To Begin the Poison Path
When Grey (my roommate) expressed an interest in Hedgecrossing and entheogens, I happily agreed to assist her. This is because:
1) Grey is not an idiot
2) Grey is not interested in recreational drugs and getting high (that’s my job in our household)
3) Grey is not a newbie
4) Grey is doing it for all the right reasons
Grey is a Hearthwitch, so ointment was the way to go. Hearthwitches like making things on the stove. Since Grey is an experienced Witch with brains in her head, I acted more as a consultant in her quest to make ointment. I directed her to some books on my shelf and talked about the various possibilities for ingredients, rituals and such. Then I left her to her research.
For the whole of the winter she studied, took notes, asked questions and weighed her options. She considered her purpose, contemplated symbolism, meditated, talked it out with her spirits … you know, all the things you’re supposed to do before you take your first step on the poison path.
When All snakes Day (such as it is) rolled around, she purchased a duck and brought it home. Appropriate offerings… Continue reading
Defence Against the Dark Arts (When You are Locked Out of the Circle)
A young woman contacted me a while back asking for knowledge. Not some Craft secret or anything. What she wanted to know was why. WHY?
You see, she had spent the year or two (or more) being harassed by what we shall call a (demon) nasty asshole spirit. She hadn’t done anything in particular to attract such a beastie. She’s not sure when it found her, but she thinks it started with nightmares that kept her up at night and by the end of it, she was a mess. Depression, lack of sleep, couldn’t really eat. The joy of life being sucked out of her, strange obsessions and compulsions. The constant feeling of being watched.
It wasn’t a mental illness, it wasn’t a physical illness and she wasn’t playing games or looking for attention.
She searched high and low for help and found none. She lives in a large-ish city in the USA, a city with a thriving Pagan community. Yet, there was no help for her there. She went to bookshops and asked for help. She went to Meet & Greet Coffee Cauldron type events and found no help. She went to the local teaching coven… Continue reading
To Answer Some Questions
What are you up to?
Getting ready for Yuletide; I found tree ornaments that look like fly amanita mushrooms! Writing, working, unpacking, playing Skyrim.
Is the podcast going to keep going?
Yes. Bren put up an episode recently and we hope to get back into the swing of things with the new year.
I am interested in casting objects and divination as spirit communication. Can you recommend some books?
I recommend that you look for books on the divination and spirit communication systems that appeal to you.
My main sources of inspiration were the FUTHARK and the Ogham. There are people who cast personal sets. I come across them from time to time, usually online. Not always though. I lead a workshop on it for Fest one year and a lady showed up with her casting cloth based on Hoodoo concepts.
I’m really rusty in some areas, tarot seems so long ago. I moved on from tarot (because it just wasn’t a good fit) in my early twenties, so about 7 or 8 years ago? I am amazed at what I have forgotten. It’s weird. Or not, since I never really clicked with it. It’s… Continue reading
Recommended Reading
I don’t comment on other people’s blog very much. Because I’m lazy. However, every now and then I will put together a post of links to articles I find … well I just like them or find them interesting. So here’s a link to the article and maybe a little comment by me below it.
Juniper from Bewitching Names
I am unlike many others in that I am fine with other people having the same name as me. I really don’t have to be that original. I actually had another person in the Pagan community (out here, in Ontario) tell me that I should stop using Juniper because she has used it online and as a stage name before and people might be confused. I didn’t respond.
Adventures in Depression by Ali Brosh
Get well soon Champion of the Internet!
Under the Ancient Oaks: Hoofprints in the Wildwood
Yay! A book review!
Let’s Talk About Necromancy by Sarah Lawless
Sarah always defines things much clearer than I could. Probably because I put very little thought into defining things clearly.
New World Witchery Podcast 36 – Dealing with Spirits
Corry and Laine offering some good introductory tips… Continue reading
It’s All Rather a lot of Bother
(okay, I’ve been working on this one for a while now. But it wasn’t ready yet. Now it is)
When folks come over and inquire about the macaroni in the offering dishes upon my house shrine I act like it’s no big deal. I just made too much and so I gave it to my spirits. It gets a little more complicated to explain that I am expected by my spirits to make too much and give them their fair share. That I keep their offering bowls small because they expect them to be filled.
It’s all rather a lot of bother.
Spirit work and devotional practice that is. A bother. That’s why it’s called work and practice I suppose.
Years ago, I was researching medicine bags and crane bags and the like. I came across something talking about Native American shamans and their relationship with their medicine bags, and with the spirits within their medicine bags. For some, they had to sing a specific song for each item/spirit in the bag before opening it. Over the years the bag would acquire more and more items. When they died, they might pass their bag onto someone… Continue reading
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