Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

I’ve referred to consecrating ritual items several times in this blog and I’m sure some of you are wondering just what the heck I’m talking about. Consecrating is the dual act of blessing and object and removing old energies from it. When we use items in rituals we want them to be energetically clean and imbued with our energy, and not the energy of the previous handler. When we touch things and live among them, our personal energy becomes imbued in the items. This is why our homes feel so comfortable to us. And why you can’t get a good night’s sleep when you are away from your own bed. Babies and young children are especially sensitive to these energies and that’s why many of them have favorite blankets, toys or stuffed animals that they need at all times. They are taking with them a bit of their own energy for comfort.Many items we use in ritual are filled with magickal energy that is then released. This released energy must be clean and pure in order to be effective. For example, if you didn’t thoroughly wash out a pan until it was clear of soap, the next time you used it, you would end up with soapy and inedible eggs! (This has happened to me before, and trust me’soapy eggs are not fun! That’s what I get for trying to make dish washing a chore for my kids.)

The same is true with magickal energy. We want the vessel (whether it be an actual vessel, wand, herb etc) to be empty until we fill it. Consecration is important no matter where you get the item, but it is especially important when you purchase an item second-hand. Sometimes I find neat bells and jewelry at thrift stores, and I pay special care to their consecration. Even if I’m not using them for magickal purposes, these personal items carry with them energy imprints from their previous owners.

When you consecrate you are also charging the items with the sacredness of the God and Goddess. This will assist you in all ritual and spellwork you do with the items.

To get started with consecrating, you are going to first cleanse your item with water that has sea salt in it. Sprinkle the water on all sides of item. Of course, if your item cannot be wet (such as paper or a feather) do just a small area of the item. The same goes for the following steps. If a certain practice does not make sense with the reality of your item, then adjust as need be.

After consecrating with water, pass the item over a candle flame. You can use a white candle, or a color that is specific to the items purpose. For example, if you are consecrating a pentacle you might want to use green, or if you are consecrating a chalice you would use blue.

Next, pass the item through the smoke of incense, or ‘smudge’ it. I generally use sage for consecration, but the choice is up to you. I also use loose incense for this purpose, rather than stick incense. I find that loose incense provides a thicker smoke that can be used for consecration.

Finally, anoint the item with oil and repeat 3 times

“I hereby consecrate thee with the powers of earth, water, fire and air. This ______ shall only be used for good and according the my will and the divine law of the universe. May it serve me well in this world, between worlds and in all worlds. So Mote it Be.”

You can also use your own similar words to consecrate your items. In fact, writing your own consecration is great way to connect more with the process. Remember to use this process on any ritual item that will be placed on your altar.
Brightest Blessing,

Rose Ariadne, Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”

Dear Friends,

This week we delve more deeply into the 13 goals of a Witch. As I stated last time, these goals were printed by Scott Cunningham in his book “Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner” but the commentary is all my own. If you don’t have Cunningham’s work, I highly recommend this book and his others as well. They will provide you with a good foundation for the Craft especially if you are in an area where you don’t have access to a coven.The sixth goal for a Witch is to keep your words in good order. What does this mean exactly? Have you ever hear the phrase that a person is “only as good as their word”? A person’s word used to be their bond, and that’s something we’ve lost in modern society. Lying and ‘stretching the truth’ is widely accepted and sometimes encouraged! (Think of a used car salesmen). Its important that you keep your words in good order not only as a person but as a Witch. If your word is your bond, then your magickal word will be just as powerful. Words have power, and if they didn’t they wouldn’t be recognized by religions around the world. Mantras, prayers and spells are all displays of the power of our words.

Similarly, you must also keep your thoughts in good order. The origin of our very existence is in thought. What you think about, you become. If you are constantly expecting and worrying about a “rainy day”, you will undoubtedly manifest it in your life. Positive thinking is not just for self-help books, it is a magickal fact. Pay close attention to the thoughts that occupy your life and change them as need be.

A Witch must also celebrate life! So much of our Pagan path is about celebration, after all, what other religion has a holiday just about every month? In all seriousness, Witches love the earth and life, and celebrate it accordingly. You are alive, just like the earth, and that is something to celebrate. Enjoy your senses and seek out ways to thrill them with new sights, tastes, smells and experiences.

In accordance with celebrating life, we need to get to know how life works here on this planet. A witch must be attuned with the cycles of the earth. Learn the seasons and the phases of the Moon and be aware of them at all times. This is made an easy task when you observe the Esbats and Sabbats. When you understand how the earth works, you can better understand how life works. Timing is important in magick and in life. When you know the Earth’s cycles, you won’t be trying to work against them.

Breathing and eating correctly are also important to your life and your magick. This is vital to not only energy raising but to your health as well. You should practice and master breathing deeply from your diaphragm. Breathing through the nose and out through the mouth is important to control your energy and your consciousness. With regard to eating, you should eat to live and not live to eat. When you eat a proper diet, you’ll feel full and not stuffed. Eating incorrect foods and eating until you feel you are about to pop will lower your energy and inhibit anything else you try to do, magickal or otherwise.

Exercise is vital. You’ve heard it from your doctor, and now you’re hearing it from me! Witchcraft requires a healthy and balanced body. Exercise relieves stress, tones your muscles, burns fat and adds enjoyment to life. It also helps release any pent up negative energy that you’ve accumulated along the way.

Witches must also take part in using meditation. While this practice is normally associated with Eastern religions, it is an important spiritual principle that applies to everyone. There are many “correct” ways to meditate. When I meditate, I sit in a comfortable position and concentrate on my own breath. I sometimes use guided meditation to take me on a spiritual journey and experience important insights. There is a method of meditation to suit everyone, even walking and certain forms of exercise can be considered meditation.

Finally, as Witch you need to honor the God and Goddess. When we honor them, we are honoring ourselves and others. We all have the God and Goddess within ourselves. View everyone, even yourself, with innate deity within. We are all divine, and as such, we must treat each other with respect and love.

Use these goals to guide your practice of Witchcraft and deepen your connection with deity.
Love And Light,

Rose Ariadne, Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”

Dear Friends,

Other organized religions have definite goals and benchmarks along the way. Take, for example, Catholicism. There is a very formal path that one follows, including baptism, first communion, confirmation, marriage etc. However, with our “unorganized” pagan religion, the goals are sometimes not as clear. This can be especially true if you are engaging in a solitary Wiccan practice. One of the great things about Paganism is that the “rules” are not clear. But for those of us who have come from a religion with rules and regulations, this may be an uneasy feeling.I’ve found comfort in a list of 13 goals that Scott Cunningham provided in his landmark “Wicca for the Solitary Practitioner.” I’ve outlined the goals here, and the comments are my own.

The first goal is to “know thyself.” While other religions focus on knowing deity and knowing things outside yourself (such as rules), Wicca is intensely personal. I’ve found most Pagans to be extremely well-balanced and self-aware individuals. Our own bodies and minds are a conduit for the power of the God and Goddess, so we need to know ourselves in order to empower ourselves. Knowing yourself also means acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses. None of us are perfect, but if we know ourselves well, we can become the best that we can be.

You also need to “know your craft”. An important part of being a Witch is having mastery over witchcraft and all that it entails. I cannot emphasize enough that this is not something you pick up over night, or even during the course of a year! Studying the craft and getting to know it intimately is a lifelong pursuit. Also, knowing your craft is not something you can do by simply reading about it. If this were true, any 13 year old with a library card and inspiration from watching ‘the Craft’ could be a powerful Witch. Witchcraft is something that you learn about and then you LIVE. You become in tune with magickal cycle of the world around you, and you get to know how you personally use that power.

This leads into the next goal of Witches, which is to learn. Learn, learn and learn some more. Let me tell you, I’ve been at this for a loooooong time, and there are still things that I learn each and everyday. For me, this goal applies not only to witchcraft specific topics but about anything else that interests me. When you learn, you exercise your brain, deepen your spirit and grow to enjoy life more fully.

As a witch, you must also apply your knowledge with wisdom. Knowledge alone is not enough. don’t accept everything you read at face value. Apply your own personal wisdom to it and check it against what you know to be right. Everyone has differences in opinions, and what may be true for someone else is not necessarily true for you. It is true that knowledge is power. But wisdom is the guidance that controls that power and allows you to use it with guidance.

The next goal is to achieve balance. This is a spiritual pursuit of many religions around the world, and for a good reason. We are meant to be balanced. We are of nature and nature is inherently balanced. If you look at things from a broad enough perspective everything is in balance. Winter’s chill is followed by the warmth of spring, and so on. When you apply this to your own life, you need to pay attention to where the energy of your life goes. Your life cannot be all about one thing and one pursuit. While it is fine to be driven, you also need to take time to honor the other parts of your life. My religion is a large part of my life, but I don’t spend 24 hours a day teaching Wiccan principles. I see movies, I walk my dogs, I have fun with my family, etc.

In my next message, I’ll cover the remaining 13 principles. Until then, think about how you can bring these 5 into your life more completely.
Brightest Blessing,

Rose Ariadne, Your Warm And Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”