The other day, we had a silent morning. Not a bird to be heard!
I was reminded of the ddt scare back in the 1970ās. Birds were laying eggs with thinner than normal shells because of a chemical we humans were using to keep from getting bitten by mosquitoes. The thin shells werenāt supporting the growing life inside, so fewer birds were being hatched in the wild, creating a āSilent Spring.ā
I had no idea why the local birds were so quiet. Inside, Albus Bird was landing on the floor, staying as low as possible. Thatās not normal! Birds like to be as high as possible! It made me wonder if there were something deadly to us all on the wind.
As I sat, cleaning under Albusā cage, with Albus inside watching, I looked up with a proposition: āIf you need to go away to survive, please find a way to go. I will then move out, too. We might never see each other again, but weād survive.ā
Albus was just above me. Suddenly, it felt like I was being covered by a giant wing! I was a chick under his care. Albus seemed to be telling me that we would stay together, something I often told him when packing to move.
Challenge Entry - Green & Herbal Magick ā Green Witch
The Bleeding Heart
The Bleeding Heart, Lamprocapnos spectabilis, previously Dicentra spectabilis, is a common perennial garden plant that originally came from East Asia. It blooms from mid to late spring with colours of red, pink, white, or purple. It is hardy from zones 3 to 9, and can thrive in both full or partial shade. It is found in chalk, clay, or loam soils but prefers those rich in humus with a pH slightly alkaline or neutral and that are moist but well drained.
It is not recommended for internal use, causing mild stomach upset.
It should be handled carefully since it may aggravate sensitive skin.
From Cunninghamās Encyclopedia of magical herbs:
Gender: Feminine
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Powers: to attract love
Magical Uses: Crush the flower. If the juice is red, your lover has a heart full of love for you. But if it is white, he or she doesnāt love you. When grown, the plant brings love. When grown indoors, the bleeding heart has the reputation of producing negative vibrations. To forestall this, plant a coin in the soil and all will be right.
From the Encyclopedia of magickal ingredients: a Wiccan guide to spellcasting by Lexa Rosean:
The bleeding heart is noted for curing depression and fostering hope, happiness, and well-being.
Iām happy because it is deer and rabbit resistant.
Challenge Entry ā A Witchās Collection ā Collector
My Collections
My collections include postage stamps, scrapbooking supplies (several cupboards worth), spell jars, spell pouches, candles, incense, and nature guides (14 shelves and several boxes in the basement as well).
Challenge entry #11 - The Magick of Music ā Bard Witch
Music has always been an important part of my life. My father played drums, guitar, and mandolin. My mother sang. I learned the piano and sang. My parents both had a large vinyl record collection and I remember spending many hours listening to albums over and over again.
Music still helps me in my life. It inspires me when Iām running. It keeps me focused when Iām studying. It inspires my imagination when Iām creating. It focuses me when I am grounding and centering.
Challenge Entry: Magickal Names ā One Who Knows Thyself
I have finally discovered what my magickal name is, and it is Starlight Crescent Rose.
This name suits me for many reasons, among them the following:
The Sun, the Moon, and the stars are a crucial part of my practice and Iāve always envisioned my soul as being a part of the galaxy as well as looks like many stars so Starlight is quite fitting for me.
The Waxing Crescent Moon was the moon phase I was born under, and Iāve always had a great love for the moon. The Crescent moon especially~!
The Rose Quartz was my very first crystal. Iāve always been drawn to this crystal and I use it often in my work. It is quite special to me.
I really love lofi. I was first introduced to it by my gaming partner to have chill music in the background while we played. I have been hooked since then. Itās great for meditating, cleaning, studyingā¦
hahahaha well kinda. The desk only is because I straightened it up for the photo (and it needed cleaning). The black bookcase is the one I see the most, so itās fairly organized so I can see or find my favorite things easily. The feathers are loosely arranged by size, type, or bird. I kinda wish there was a challenge to make a smudge/smoke fan or maybe an idol from feathers
The brown bookcase? Thatās is pretty much half organized, half completely not. I moved all the plants, seeds, bugs, and bones to one shelf to organize them, but I havenāt yet.
I also lit a white tealight candle and used some of my leftover wax from a candle jar to help with the cozy healing vibes. The wax gave off a soothing, pleasant eucalyptus scent that paired well with the epsom salt that had eucalyptus and spearmint essential oil mixed into it.
In New Mexico, a lot of our āstormsā are naught but wind. The first year I moved here, I created a spell perfect for the wind.
Iāve always enjoyed the sight of a square rigger. Thus, I learned to draw one fairly well. All I needed was the wish to load up a ship and time to wait for my ship to come in.
Items needed:
Pencil
Paper
A place to sit in the wind.
An empty space on a wall to hang the art where it will face the direction the original wind was blowing
If you are sending out, make sure the picture faces toward a window or door so it looks like the ship is sailing out of your home.
*If you are asking for something to come, make sure the picture faces away from a window or door so the ship looks like itās sailing into the heart of your home.
Sit in the wind.
Draw a picture of a sailing ship.
Ask the ship to help make your wish come true by either sailing away to seek or coming in to port (home) laden with your wish treasure. Then ask the wind to blow your ship safely to its destination and home to port safely again.
It takes time for this spell to work properly, so be patient. My longest took about 9 months, but my ship did come in.
Exact same situation here. I think my partner introduced me to lofi a few years ago. I still listen to it sometimes when I want to focus on something else. One of my favourite channels is this one:
Well, Iāve been doing a lot of work-related self-reflecting recently because of the Contribution Alignment Deep Dive we all had to fill out recently, so I thought Iād start my series of challenge entries the same way.
Challenge Entry #1
Teachers of Magick
Was there someone who influenced my decision to practice magick?
Iām not sure who or what I can attribute this to. Iāve always been into games and have always veered towards playing magical classes when there are such things. I feel like that exposure normalised a lot of the concepts for me, thus eventually leading me here.
I suppose, in a roundabout way then, I could attribute a lot to my partner, for they took me from video games into the realm of tabletop RPGs. The role-playing there made it feel more possible than it could have if I had only interacted with video games.
Do I have a parent/grandparent/sibling/neighbor/friend/etc who helped me on my journey?
Not with getting started. I suppose my partner is my biggest support in general, so I have a lot to thank them for.
Is there a magickal/occult author whose works I was able to learn from?
Reading S. Connolly helped me get started in some ways, but the works of Asenath Mason are really helping me grow in so many ways, and Iām really enjoying the work Iām doing thatās guided by her writing and practice. But thereās still a lot more that I want to explore, so Iām sure that Iām not done with authors to learn from.
Is there a prominent figure- historical or fantastical- who inspired me?
Not really, no.
One thing that stands out is that when I was a teenager, my personal website was named after a witchās cat. The cat was named Sathan, after Satan himself. I didnāt know about the connection between the catās name and Satan, but once Iād read about the cat, naming my website after it just felt right.
I donāt remember where I did research on the cat at the time, but here is a brief introduction:
The first widely documented witchcraft trial was that of Elizabeth Francis, Agnes Waterhouse and her daughter, Joan. It was said that Elizabethās Grandmother had given her a cat named Sathan (a vague allusion to Satan) whom Elizabeth carried around in a basket; fed on bread, milk and her own blood whilst practising the black arts. Apparently Sathan was responsible for the death of Andrew Byles who had made Elizabeth pregnant but refused to marry her. Fifteen years later, Sathan was passed on to Elizabethās sister, Agnes Waterhouse, whereupon he apparently continued his evil bidding, causing the death of many geese and cows in the area. ā Cats, Symbolism and the 16th Century Witch Craze ā Cheshire & Wain
Do I have a student-teacher relationship with my deity/deities or guardian spirits?
I have this kind of relationship with a few of my deities. It feels like quite a collaborative group and Iām really thankful for their help in my growth.
Have I learned from others, myself, or a mix of both?
Itās always going to be a mix of both for me.
Give thanks
I canāt just pick one human or spirit to give thanks to, so Iām going to try to thank many at once. I suppose this is a gratitude ritual, then.
Under the light of the moon, I cast this circle of gratitude. I call upon the energies of all who have guided me, seen and unseen.
To my partner, my closest companion and truest friend, I offer my eternal gratitude.
To my friends and community who have supported me along the way, I deeply appreciate you all.
To the authors who have illuminated my path with their wisdom and insight, I extend my heartfelt thanks.
To my deities and guardian spirits, my eternal teachers, you have been my lanterns in the dark. Your presence in my life is a source of strength and knowledge, a guiding light through every ritual and spell.
To the universe and all its mysteries, I give thanks for the endless opportunities to learn and grow, for the balance of self-discovery and the wisdom shared by others.
With these words, I seal my gratitude in this sacred space. May my appreciation echo through the realms, honouring all who have touched my path.
Per lucem et tenebras, vitam et mortem, sicut volo, ita erit.
Have you learned something valuable from a fellow coven member?
Always! There are so many wise witches here that itās difficult not to.
I learnt about muscle/tissue memory, which is very new to me. But I appreciate this knowledge because itās opened my eyes to a lot that I hadnāt considered.
I learnt a lot about poppets and voodoo dolls, healing, and reversing or breaking curses, which I also found really valuable as it opened my eyes to the depth of whatās possible with them.
Was there a post that opened your eyes or changed your mind on something?
Alan did a wonderful series on numerology, which helped me understand that kind of focus a lot better. The first post (I think), is below:
Stavroula has been doing a wonderful series on āDress for your Venus star sign,ā which has helped me understand astrology more. The latest post is below:
Did you find a new spell/potion/recipe/other shared by someone here?
Thereās always something! However, if I narrow it down to things Iāve actually found and followed, there are a lot fewer. One that stands out the most right now is the Lighthouse Spell for supporting others:
I think Iāve done that spell at least three or four times.
I already had a small spell book that Iād made for a witch character that I kept going back to, so the leap was just to try it.
What are theā¦
biggest hurdles/challenges youāve overcome in your practice?
Confidence and trusting in my intuition! But theyāre the best hurdles to have overcome.
Iād already taken many steps away from being a people pleaser due to learning to enjoy testing my limits socially at work many years ago now. But I feel like these were the last pieces of the puzzle.
Of course, that doesnāt mean that Iām done. From here, thereās a lot of opportunity to grow. But at least Iām not trying to fix things still, if that makes sense.
biggest achievements/successes you have accomplished in your practice?
Same as above.
Is there anything on your magickal journeyā¦
that you regret?
No. I do my best, in general, to live my life without regrets. That doesnāt mean that I try not to care when I mess up, but I do my best to own the mistake and learn from it so that I donāt repeat it. And Iāve come to accept that thatās the best a person can do once something is already done.
That being said, the worst that Iāve done while on this journey has been misunderstanding people. So itās not like Iām having to try to forgive myself for anything horrific, like starting a cult and then sacrificing everyone to Cthulhu in exchange for a box of the best cookies in the world.
that you would change if you could go back and do it again?
If I could go back and do it again, Iād probably have more of the confidence in myself that I have now. This means that I would probably save a bunch of money as Iād be more comfortable with my own ability and donāt feel the need to lean on the tools and materials as much as I used to.
How has your magickal practice changed youā¦
as a witch/magick user?
Iāve become a lot better at managing my energy and protecting myself, allowing myself to have a more peaceful life than before. For example, a very recent example is that peopleās petty crap doesnāt get to me or even mentally stick with me anymore, i.e. I find it easier to let go of things and be in the present.
Iāve also come to appreciate chaos magick. That doesnāt mean that Iām throwing proper correspondences aside, but I can work much better with energy alone, and itās great.
Iāve found a new creative spark, through working on spells and rituals, and I feel more connected to nature, through many of the spells and rituals that are tied to the time of day or season.
as a person?
The confidence and trust in my intuition, which I mentioned earlier, is a big one. They both make overcoming challenges in my mundane life easier, allowing me to do better at dealing with those and paradoxically relying on the magickal less, even though the magickal is new to me, but you get what I mean, I thinkāIām managing to avoid seeing everything as a nail now that I have a hammer (magick).
I also feel as though Iāve been able to become closer to others in life. Itās hard to put into words, but the close bonds that I do have feel more open and loving.
I feel more empowered to take control of my life, my self-awareness has increased a great amount, and I feel more capable of defining and working towards purpose and meaning.
What bonds are most important to you and your magickal practice?
The bonds that hold the most significance in my magickal practice are those forged with my deities/spirits. They provide me with a wonderful foundation of trust, wisdom, and guidance.
My relationship with my partner is also crucial, as they support and enhance my journey in both practical and emotional ways.
The bonds with my close friends and the community help, too, since they offer a sense of belonging, shared knowledge, and mutual support. But I will likely continue my journey if, for some reason, I stop being a member of any magickal community for a while (or permanently), so I do have to put it a bit further down in the list.
Are you an Empathāone who feels the needs and emotions of others?
I suppose I am an empath. I just donāt really like giving myself the label, but I am sensitive to the emotions and energies of those around me. This allows me to connect with others, offering compassion and understanding. However, it also requires me to be better at shielding myself from overwhelming or negative energies to maintain my own well-being. It can also put me in an awkward situation where I can see a negative outcome coming for someone else but canāt really do anything about it.
Is a community or other relationships important in your Craft?
For sure. My partner is probably the most important one, for they help me the most in times of doubt or difficulty.
The shared experiences and collective wisdom within a magickal community can be really beneficial if the community itself is made up of wonderful people. In such cases, collaborating with others can provide opportunities for learning, growth, and the exchange of ideas, which is what Iāve found here, so Iām grateful for all of that.
Do you feel a connection with a deity, element, zodiac sign, etc.?
I feel a connection with certain deities/spirits. My pantheon has grown and shrunk and grown again over the past year and a half, but some of the most prominent spirits over the months have been Hekate, Lilith, Belial, Lucifer, Selene, Nyx, Seventh, and Leviathan.
The element of water resonates with me quite a lot. It symbolises fluidity, intuition, and emotional depth, and it is also my lucky element.
The Western Zodiac signs have been a bit of a difficulty for me, even though adding the nuance of having my Moon in Scorpio and so on has helped me with the lack of resonance I have towards my Sun in Taurus. However, if I look at the Chinese Zodiac, where I am a white metal dragon and brown earth snake, I feel a lot more comfortable, so I may divert my attentions that way for a while.
Is healing (yourself, others, the planet, etc.) a key part of your practice?
Whether self-healing, aiding others, or contributing to the well-being of the planet, I believe in the transformative power of magick to restore balance and harmony. This includes physical healing, emotional healing, and spiritual healing, each requiring different approaches and techniques tailored to the specific needs at hand.
What does it mean to be connectedāto be a part of the whole? How does this affect our magick?
Being connected means recognising the interdependence of all things and understanding that our actions and intentions ripple through the lives of not just ourselves but also those with whom we live and interact. This awareness enhances our magick by grounding it in a broader context, ensuring that our spells and rituals align with our own belief systems, the rules of our communities, and the natural flow of the universe. By contemplating our connections through meditation and reflection, we can use this connection to deepen our understanding of how our magick interacts with the world, leading to more effective and ethical practices.
Have you built a bond with a higher powerāsuch as your patron deity, a God, Goddess, or other divine being?
As I mentioned above, I have built strong bonds with several higher powers. These relationships are nurtured through offerings, meditations, and rituals of appreciation. For example:
A Magickal Blessing ā Blessed One
The Magick of Music ā Bard Witch
The Sun, the Moon, and the stars are a crucial part of my practice and Iāve always envisioned my soul as being a part of the galaxy as well as looks like many stars so Starlight is quite fitting for me.
Thatās is pretty much half organized, half completely not. I moved all the plants, seeds, bugs, and bones to one shelf to organize them, but I havenāt yet.
Give thanks
