Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

As children, we are often taught the importance of sharing. As we get older, many of us hold on to these ideals and try to share with others whenever we can. Some of us on the other hand, can become quite stingy and not want to share the things we have worked so hard for with others. It is important to realize though, that sharing is a wonderful and magickal experience that can not only be beneficial to others, but to ourselves as well.

However, there are some cases when sharing can be detrimental, particularly when dealing with magick. Over the years I have come to learn there are times to share, and times not to share. Mind you, I’m in no way condoning stingy behavior that is unbecoming of a good witch. But in order to not cause more harm than good, it is important to learn when to say no.

Sharing Energy

One of the best things that we can share with others is energy. Of all the gifts that Gaia has given us, one of the most abundant is energy. The universe is literally an endless fount of energy that is there for the taking or the giving. Not only do we have the ability to take and share energy from the universe, but we have the ability to take and share energy from ourselves and others as well.

That being said, it is important that one learn when to take and give that energy to, or from, those around us. Sharing your own personal energy with others is a wonderful gift, but should not cause you personal harm. If you are ill or suffering from sickness, it is not a wise choice to share your energy with others as it will not only cause you to become more ill yourself, but may cause the individual you are sharing with to become ill themselves.

Additionally, you should never “share” energy with another by taking it from them without their permission. That is not sharing, it is stealing. One does not need to be an energy vampire to increase their own energy when there is the ever-abundant energy from the universe that you can take into yourself as well. Next week I plan on sharing more information with you about the power of energy sharing, but for now I simply wanted to make reference on when it is good to share energy and when it is not.

Sharing Magick

One thing I often find people sharing are their magick working tools. Sharing your tools is another area where it is sometimes good to share, and sometimes not. Magick tools are very powerful. Some of these tools however, can lose some of that power if used by others to perform a spell or ritual. In these cases, it is of course not very wise to share. The last thing you want is for your tools to lose power, thereby making your rituals ineffective.

In some cases, this is of course unavoidable. If you perform your magick in a group, there are often ceremonial tools that are shared by the entire group and handled by each person. This is completely acceptable, as that is what those tools are made for. The tools absorb the energy from each individual, making them powerful for each person in the group.

However, each individual should have their own tools that no one else uses. These are tools that are handled only by you for your magick working purposes. It helps to keep the tools filled with your own energies, which makes them much more effective for when you use them for spell work. If for some reason another person must absolutely use your own personal working tools, you should first meditate with the tools and ask their permission to share them with another. You will very easily be able to tell if this is something your magick working tools are comfortable with, and whether it is a good choice or not.

I personally believe that sharing is divine. It is one of the simplest and most wonderful things a person can do for another. But it is also impossible to ignore the fact that sometimes, sharing just is not practical or the right thing to do. Ultimately, you must look inside yourself to determine when is the right time to share, and when is not. But I have no doubt, and complete faith that all of you will be able to look at each situation and make the right choice on what to do.

Brightest Blessings,

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

Dear Friends,

It seems that everywhere I go these days I see so much pent-up stress and frustration. With matters of the economy, our jobs, our families and just day-to-day life in general weighing so heavily on our minds and spirits, it doesn’t surprise me to see so many people in need of some serious grounding. Grounding your body, mind and spirit is important not only to our rituals and magick, but to our daily lives and general well-being as well. Cleansing yourself of negative and stressful energies through the practice of grounding will produce a more stable and peaceful life for both yourself and those around you.

The most common grounding practice is that of visualization. The powers of visualization have recently started making their way into mainstream culture, though witches have been using this practice for many, many years to stabilize their bodies, spritis and minds. The first step in successfully grounding yourself through visualization is to find a quiet, peaceful environment where you have little chance of being disturbed. You may choose to sit, lie down or stand and you may want close your eyes to quiet your mind and block out any external distractions. Concentrate on slowing your breathing and taking deep, full breaths. Focus on your muscles and visually see them relaxing with each draw of breath. Imagine yourself as a large powerful tree growing in an open field. Your head and limbs are your branches and your energy is seeping downward, becoming one with the earth below you as if you had deep roots. Relax your muscles as you inhale and visualize your stress and negative energy spilling out of the tips of your branches and seeping down into the earth through your roots. The earth will recycle and use this energy as needed. This type of visualization also works well if you are able to actually perform in nature, leaning against a strong tree or rock to help absorb your energy and relax your body, mind and spirit.

There are many physical methods that can be useful for grounding as well. The simple act of eating or drinking, especially after ritual, is a fantastic way to release stress and calm your mind and spirit. As you slowly eat and drink, pay close attention to the physical acts of chewing and swallowing. Savor the flavors of your food and drink and relish in the fact that you are sharing Earth’s bounty. Slowing your breathing and simply stretching can do wonders for eliminating stress and negativity from our daily lives. As you feel your muscles elongate with the stretch concentrate on the energy seeping from your limbs, fingers and toes back into the earth to be redistributed. Most of us shower or bathe daily, and this is an excellent time to ground ourselves through our daily routine. Visualize your stress and tension swirling down the drain with the excess water or even scrub negativity away while cleansing yourself. Even mundane household chores present an opportunity for us to ground ourselves. The repetitive, familiar tasks give us a chance to clear our minds of bad energy and our daily stresses and let them be whisked away with the dirt and dust. You can even imagine the vacuum sucking up the negative energy work or concentrate on the connection with the earth element as you wash dishes, being that most utensils, plates and cups come from some earthly element.

Whatever method you choose, grounding is a great way to calm and quiet your mind and spirit and relax your physical body. This is especially important when preparing for ritual or spellwork, as bringing negative energy and undue stress into the circle can have drastic consequences. Grounding is also important when we restore ourselves after an especially tiring ritual. Though we often overlook the simple things, implementing just one or two of these grounding techniques into your daily life can create wonderful improvements in your magick in general sense of well-being.

Brightest Blessings,

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

Dear Friends,

It seems everywhere I turn these days, there is continual talk about the state of the economy. People are losing their jobs, losing their homes, and suffering a great deal of pain and anguish from their financial difficulties. It truly saddens me to see this occurring, and has had me thinking a great deal about prosperity.

Each person has a different definition of prosperity. For some, to prosper is to have an abundance of wealth. For others, prosperity is nothing more than having their needs met. I myself am one of the latter, believing that as long as my daily needs are met, I am prosperous. Of course, there are many other views on prosperity as well, but in this particular case I am merely speaking on financial prosperity.

For the average person right now, finances seem to be tough. Many of my friends, family members and even general acquaintances have made some reference to being low on funds, worrying about how they are going to pay the bills and put food on the table, or wondering if the job they have is secure in the current economy. My heart aches for every single one of them, just as it aches for any of you that may be experiencing the same thing.

While I often suffer from delusions of grandeur where I believe that I can personally save the world, the realist in me understands that sometimes my hands are tied and there is not much that I can do. Fortunately, for this particular circumstance, there is one thing I can do and that is share with you all a Prosperity Spell that has proven to be successful for many that perform it.

Now before you go rushing out to get the necessary supplies to perform this spell with visions of money raining down upon you and putting an end to all of your financial worries, please keep in mind that this spell is not meant to make you rich and take all of your worries away. Instead, this spell is meant more to provide for you the things that you need as a means to help you prosper. Whether this is having a bill that is suddenly paid without you knowing just how it got paid, or whether it is merely you finding a few bucks while you are walking down the street, it is purely a means to help with financial prosperity. Not a spell to make you rich.

To perform this spell, you will need to gather 1 gold candle, 6 green candles, 9 white candles, pure salt, and pine oil. The spell should be performed during the waxing moon phase, from new moon to full moon. Just as the moon “increases” during this phase, so do you want your prosperity to increase. Performing the spell during the waning moon phase can have a negative effect on the spell, and cause your prosperity to decrease just as the moon decreases.

Anoint all of the candles in the pine oil. For added strength to the spell, you may wish to carve prosperity symbols into the candles as well. In the center of your altar or working space, place the gold candle, with the green candles surrounding it in a circle. Then circle the green candles with the white candles. Using the salt, trace a circle around the white candles, pouring the salt in a sunwise (deosil or clockwise) direction.

Focus on what your financial needs are. Focus on your prosperity. Starting with the gold candle, begin to light your candles from the inside to the out. Make sure that you light the rings of candles in a sunwise direction. Once the candles have been lit, slowly circle the candles sunwise three times. During each circuit of the candles, say “Orbiting Jupiter round the sun, bring money to me with harm to none.”

Once you have completed your three circuits, sit and meditate for a few moments on your financial needs and prosperity again. To finish the spell, snuff out the candles, this time working widdershins (counter-clockwise) until all candles are out.

And that is all there is to it. Within no time at all, you should begin to see improvements in your prosperity. Just remember, performing the spell won’t make you rich, but it will help to make sure that your needs are met and help you to prosper. I hope that you have much success with it, and that it helps you through any financial difficulties you may be experiencing during these tough economic times.

Brightest Blessings,

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

Dear Friends,

We cleanse our bodies, and we cleanse our homes. But how often do we think of cleansing our Magick working tools? Certainly we cleanse and consecrate them before using them, but many times we neglect to think about cleansing them regularly to keep them strong and powerful. I myself have been guilty of it, but fortunately it is a practice that I have managed to make a habit.

Think about how your body feels after working very hard. You become tired, worn out and simply physically drained. Our Magick working tools can become the same way if they are not cleansed and rejuvenated with regular use. After some time you may notice that your spells and rituals are not as effective or powerful as they use to be. Many times, this is because your Magick tools have become clouded and need to be recharged.

Over the years I have developed a routine for making sure that my Magick working tools stay cleansed and charged with positive energy. I do this by using the same routine I use for cleansing my home to also keep it cleansed and charged with that same positive and beneficial energy. As the seasons change four times a year, so does my home get cleansed and recharged. Now don’t get me wrong, my home gets a good cleaning more than just four times a year! But in this case, I’m talking about an energy cleansing that removes negatives energies and restores a smooth and positive flow of power through the home.

When the seasons change, not only do I break out my cleansing supplies to clean the home, but I break out my Magick tools for a good cleansing as well. By establishing this habit, I have made sure that both my home and my Magick working tools remain pure, powerful and positive. For me personally, the two activities go hand in hand and help to keep my spells and rituals successful. While I do perform as many rituals outdoors as possible, now and again I find the need to perform a ritual inside the house. If the house is not properly cleansed and filled with positive energy, the spell may not be as effective. The same can be said for using tools for Magick that have not been cleansed.

There are many ways that one can go about cleansing their Magick working tools. I myself often use a variety of different methods for the various tools I have since I have found that some cleansing methods work best on certain tools than others. For instance, tools that I use for divining I cleanse with running water, because water is connected with psychic ability. Tools that are from the Earth such as crystals, wooden wands, etc., are cleansed with Earth by being buried and allowing the Earth to take back any negative energy that has become stored within. Other methods that can be used for cleansing your Magick tools include smudging them, or submersing them in sea salt. If nothing else, placing your Magick tools into the sun for a few hours will also help to cleanse them and restore their power.

Here are the various methods for cleansing your Magick working tools, and how you should use them.

Burying in the Earth

To cleanse your tools by burying them, you simply need to dig a hole in clean soil and place your tools in the hole. Recover with the dirt. Make sure the tools are in a location that is safe and will be undisturbed. Leave the tools in the dirt overnight. Remove them, and using a clean rag wipe any dirt from the tools.

Smudging

Lay the tools on a clean alter cloth. Using herbal smoke or incense that works well for cleansing, like lavender or patchouli, smudge the tool with the smoke for at least 5-10 minutes.

Purifying with Sea Salt

Fill a bowl or other container that is large enough to hold your tool with sea salt. Place the tools inside, and cover them completely with the salt. Leave the tools in the salt overnight. In the morning, remove the tools and discard the salt by burying it in the Earth, or pouring it into running water.

With Running Water

Cleansing your tools with running water works best if you use a natural source of water like a stream or river. I make due with cleansing my tools in a small brook that is close to my home. Using a water faucet will suffice, but will not be as effective because of the chemicals that are found in most tap water. If nothing else, purchase a bottle of purified water to pour over the tool. Make sure that you have a firm grip on the tool, and place it into the flow of the water. Allow the water to wash over the entire tool, to thoroughly cleanse away negative energies.

Remember, if nothing else you can place your Magick tools into the sun and cleanse them that way as well. Just lay the tools on a clean alter cloth in the sun for a few hours, making sure that they are in a safe place where they will not be disturbed. By practicing these cleansing methods on your Magick tools a few times a year, your tools will stay very powerful and help to keep your spells and rituals successful.

Brightest Blessings,

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