her fellow pagans and witches. They informed her they wanted to hold a celebration right there on the farm as a way to begin.

So the Hedgewitch phoned up all her friends and asked them to help her create a wonderful little retreat for pagans and witches on her land, and to help her kick it off with a big celebration.

“Who will come and help me plan and prepare and make this a magickal event for all?” asked the Hedgewitch.

“Not I,” said the Greenwitch “not if I have to do any work! I have enough to do in my own garden without having to weed one for other people.”

“Not I,” said the Druidess “not if my Grove and I have to pay for gas to come all the way there AND then have to do work for the farm as payment for using it.”

“Not I,” said the eclectic Witch “not if Lord Name-Dropper and Lady I’m-So-Special are going to be there!”

“Not I,” said the Fluffy Bunny “Not if you’re going to let Christians and Left Hand people use the land too! That’s persecuting ME!”

“Not I,” said the Wiccan “spiritual services should be completely free of charge, in fact, why don’t you pay for my gas to come out there?”

“Not I,” said the newbie Witch “what if someone made fun of me?”

The Hedgewitch began to despair, would no one come and help her make a sanctuary for her faith? Would no one come to celebrate Beltaine?

“I will,” said the Druid “I will make an Oak King mask, and lead a boar hunt and dig a hole for the maypole!”

“I will,” said Momma Witch “I will make gifts with fairy bells for everyone, and I will also bring my son, who will jump the belfires!”

“I will,” said the High Priestess “I will round up others to come, and we will bring good food and good cheer!”

“We will,” said the Drummers “We will bring music and rhythm and laughter to your celebration!”

The Hedgewitch’s heart lifted, the show would go on!

So they came together on the farm and they praised the land, and learned about what grows there. They honoured the gods and the ancestors. They shared laughter, wisdom and a good meal.

Though things did not go as smoothly as it would have if there had been more helping hands, they made do as best they could with what they had.

When everyone left, the Hedgewitch was glad and filled with gratitude. For her promise was not broken, and new friends had been made. She was very proud of her little, awkward Beltaine.

So the Hedgewitch phoned up all of her friends and said “There are groves to tend and stones to raise, holes to dig and gardens to plant. There’s far too much for just one little Hedgewitch! Who wants to come and help me build a home for our community? ”

“Not I” said the Shaman.

“Not I” said the Heathen.

“Not I” said the Witch.

There is no end to this story yet, as it has not been written. I invite you to help inspire me to finish it …

By Juniper of Walking the Hedge 2009. Permission to reproduce granted.

I will be attending the Spirit of the West Druid Gathering June 12 – 14 in Alberta, Canada.

 

I’ll be vending, selling some of my arts and crafts, as well I might enter the Second Annual Spirit of the West Eisteddfod – a Bardic gathering and competition. Entering some of my poetry *yikes*

Get your tickets by the end of the month folks. Hope to see you there!

Dancing with the Ancestors

“Some people are your relatives but others are your ancestors, and you choose the ones you want to have as ancestors. You create yourself out of those values.” ~ Ralph Ellison

“Everyone has ancestors and it is only a question of going back far enough to find a good one” ~ Howard Kenneth Nixon

Contacting the ancestors is about a few different things; it is about honouring our beloved dead, it is about being connected with our roots and heritage, and it is about seeking the knowledge and wisdom of those who have gone before.
Also In many cultures, including many ancient European cultures, there was a belief in ancestors who would stay connected to the family, acting as guides, guardians, as well as “go-betweens ” for the family and the otherside. It was believed that if the dead were taken care of, they would in return protect the homestead and its people, and provide for its fertility. Telling the tales of tribal or cultural heroes is also a way to honour the ancestors.

It is believed that all people have ancestral memories that lay deep within our unconscious minds and by contacting our ancestors; we can better connect to these memories. There is also, in many magickal traditions, a belief of a wellspring of knowledge, a reservoir of all that humanity has learned, and that by contacting our ancestors, we can ask them to impart some of that knowledge.

The ancestors we contact with may be family members or friends who have passed over, and it is common to honour their memories, especially around October 31st and on dates special to the family.
While other ancestors may not be relations by blood, but cultural ancestors, or those who have walked a similar spiritual path before you, your spiritual ancestors. From these spiritual ancestors we can glean lost or near-lost lore and practices to help us advance and flesh out our spiritual and magickal practice.

These customs flourished among the Celts, who honoured ancestral spirits as well as legendary heroes. In Brittany it is said that the dead seek warmth from the hearth at night, and a feast is spread for them on All Souls’ eve, or crumbs maybe left for them after a family meal. In Ireland, after a death food is traditionally placed out for the spirits. In some parts of France, milk may be poured out on the grave.
Whatever ancestor worship existed in ancient Rome was a family affair, not a public one. The diseased joined the manes, the household gods. They visited the families and received offerings and watched over family events.
The tradition of putting out food and beer has survived into modern times, in some parts of Scandinavia.
In ancient Greece attention was given to spirits of household heads and political leaders, and the spirits of those whose deeds were heroic.
In many parts of the world, the dead are supposed to partake of the funeral feast.

In many pagan and witchcraft traditions it is common to make contact and offerings to the ancestors at least once in a while. In shamanistic traditions this is especially true, as a shaman will work closely with many spirits, including his or hers ancestors.

Most of these ancient ancestor-worshiping practices culminated at the family hearth, around and underneath which the dead were even buried. Around the hearth the tales of heroes and great-grand parents are told. The belief in the presence of ancestral ghosts around the hearth was widespread.

When a witch works with the ancestors, often one or a few ancestors will work with the witch, acting as a go-between. Common methods of inviting ancestors is to give them a “home” within the home, this maybe be a (probably fake) skull, a hearthstone, a miniature house, or a statute. Or they may enjoy the fireplace, or the stove.

We look to our ancestors to guide us, we build new traditions based around their supposed practises after all. There is a wealth of history, lore and insight waiting for us on the otherside of the Veil. Listen for the words of those witches and wise ones who have gone before.

Modern witches and pagans may light candles with a modern lighter or boil water on an electric range, but the inspiration for our beliefs and practices comes from our ancestry. Yet, how many of us honour those ancestors? Those long dead witches, pagans, druids, shamans, heathens and cunning folk deserve a nod of respect at least now and then.

The presence or absence of ancestor worship relates to the importance of kinship in the societies concerned. Rites of ancestral reverence can help to bring about family solidarity, and in promoting the unity of the clan, coven and community.

 

Gifts and Goodies

“Crafts make us feel rooted, give us a sense of belonging and connect us with our history. Our ancestors used to create these crafts out of necessity, and now we do them for fun, to make money and to express ourselves.” ~ Phyllis George

If you want to communicate with gods and spirits, do so with the utmost respect, it makes more sense to approach the universe with an attitude of respect and hospitality.

It is traditional to give ancestors, household spirits and gods gifts of things you have made yourself. In these modern times, this may be homemade cookies and a poem you wrote yourself, or some piece of art on the family shrine.

Good results can come from making gifts using traditional crafts, such a leather working, weaving, smith crafting and wortcunning. Some witches may find themselves inspirited artistically when making regular offerings to the ancestors.

Something that you put time, thought and effort into is better than something store bought. However, I do find that a store bought bottle of fancy beer or a glass of milk and some honey also make good offerings as well.

For domestic inspired witches and pagans, offering your own cooking, baking, and other gifts from the hearth can have extra significance. Just as for a poet, writing as poem, reciting it once and then tossing the only copy into the fire can be a moving offering.

Many of us, with practise and patience, will find good results communicating with the otherside using divination methods, meditation and trance, as well as shamanic techniques.

Feel free to ask for hints as to what to give, and also watch for signs as to what may be better received. Go ahead and (respectfully) experiment, and don’t be afraid to listen to your gut.

“Humans are not proud of their ancestors, and rarely invite them round to dinner.”
~ Douglas Adams

“The actions of my ancestors, as well as my own actions, direct my steps.” ~ Unknown