Rose Ariadne's Chitchcraft Blog

Dear Friends,

Using a pendulum is one of my favorite forms of channeling and divination. It is very easy and requires very few tools, and can be performed by just about anyone. Using a pendulum is an excellent way to help find the answer to a particular question you may have, without having to worry about outside influences affecting your answers.

The best pendulum is made from a natural source, generally from some type of stone or crystal. You can find pendulums made from just about any type of gemstone, though there are some that work best for channeling than others. Many people prefer to use a clear quartz crystal pendulum, as this stone is a magickal all-purpose stone that can be used for just about anything. Others prefer to use a pendulum that is made from a particular stone that they enjoy, and these will also work quite well. As with any type of tool that you use for magick, as long as it feels right for you it will work powerfully.

The pendulum should hand from a chain or length of cord that is at least nine or ten inches long. You want the chain to hang long enough that you can hold the top easily, and allow it to swing freely. If you choose a pendulum with a chain, make sure the chain is made from a good conducting metal such as silver, gold, copper or brass. If you use a pendulum with a plain cord, make sure it is a fiber based cord, not anything derived from an animal such as sinew.

To use your pendulum, you will need to create a pendulum card. Your pendulum can only provide answers to basic yes or no questions, so creating a pendulum card is simple. The easiest way to make a pendulum card is to take a piece of paper, and draw a cross in the center. At the North and South points of the card, write yes. At the East and West points of the card, write no.

Feel free to personalize your pendulum card to make it more permanent or more personal. You can inscribe symbols and runes on the card to make it more powerful. For my own personal pendulum card, I used a wood burning tool to draw my Yes/No table into a piece of tree bark that spoke to me. It is a permanent card, not as easily damaged as a piece of paper, and as I created it for my own personal use, very powerful in the answers that it provides.

To use your pendulum, sit in a comfortable position with the pendulum card in front of you. Close your eyes and meditate for a few moments to completely clear your mind of all unnecessary thoughts. Ask your Deity for guidance in receiving the answers that you seek. Allow yourself to become completely calm and clear before you begin to seek your answers.

Pick up the pendulum in your dominant hand. (Right hand if you are right-handed, left hand if you are left-handed.) Allow the chain to run through you fingers, until you are holding the last few inches of the chain. There should be at least 7-8 inches of chain hanging freely. Hold the pendulum over your pendulum card, so that the tip of the pendulum is in the center of the cross.

Begin focusing on the question you seek answers for. You do not have to ask the questions out loud, though you certainly can if that feels right, but the only thoughts in your head should be about the question you have. Focus on nothing but the question.

Hold your hand still, even as you feel the weight of the pendulum begin to shift. This is the pendulum doing it’s job, providing the answers that you seek. The pendulum will begin to swing back and forth, in line with the answer it is providing. If it swings East to West, the answer to your question is no. If it swings North and South, the answer is yes. Should your pendulum start to swing in a circular motion, the answer is not yet determined. This may be because the question that you asked was too ambiguous and vague, or because you are simply not meant to know the answer at this time.

Using a pendulum can be a powerful tool for magick working. It is also a great way for building your magick working abilities. Once you become adept at using a pendulum, there are many other tasks you can perform using one such as pendulum dowsing, or using a pendulum to find lost things, all of which are skills that are learned as your talent grows.

Brightest Blessings,

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

Dear Friends,

Today I’m going to share with you a powerful exercise that you can perform that is not only fun, but will also help to develop your extra-sensory perception. Psychometry is a form of divination, and consists of being able to determine what an object is, simply by touching it or being near it. When you develop your skills of psychometry, you can go on to possibly develop the ability to divine information from an object and associate it with certain people or events.

Learning to psychometrize takes time and patience. Though some people certainly may have more skill in the art than others if they already have a strong extra-sensory perception, it can take weeks or even months for you to perfect the art. If at first you don’t succeed, you should definitely try and try again. Do not be ashamed or embarrassed if it takes you some time to catch on. It is perfectly natural. And please realize, if psychometry is something that you cannot perfect, it does not mean there is something wrong with you or your skills. As with any kind of talent, some people have it and some don’t. But do not give up right away and assume psychometry is out of your league. Give yourself time to practice first.

To start learning how to psychometrize, you will first need to gather some objects. You do not want to use too many at first and overwhelm yourself, about 5-10 objects will do. Find samples that are made from different substances such as wood, stone, metal, fur, leather, velvet, cotton, etc. The samples do not need to be large, in fact smaller pieces will work best. In the second part of this psychometry exercise, you will need to place these pieces into an envelope or box, so you do not want the samples to be too big.

Once you have your samples gathered, start spending some time with each peace. This is best done in a quiet environment where you will not be disturbed so that you can fully concentrate on the object. Taking only one object at a time, hold the object in your hand and give your full attention to the object. Feel the textures of the object. Envision the origins of the object into your mind. Open yourself to the energies that come from it. Spend as much time as you feel comfortable with holding each object before moving on to the next. I personally recommend breaking this part of the exercise down into a few days, spending a day with each object so that the objects energies do not become mixed and cause you to feel confusion. This may take a few weeks, but learning to psychometrize is not something that should be rushed.

After these initial weeks of becoming familiar with the objects, place each object into it’s own unlabeled envelope or box. Each envelope or box you use should be identical so that you cannot distinguish one from the other. That would be cheating! The key here is to completely make yourself unaware of which object is in the box or envelope, so that you must use your extra-sensory perception to determine which is which.

Now it is time to start experimenting. Hold each box in your hands, on concentrate on the energy of the object inside. You may start feeling certain mental “hints” that will give you a clue as to what is inside. Have a notebook handy to chart your progress. Here are my recommendations for how to accomplish this.

1. As you hold each envelope or box, once you get your impression of the object, write it down in your notebook and place the box or envelope to the side.

2. Perform the same task with the next envelope. Once you get your impression, write down what you think it is. Place the envelope or box in order next to the first one. This way, you can easily keep track of what order you opened the envelopes in.
3. Once you have went through each envelope and written down your impression, go back to the beginning and open each envelope to determine if you are correct. In your notebook, write down what the actual object is next to what your impression of the object was. This way you can chart your progress.

It can take some time before you start to see real success in your experiment, but don’t give up hope. While learning to psychometrize does take time, it is worth it in the end, as you will be building your perceptions to the world around you.

Brightest Blessings,

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

Dear Friends,

When I have the opportunity to speak to novice witches, I am often asked the same questions. One of the most common recurring questions I hear from those just beginning to dip their toes in the vast waters of Wicca is, “So how do I select a witch name anyway?” A witch name, or magickal name, is as individual and unique as the practitioner. There are some common elements and themes however, that many witches I know have used in selecting their magickal names.

First and foremost, it’s important to understand that there is really no right or wrong way to go about selecting your witch name. Many witches go without a magickal name for months or even years. Your witch name should be something that brings you personal satisfaction, pleasure and power. It is not a decision to be made hastily, and you’ll feel much better in the end if you take your time and don’t rush into the decision. Taking a magickal name is a moment of rebirth and should be a time of celebration and peace, not of stress or confusion.

I know some witches who prefer not to use a magickal name at all. They choose to use their birth name and sometimes, a type of magical “title,” such as “Joanne the Spiritwitch” or “Gretta the Moonwitch.” If a magickal name just doesn’t feel “right” to you, then please don’t feel you have to use one. A witch’s name is meant to enhance the powers of ritual and meditation, so if it doesn’t feel natural to you to use one, then do what feels right to you. One thing about our magic rituals is the ability to personalize them based on our individual preferences, strengths and sources of power.

Numerology is something that many of us hold near and dear, and many witches choose their names based on the power of numbers. You may want to figure out what your number is based on your birth name and select a magickal name that results in the same number. Some witches choose their names to result in a particular number that speaks to them personally. Choosing a name based solely on its meaning is another popular way to go about selecting a magickal name. I have known witches who have taken the literal translations of their birth names and incorporated them into their witch names. Others taken a name that pays tribute to a particular deity that the witch feels a strong affinity for. Still others base their names off of magickal symbols, magickal creatures, or elements or creatures of nature. You may prefer to select a name consciously, or you may prefer to wait for a name to come to you in meditation, during ritual or in a dream.

There are several types of initiation ceremonies that involve taking a magickal name and dedication oneself to the Wiccan path, though these are not necessary. Whether you are a solitary practitioner or part of a coven, if you feel the draw or need to partake in an initiation ceremony, then please do so. Formal initiation ceremonies that include taking a witch name are an integral part of many groups and covens, and many solitary practitioners choose to hold their own formal or informal initiation and/or naming ceremonies.

If you belong to a group or coven, your magickal name may be consistently used among your fellow practitioners, or it may be used only during rituals and rites. Solitary practitioners may choose to use their names during ritual, as well as when writing in their Book of Shadows or among like-minded friends. Still other witches choose to keep their magickal names private, never sharing them with anyone in the outside world.

Whatever type of name you decide to use, and however and wherever it comes to you, always remember that a name can be just as powerful a tool as any of the sacred objects we hold so dear. Use it wisely and with pure intentions and you will be greatly rewarded.

Brightest Blessings,

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

Dear Friends,

In another “back-to-basics” moment, I started to think about all the times I’ve been asked about altars and how to properly set them up, both by novice witches and those who have been practicing for some time. The short answer to this is that there is no definitive right or wrong way to set up your altar. Your altar is the sacred space dedicated to your rituals and workings and above all else, it should be a place of peace and comfort for you. How to properly set up and arrange an altar varies greatly among different groups, covens and individuals. Even geographic location can have an effect on altar traditions.

Your altar is where you will perform many of your spells and rituals, and it is also a place used to honor your deities and the Sabbats. Many witches have altars that are permanent fixtures in their homes or in nature, while others have temporary altars or even portable altars that are easy to disassemble and put away due to space constraints or personal preference. Nearly any flat surface can be used as a base for your altar, including a table, box, chest or shelf. If you are in need of an altar that is easy to disassemble and put away, a box or chest makes an excellent choice as the items on your altar can be packed away and stored safely inside.

A table or shelf is a wise choice if you are intending to set up a permanent altar. Most witches choose to drape their altars with some sort of decorative cloth. Be creative! Your cloth can be a spare piece of fabric, tablecloth, blanket, a piece of cloth that you have dyed or decorated yourself or even a piece of clothing that has special meaning to you. Many witches choose to change the cloth used to drape their altars depending on the season, the type of magick or ritual being performed, or even their mood.

A basic altar consists of representations of the elements, the God and Goddess and a pentacle. Many witches also include a bowl of water, a bowl of salt, crystals, herbs, incense, runes, magickal tools such as an athame, wand, bell, and/or chalice, and their Book of Shadows. Altars are often decorated with seasonal offerings on Sabbats. The possibilities for what to include on your altar are truly endless. If you find that a particular item speaks to you in a powerful way and you wish to include on your altar, don’t worry about whether the item’s presence is right or wrong. In short, if it feels right to you then it is right.

Generally, after draping the altar with their chosen decorative cloth, most witches will first place their pentacle in the center of the altar as a kind of “pivot point” for the rest of the altar to gather around. A representation of the Goddess is usually placed to the left and may be in the form of a white candle, moonstone or statue. The representation of the God is typically placed at the opposite end of the table, to the right and directly across from the Goddess representation. A black candle, sunstone or statue are the most commonly used representations for the God.

The next step in setting up your altar is to choose and place your elemental representations. Earth is commonly represented by a brown or green candle, sand, soil, a plant, a rock or stone. Some common representations for Air include a yellow candle, a feather, cone/stick incense, or amber. The Fire element is often displayed by a red candle, oil burner, lantern, or carnelian–an inexpensive semi-precious stone ranging in color from a burnt orange to a reddish-brown. Water is symbolized most commonly by a blue candle, a bowl of water, a shell, or aquamarine. Many witches take a great deal of pleasure in using items they personally find in nature as elemental symbols.

Which direction your altar should face is also largely a matter of personal preference or group tradition. In the Northern hemisphere and alter will usually face the North, while in the Southern hemisphere the South is generally the preferred direction. I know witches who prefer their altars to face East, as well as those who choose to change which directions correspond to the elements based on their personal preference or location. For example, if you live in an area where a lake or stream is to the East, you may prefer to place your Water representation there instead of the traditional placement in the West.

The most important things to remember when setting up your altar is to have fun creating your it and organize it in a way that brings you peace, power and pleasure.

Brightest Blessings,

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