Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

Paganism is growing by leaps and bounds. Okay, I don’t have any actual proof of that, but it certainly does seem that way, doesn’t it? More and more people are dissatisfied with the state of organized religion and are seeking something more spiritual and less dogmatic. This is both good and bad, in my opinion.

The growth of the Pagan movement is good because I always enjoy enlightening people to this path. I feel that it’s an important path, and one that has been fulfilling for me. I hope others feel the same way when they start to explore Wicca. My beliefs and experiences as a witch have transformed my life and helped to define it.

I love the enthusiasm that newbies bring, but sometimes (and this is the bad part of Paganism growing by leaps and bounds) their enthusiasm either fizzles or is misplaced. There are a lot of different types of newbie that I see enter the Wicca 101 classes that I teach. I see the young girls who decide they are witches based on watching Charmed too much. I see women who want Paganism to be full of love and light, and nothing else (there is Brightest Blessing, but everything must have balance). I see people who enter looking for unlimited power at the flick of a wrist (a la Harry Potter). I meet those who want to know everything but then get overwhelmed. But above all, I see a lot of turnover.
A lot of people who explore Paganism never stay long enough to find out what it’s really about. So I wanted to offer a few tips for the Pagan newbie.

* Continue reading about Paganism after you finish your first book. I know it’s easy to assume that a Wicca 101 book has everything you’ll ever need to know. But remember, authors have differences of opinion even on the basics. It’s best to read as much as you can, then make your own decisions.

* Meet other Pagans! This can consist of joining a mailing list, finding a local discussion group or finding a coven to be a part of. Even if you plan to be a solitary Wiccan, it’s important to get to know others on this path. you’ll always learn something from discussing Paganism with another Pagan. You can gain insight that you can’t get from books.

* Paganism, like life, is a journey and not a destination. You’re never going to “get” it all. I still don’t get it all, even after 20 plus years. This is a path that you grow on. There is always something to learn about the Deities, about magick and about you. There is no fast path to becoming a Witch. When you study this path, actually study it’don’t just skim through as much as you possibly can to get to some “finish line”.
It doesn’t exist, don’t stress yourself out. There are no grades, no final exams. The only indicator of success is your personal spiritual fulfillment.

* Learn to have a thick skin when it comes to your religion. People will disagree with you, and that’s okay. You can’t let every comment burn through you and destroy your inner confidence. If you are happy with Wicca, that is all that matters. You may even have differences of opinion with fellow Pagans (trust me, it happens a lot). Learn to accept differences and see challenges to your beliefs as a way to learn more about your inner strength.

* Conversely, question everything! This should include others writings as well as your own beliefs. You should be constantly reconstructing what you believe to make it better and create a better foundation for your spiritual path.

I hope these guidelines will help newcomers embrace this path and continue to journey on it. These are some things I wish I had been taught earlier in my walk.

Love And Light,

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

Dear Friends,

Once a year, normally in the fall, my circle and I have a fun coven project where we make witch bottles for protection. The purpose of a witch bottle is to create a bottled spell to ward off evil and protect the home.

Witch bottles originate from a British tradition that started in the 1500s. Witches of the British Isles used glass bottles filled with iron nails, human hair, bodily fluids, thorns, needles and pieces of wood. In ancient times, the bottles were buried underneath the fireplace. From a magickal point of view, the fireplace was a security risk as it had a straight connection to the sky above.

Today, we use witch bottles to capture any negative energies coming from outside toward ourselves and our families. You can also make a witch bottle charged with energy for your financial success, for creativity, for positive energy and for health. The possibilities are endless, they are basically spells in a bottle which means you can do anything with them you wish.

The main thing that makes all witch bottles alike is their structure. In my circle, we normally use small jelly jars, mayonnaise jars or mason jars. We fill them with objects that are specific to our purpose. We charge each item with the intended purpose before we place them in the bottle.

I always offer my circle members a variety of items to choose from. For our protection witch bottles, I have bent iron nails, thorns, razor blades, broken glass and small pieces of mirror. The purpose is to provide sharp and dangerous energy to ward off danger. Witch bottles are always more potent with some personal items such as hair, saliva, blood and other bodily fluids from the bottle maker.

For other types of witch bottles, you can include the items that you would normal use in a spell for that purpose. For example, if you want to make a witch bottle that brings love into your life, you can use scented oils, herbs associated with love, pieces of red, white and pink fabric, gemstones that bring loves etc.

Be creative with your witch bottles! You can include items that just “feel” right, even if they don’t have specific correspondences. I’ve had coven members include different colored sands, flowers, coins and sawdust while creating different types of witch bottles.

After constructing a witch bottle and charging it with your purpose, the next step is to bury the bottle. This is a way of activating the spell and returning the energy back to the earth in order for it to come to you. If you own your own home, you may be able to place the witch bottle in a traditional place, like under the fireplace, under the floor or in the walls. I usually recommend, for those that own their home, to bury the bottle in the backyard in a place where nobody will accidentally break it while gardening.

Burying a witch bottle can be more difficult if you live in an apartment, but not impossible! It’s not a good idea to bury the bottle in a shared yard, or somewhere that a neighbor can dig up the bottle and hurt them. The bottle doesn’t have to be near your home in order to work. You can make a trip to a forest or a swamp to bury your bottle. If you’d like to keep your bottle close to home, you can make a smaller bottle that can be buried in a large flowerpot near your door. If you’re living in the “broom closet,” or with a roommate the miniature bottle idea may work as well. Small witch bottles can be hid in a variety of ways and still provide the same protection.

The timing of the witch bottle preparation is important. Make sure to choose a date that is during the Waning phase of the Moon. You can do an informal ritual and perform visualization for the witch bottles purpose before making it.

Witch bottles are very powerful, since the energy of the spell is contained in an enclosed area. Make sure to protect your bottle after completing it, especially if you used any of your own hair or bodily fluids.

But if you need protection or want to bring something into your life, there’s no better way to go than the construction of a witch bottle.

Brightest Blessing,

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

Dear Friends,

I love the Internet. I really, really do. The free exchange of ideas, the interaction between people across the globe and the instant access to a variety of services is right up my alley. If you’ve visited my site, purchased my book or are a regular reader of my blog, I’m sure you love the Internet too. The Internet has changed the face of so many things in our existence, its no surprise that it is revolutionizing the Pagan world as well. For one, there are many networking opportunities that didn’t exist before the Internet. Pagans from across the globe can meet, exchange ideas and offer support.

However, of all the advantages that the Internet gives to Pagans, I’d say the invention of the cyber coven is probably the most profound. A cyber coven is a group of people, Wicca or Pagan, that interact primarily through the Internet. The cyber coven interacts through chat rooms, message boards and e-mail lists. Of course, this is the simple answer to a much more complex phenomenon.

Cyberspace is a virtual place that can act as a technological doorway to the astral plane. When the hardware and software combine together, and we add our activity, we create Cyberspace. It is like an astral temple that is created by our intention and applied action. When we enter cyberspace we are planted between the worlds, and can create sacred space that is just as powerful as a traditional circle.

The cyber coven offers a unique opportunity that is suited to a number of different types of people. Pagans who live some distance from one another can get the camaraderie, education and practice of working magick with others by using a cyber coven. Often times, there is only so much you can learn when you are performing a solitary spiritual practice. It helps to connect with others to increase your base of knowledge, get to know other people on this path and find support in similarly minded individuals.

Cyber covens also make a perfect fit for those who are already involved in technical fields. To these Pagans sitting at the keyboard is just as natural to them as sitting in a forest is to others. Technology has grown so much in the last 20 years that most people who use computers don’t know how they work. This makes using a computer in and of itself a magickal experience. The way a computer works is, by definition, occult. It is hidden and secret. Additionally, the way a computer works is magickal because it does things that were only dreamed of years ago. With their aid, we can impress our will upon the world and create dimensions within cyberspace.

Cyber witches see all of the tools of technology as sacred tools. They embrace transformation as a natural part of life, and see that cyber covens are the next step in the evolution of this spiritual path. In Paganism, nothing is set in stone’the faith, just like nature itself, is ever changing.

Cyber covens are not for everyone. If you need face-to-face communication in order to learn, you may find cyber coven life too distant and disconnected. You’ll also need to keep up to date on e-mails and read correspondence daily. However, if you like to mingle with people who have different points of view and can bring fresh perspective to your path, then a cyber coven is a perfect place. There are hundreds that have sprung up on the Internet over the last several years. Do some research, find one that fits and then get yourself comfortable in 21st century witchcraft.

Love And Light,

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