Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

There is a lot of good literature out there for those just discovering Wicca, as well as for those who have been practicing for most of their lives. However, there is also some literature out there that really isn’t that helpful at all. Knowing how to differentiate between the good and the bad can be tricky.

I have a young friend who was trying to educate herself about Wicca and one of the first things she did was hop on Amazon and start looking at books. She was immediately overwhelmed and decided to ask around to others who were practicing in order to get a better idea of what might be beneficial to her.

I think this is a great idea. Firsthand knowledge and reviews are almost always the best. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to find someone practicing Wicca so this might not be a route that you can take. Never fear, however! There are some other ways to help you determine what the “best” books out there are.

To begin with, I would stay away from “instructional” type books. Although basic books that talk about altar layouts and designs and such can be useful, sometimes they can go a little too far when it comes to rituals and spellwork. The fact is, your rituals should be personal to you. While it’s okay to use a general idea (and candle color meanings don’t really change) I would steer clear of any books that try to teach you that you HAVE to do it a certain way.

If you are into history and want to know a little bit about the history behind some of the most prominent figures in Wicca, Witchcraft, and Paganism then biographies can be very good. Even though they might not teach you how to perform spells or draw down the moon, you can educate yourself on who some of the more famous figures are which might give you an idea of the practice in an historical context. Popular figures include Alexander Crowley, Oberon Zell, and Isreal Regardie. Keep in mind that you might not agree with everything you read and you might even walk away shaking your head at some things, but they can still be enlightening.

There are also some authors who are well-respected in the community and have a host of books out in different subject matters. Scott Cunningham is one of the biggest names that you will probably come across. He has written on a variety of subjects, from guides to choosing the right herbs to crystal, gem, and metal magic. He also writes about oils, brews, incense, natural magick, and guides for those who wish to practice Wicca alone. His books tend to get a lot of good reviews and I, myself, have used his encyclopedias for herbs, stones, and oils.

Raymond Buckland is another one that is popular. He might be one of the most well-known writers about the Craft. He has many books on the subject out and they break down pretty specifically. If you’re a solitary practitioner then you might find his “Wicca for One” book helpful. If you want something more ritual-based then his book on candle rituals might be the one for you.

One of my favorite books is entitled “A Little Book of Candle Magic.” It’s a small book, as the title would suggest, and gives some basic spells. The spells use candles, oils, incense, and gemstones and are very easy to use. Sometimes, I use it as a “cheat sheet”, especially when I am looking for something quickly or I need to remember what certain things can be used for.

So, is “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Wicca & Witchcraft” any good? Well, it’s not bad. Of course, if you’ve been practicing for years then you probably are aware of most of what it has to say. However, if you’re just starting out and want to find out about it or have some general questions it does a pretty good job of trying to answer them. Of course, I highly recommend that you continue educating yourself and don’t stop there.

When using the internet, or even reading books, keep in mind that some of what you are going to read are mere opinions. Ultimately, the choice and decision-as well as the way that you want to practice-is up to you and you alone. While it’s great to try to learn as much as you can, it is a personal path that you will have to pave yourself.

If you read something that you don’t necessarily agree with then continue doing more research. The author might have been wrong or merely misinterpreted something in a different way than you would have. Don’t give up after reading one book or one account. This is a lifelong journey, remember.

I hope that you continue seeking answers and finding them when you are able to.

Brightest Blessings,
Rose Ariadne
Your Warm and Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”

Dear Friends,

I would like to talk a little bit about another fascinating place that I have visited, full of high levels of energy, interesting people, and all sorts of magic: Glastonbury, England.

People have been visiting Glastonbury for thousands of years. While it might be more popular now for the big music festival that it hosts, it’s been important for travelers for a variety of reasons over the centuries.

What I find interesting about it today is that it draws Christians and Pagans alike. There is a very welcoming vibe there, regardless as to what religion you practice, and even the shops there seem to get in on it. You can walk into some shops, for instance, and find crystal balls and herbs on one side of the store and Bibles and rosaries on the other. Fascinating. I have also witnessed both Pagan marches and Christian marches while I was there-both peaceful.

So what brings people to Glastonbury?

You have probably heard of the stories of King Arthur. You might even know a little bit about a place called Avalon. Avalon was a land that used to exist in our dimension. It was a magical place where priests and priestesses that worshipped the Goddess lived, studied, and worshipped. They also practiced magick. Although they were priests, they didn’t shun sexual relations and in fact, even though they didn’t normally take on life partners they were very receptive to children and mating. The women were educated and talented and practiced the “old ways” long before they were called “old ways.”

Over time, however, fewer and fewer people believed in Goddess worship and Avalon started slipping behind heavy fogs. Eventually, the only way that you could find it was to study hard, believe in it, and have enough power to part the fog as you sailed across the lake in a boat. Ultimately, Avalon disappeared entirely and went beyond our reality and dimension, although it is said to still exist somewhere out there. It’s a beautiful idea.

King Arthur was meant to have ties to Avalon. It was thought that he might have studied there and that Morgaine (most commonly known as the witch “Morgan le Fey”) was his sister. She also lived in Avalon.

Today, it is widely accepted that Glastonbury is actually Avalon in a parallel universe. Studies have shown that the famous Glastonbury Tor has been linked to one of the holy hills in Avalon and that the sacred city might have been in the same spot. So what about the lake? Well, there really used to be a lake there and if you go atop the Tor in the early morning or evening hours on a foggy day you can even see how the lake might have laid below the hilltops.

There are other reasons to Glastonbury, too. Joseph of Arimathea was said to have visited there and a Holy Thorn Tree still exists in the Chalice Garden. The Chalice Garden, incidentally, is where the Holy Grail is said to be buried. A landscape zodiac is present around the town and there are also several ley lines there, too. The Glastonbury Abbey is meant to be the oldest above-ground church in the world. One of the most popular things is the labyrinth which circles around the Tor.

I have several favorite places around Glastonbury. The Tor is free to visit and while I haven’t done the labyrinth, I love walking up to the top of it (although it is a steep walk) and meditating. I visited it on All Hallow’s Eve and there were many groups and solitary practitioners there on the Tor conducting rituals and spells. It was a lovely time to be there.

I also like the Chalice Garden for meditating. Many people visit it for the healing properties that the water from the well is said to hold. The well is around 9 feet deep and has 2 underground chambers below it. The well itself is sometimes portrayed as the female deity while the Tor is the male aspect.

In 2002, the Glastonbury Goddess Temple was established. There are few places like it in the world and it hearkens back to the days when Goddess worship was prevalent in Avalon.

I have felt immense power and energy while in Glastonbury, regardless to the time of year that I have been there. It’s a beautiful and peaceful place and somewhere that you can visit and spend a lot of time listening to your inner self. Although I haven’t been able to part the fog and enter Avalon myself, I have had many lucid dreams while visiting. I’ve also had amazing energy while performing rituals there and have even walked away feeling a little bit drained afterwards.

If you do manage to make it to Glastonbury then I highly urge you to visit nearby Avebury as well. Though not as famous as Stonehenge (which is also close) you might come away liking it even better since you are actually able to touch the stones and hug them and even feel them pulsating.

I wish you happy and safe travels during your journey, wherever the road may lead you.

Brightest Blessings,

Rose Ariadne
Your Warm and Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”

Dear Friends,

Winter goes and Spring comes back. Thus is the wheel of life. What was dead will now come back to life and new life will emerge where things at one time didn’t grow at all. I love the hope, life, and blessings that come with the springtime.

Still, we can’t forget the beauty and magic that Winter brought us, either. Although it might have brought snow, cold, and even death to some of us-without it there would be no Spring!

Every year, I like to have a “Farewell to Winter” ritual. I actually don’t mind winter that much, although I could do without the high heat bills that come with it. I find it very cozy to wrap up in something warm and sit comfortable inside my house with my family safely tucked in around me. I also like the warm soups and casseroles and hot drinks that come with Winter as well. So even though I am glad to see the warmer weather and new life that Spring brings, I like to pay my respects to the old season, too.

Imbolc is considered to be the time between Yule and the Spring Equinox. Consequently, it’s also about the time that we start getting cabin fever. The holiday season is over and Spring hasn’t yet appeared and for some, being stuck in the middle is a little depressing. For that reason, we try to find fun things to do to keep us occupied.

You can perform your own “Farewell to Winter” ritual either with your family or by yourself.

I like to find some noisemakers first. You use drums, bell, whistles, or even pots and pans and big wooden spoons for the little ones. A colored candle (the color can be personal to you) that is tall enough to stick into a pile of snow is ideal. Of course, if you don’t have snow then you might want to use a candle holder. Either way, this ritual is best when performed outside. You’ll also need a bowl.

In the snow, I have every member of my family draw a picture that represents Spring to them. It might be a flower, a bird, a tree, or an animal. Depending on how old the child is, you might not be able to make out what the picture is-but that’s okay!

If you don’t have snow, then don’t fear. You can also draw these images on pieces of paper. That works just as well.

We try to keep the pictures within a large circle. After everyone has drawn theirs, we march around the circle with our noisemakers and chant, “Winter’s going, we’ll see you next year, we welcome the spring as it draws near.” Of course, you can really chant whatever you want to and whatever is easiest for your family to remember.

You then light your candle and place it in the center of the circle. Repeat your chant again and circle round the candle. The flame represents the warmth and sunshine of the Spring that you are welcoming in. Don’t worry, you don’t have to stand outside in the cold until the candle has burnt out. Instead, you can simply fill your bowl with snow and then bring the candle back inside where you can leave it to burn out on its own. If you don’t have snow, then that’s okay, too. Just let it burn.

There is an alternative to this ritual. Some people celebrate the fire ritual of Brighid who is the Irish goddess of home and hearth. During Imbolc, some people like to honor her as the deity responsible for transformation. That really deserves its own blog entry, however, as this ritual normally includes working at your altar. Still, it is a ritual that you can do on your own or with other people, depending on how you want to proceed.

I will miss Winter as it fades away, but I also look forward to Spring as well. There are things that I truly enjoy about the cold weather and I try to keep these in mind-even when my feet are freezing and I have to leave a little extra early in order to clear the frost off of my car. Sometimes, it’s also difficult to remember the good things when my children are beginning me to play outside and it’s just too cold and windy to safely let them out.

Still, there are moments when Winter is truly magical. The first snow storm, the moon glistening off the snow banks like little diamonds, the first taste of snow cream on a blustery day, and the sight of my children’s lopsided snowman from my kitchen window. I shall miss these things, but I will also look forward to the planting of my garden, the songs of the birds as they return to our yard, and the scent of the fresh grass it poke up through the willing soil.

There is always something to look forward to.

Brightest Blessings,

Rose Ariadne
Your Warm and Caring “Resident Witch In Charge”