Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

Let’s face it….there is a lot to the craft that can’t be learned from reading a book. Finding a teacher and/or group to join is something that most, if not all, new Pagans seek out. It’s completely natural to want to meet other people who are interested in the craft. And its sometimes better to learn from others, in person, than try to piece things together by yourself at home.

I’ve been a member and leader of several groups throughout my time in this path, and I’ve learned a thing or two about finding the right group. Believe me, it is sometimes harder than it sounds. There’s a lot to be considered when choosing a group or teacher to work with. Hopefully, by the end of this message I will have given you a few things to think about when choosing your Pagan teachers.

The first obstacle to overcome is finding if there are any pagan groups in your area. One of the easiest ways that I have found is to visit www.witchvox.com, which is an online hub for Pagan groups and practitioners. You also might want to try asking at your local metaphysical bookstore for recommendations.

Even if you find a group and teacher in the area, how do you know they will be a good group for you? The process starts by analyzing yourself and your own needs. First think about what you are looking for in a group. What size of group would you feel most comfortable in? Would you be willing to travel to get to the group meetings and rituals? Do you like things to be informal or do you crave structure in your learning environment? Can you pay for classes? Would you prefer a teacher who guides you individually or are you looking for a group atmosphere? Are you looking to just gather information or do you want to be formally initiated into a coven? Would you like to be part of a group that is public, or one that keeps things more secret?

Consider also the type of Witchcraft that you would like to learn. Gardnerian circles are vastly different than those that follow Asatru. Research a little on the different types of Paganism, and find something you are interested in. If you don’t have a preference, try to find an “eclectic” pagan group. Normally these groups are very open to newcomers and teach a variety of methods from many different doctrines. Eclectic pagan groups can vary in size and method, but provide a good “primer” for the study of witchcraft and other occult methods. It is entirely possible to start in an eclectic group and then move on to a more specialized and formal coven once you get an idea of your personal beliefs.

In all fairness, the odds of finding a group that meets all of your requirements exactly is pretty slim. But, if you know what you want in a group, you will be more likely to find something that is comfortable and enjoyable for you.

Then take your search online and find the groups in your area. Unless a group consistently holds open rituals, it’s pretty standard to meet a representative of the group in public before being invited to a ritual or class. This is nothing against you as a person. Its just a way to keep group members, and you, safe. If your contact from the group does not suggest a public meeting first, you should make the suggestion. It’s just a measure of personal safety! There are some crazies out there these days (in society, not Paganism specifically) and you can’t be too careful.

After you’ve met the contact from the group you may be invited to an event. If you are interested or not, let them know either way. Its rude to leave someone hanging. If you do decide to attend the event, pay attention to the group dynamics from the start. Is it a welcoming group? Do you enjoy being in their company? What are their qualifications, and can you meet them?

You don’t want to join a group that doesn’t allow questions in a classroom setting, or a group where the members are bickering at one another. This first event is a chance to see whether the group meets your criteria and whether you’d be a good fit. If you decide the group is not for you, remain civil and amicable. This is especially important if the Pagan community is small in your area. You don’t want to burn any bridges.

You may have to “interview” a lot of groups before you find the right one. Or you may find that the first group you visit fits like a glove. While I certainly hope that you experience the latter, visiting a lot of groups does have the advantage of letting you know exactly what you do and don’t want in a group.

Many blessings and happy hunting,

Rose Ariadne

Your Warm And Caring "Resident Witch In Charge"

Dear Friends,

Okay I’ll admit it! When I first starting practicing Wicca I became “tool obsessed.” Has this ever happened to you? You enter a pagan shop and must have everything there. You simply need all of the “cool stuff” that you’ve seen a coven meetings or in books. You absolutely know that your magickal life will not be complete without a amethyst encrusted wand, long black velour cape, solid brass altar pentacle, a library of books…the list goes on and on. Believe me….I’ve been there. I understand that these needs seem extremely important. We all like to have neat and new stuff, especially stuff that is associated with our newest source of enjoyment.

But all of this fun stuff comes with a hefty price tag. If your budget is a bit strapped, you may feel discouraged. But Paganism is not for the rich alone! There are dozens of ways that you can get the tools that you need without breaking the bank.

First of all, remember that you don’t need to buy as much as you think you do. Take a look around your house and your storage spaces to find some valuable hidden treasures. You can use an older letter opener as an athame. Some of my favorite chalices have been from old glassware collections. You can sometimes find old dressing gowns that will serve as robes. Remember, recycling isn’t just limited to bottles and cans! Your old junk can be made new as part of your Pagan lifestyle. The best part about this technique is that it’s all free!

Another free source of good Pagan tools of trade is Mother nature herself. Taking a walk around a park or other natural area can be a treasure hunt. There are a lot of gifts that you can find. You can collect branches to use as wands or staffs. If you look closely you may find rocks that contain crystals inside. You can also collect feathers, however I would be careful doing this especially considering the spread of avian flu. If you are in a coastal area, you can find seashells and smoothed rocks to add to your altar and spell work.

To add to your magickal collection, look outside of the metaphysical bookshops and occult stores. You can get some great bargains on your magickal essentials from places like Wal-mart and Target. You’d be surprised what you can find when you look with a magickal eye. My favorite pair of altar candleholders came from a .99-cent aisle at K-Mart.

You can also find a wealth of do it yourself magickal items at the local craft store. Here you can find supplies for making your own dreamcatchers, sewing a magickal bag for tarot cards or small gems, small flowerpots to plant seeds during Beltane….the list goes on and on. You’ll save money by making items yourself but you’ll also have a more personal tools to work with.

Some of my other favorite places to shop for tools are thrift stores. There are several in my area that I visit regularly to see what’s new. You can find some really interesting vintage pieces, like antique glassware for chalices or coats that can be made into robes.

If you’re going to shop from online or local pagan shops, be patient and wait for the sales. If you can get something for half off, its worth it to put off buying it a few weeks or days. Also, look for bulk discounts on herbs and spell candles. You can buy together with some pagan friends to get a better price for all of you.

Remember, it doesn’t need to be expensive to be effective!

Happy bargain hunting,

Rose Ariadne

Your Warm And Caring "Resident Witch In Charge"

Dear Friends,

As soon as I knew that this path was for me, I immediately wanted to be a part of a group. It’s a common thing for the Pagan “newbie” to seek out others to learn from and practice with. There is so much that has been hidden throughout the years regarding witchcraft, that for a long time learning from others was the only way to go. Thanks to the freedom of the press, there are now volumes upon volumes of related books to draw knowledge from. However, a lot of people, myself included, feel that finding a group (or starting one!) is an important step in developing magickally.

That isn’t to say that the solitary witch is out of luck! There is a lot of good that can come out of practicing by yourself. You can really get to know your own personal energy, and your tastes and preferences when it comes to rituals. However, there is something powerful about completing a ritual with a large group of people. It’s a sense of belonging that comes with knowing that you are among friends, and you are all creating energy together.

While looking for Pagan fellowship is an easy task, finding a group isn’t always. The Internet does give today’s seekers an advantage that I didn’t have 20 some odd years ago…however, covens don’t normally advertise blatantly online. It takes a while to find people in your community, especially if there is a lot of religious persecution in your part of world.

Many times, unfortunately, a seeker is not satisfied with what they find. Each Pagan group has its own flavor and focus. It might not match up with your magickal and personal goals, and that’s okay. There are two options at this point; keep exploring and searching, or start your own group.

What?! I can hear you say. My own group!! It’s entirely possible, no matter what you may be thinking. You may find that there are others in your local area who are dissatisfied with the other group options. Maybe you all live far away from the nearest coven or meeting place. Or maybe you are interested in one particular aspect of the craft that is not represented in your local area.

Starting your own group can be an exhilarating adventure. You’ll first need to decide what type of group you’d like to form. You can form a study group where you and your fellow members research topics and discuss what you’ve found. This is a good option if you are a newbie and know others who are new to the path as well. You can get other people’s perspectives on different topics and educate yourself on many aspects of the craft.

Social groups can also be fun. A social Pagan group mainly gets together to hang out. Ritual work is done sometimes, but the main intent is to get to know others in your faith. The good thing about social groups is that all members don’t have to following the same path. This results in a rich and dynamic group atmosphere that is flavored by the different paths of Paganism.

Starting a local group doesn’t have to be intimidating if you decide on one of the previous types of groups. Study groups and social groups require much less planning and dedication than a traditional coven. Eventually, if it is acceptable to all, your group can make the transformation to a working coven. However, there is a lot of benefit from having a study group or social group.

Newbies can successfully run Pagan groups, because I’ve seen it in action! Sometimes a good study group of interesting newcomers can do a whole lot more discovery than a coven full of older Pagans. It all depends on their thirst for knowledge and dedication to learning. So if you aren’t finding what you are looking for in your area, there might be others out there who are just as dissatisfied. Take on the challenge of leading an informal Pagan group, and you can all learn and grow together.

Many blessings,

Rose Ariadne

Your Warm And Caring "Resident Witch In Charge"

Dear Friends,

Nothing clears up a bad day for me faster than a good grounding and centering exercise. If you’ve ever felt out of sorts or disconnected to the world around you, you might want to try making grounding and centering a part of your daily life. A lot of folks think that the technique is simply for starting a ritual, but it can be used at anytime that you need to “clear” yourself from the stresses of your day.

I’ve found that a lot of people underestimate the power of grounding and centering. It is one of the first things that I teach newcomers to the path, and some dismiss it as a baby step into practicing magick. I’ve made the same mistake myself in the past, however, I quickly learned different. To me, grounding and centering (along with a few other energy techniques) are the cornerstone to working with energy effectively. A lot of people think of it as boring and simplistic and they just want to get on to the “fun stuff.” However, what they fail to see is that until grounding and centering is mastered, none of the “fun stuff” will be any “fun.”

So let’s take another look at grounding and centering through this perspective. Let’s look at the techniques as essentials rather than simplicities. The most basic energy work technique is centering. To relate to what centering means in energy work, thing about the expression “center of balance.” It describes a point at which the weight of something is equally distributed. There is a definite center of balance in your body, and its in a different location for everyone. It depends on how you are made. There is also an energetic, yet invisible, center of balance to your body. It may be located near your physical center.

It’s a bit difficult to describe exactly what your energetic center should feel like. When you are off our physical bodies center of balance, you know immediately. But the energetic center of balance works differently. When you are “off balance” energetically, you feel frazzled and stressed. To re-center yourself, you need to sink down into your energy center and become aware of how the energy in your body flows. When I practice centering, I always feel a weight lifted from my shoulders. I feel like I am settling down into myself and becoming comfortable.

Centering is the first technique that you must master because it helps you learn to focus your own personal energy and still yourself. If you aren’t focused later in your spell work, you spells won’t have the power they need. Centering is, fortunately, very easy to practice and should become part of your everyday life. It only takes a few minutes and can be done anywhere…I practice centering in the shower. Once you’ve mastered this technique you can reach this state whenever you need to.

After developing the ability to center quickly and effortlessly, you should begin to perfect the technique of grounding. The process starts by sitting down on the ground and letting the energy drain out of the bottom of your spine. To help you ground yourself, visualize roots sprouting from you deep into the ground to carry away the excess energy. Just like electrical systems use ground wire to dump excess energy, you need a technique to get rid of the excess energy that has built up inside your system.

Grounding has two major purposes. It allows you to rid yourself of any excess energy (stresses!) before you take part in a ritual, or even go on with the rest of your day. It also allows any excess energy that was raised during spell work to re-enter the earth. Grounding on a daily basis can help you clear yourself of anything that you are energetically carrying with you. This can include stress, frustration, depression and angry feelings.

As you practice, grounding and centering will become a part of your life. They are tools that you can use anytime to manage your personal energy. As you begin to develop mastery over these tools, your magickal energy will become stronger and more precise. And the techniques can really save on stress-related eating!!

Until next time, try to center instead of reaching for the chocolate,

Rose Ariadne

Your Warm And Caring "Resident Witch In Charge"