naturallysisou:

Random Newflash: Not everyone has the option of practicing their own culture’s historic religion.

* Religions or history or ancestral roots may be destroyed or unknown

* Personal beliefs may not fit with said religion

* May not have the assess/resources/community in order to practice said religion.

Wicca, Neopaganism, Eclectic faiths, etc can be great avenues to creating a path that respects one’s culture and belief system.

Our religions have just as my value as any other ones.

*even though some  contemporary Pagans are assholes.

(Source: sisoula)

7:39 pm  •  13 October 2012  •  35 notes

(Source: rowangingerraven, via ofthefaeries)

4:02 pm  •  13 October 2012  •  3,398 notes

anthropologyshenanigans:

Voodoo, or Vodoun, or Vodou, is that weird religion where people do sacrifices with chicken blood and stick pins in little dolls to make people die.

Only it’s not like that at all and if you actually think that you need to go hit some books at your local library.

So what is it exactly?

Well, it’s a religion, that much is true. And since a lot of people can’t answer any further than this, let’s start at the beginning. Sit back and enjoy.

Way way back when people were carted off from Africa to America to serve as slaves, they didn’t really have anything to hold on to - except for their religion. Since a religion is kept alive by those who practise it, slaves brought it with them to the “New World”, where it was slowly influenced by Christianity, in particular Roman Catholicism - this naturally happened because slavers weren’t generally known to be kind caring people who supported the religion of the people they didn’t really consider as people. So practitioners were forced, often, to practise in secret, and as Catholicism grew and spread, it started to influence the Western African religions (in particular that of the Dahomey region), and so Voodoo was born as a syncretic combination of the two. It is now mostly practised in the area of the Caribbeans, especially Haiti.

Voodoo is monotheistic, the deity is called or known as Bondye. Much like in Catholicism, Bondye is a detached, distant figure of supreme power. However vodouisants, as voodoo practitioners are known, also believe in a number of lesser beings, called the Loa. These Loa can be summoned during rituals, and can possess a believer, which is where the imagery of voodoo dancers comes from. The Loa have specific roles, such as Papa Legba, who guards the crossroads between the human and the spirit world and is said to speak all human languages. He is the first to be summoned during rituals (to ask for permission to cross to the spirit world) and also the last, to close the ceremony off.

Each Loa has its own veve, a symbol which is used to represent the loa during rituals. Here for example is Papa Legba’s:

 I don’t know about you, but aesthetically I find the veve to be absolutely stunningly gorgeous.

Now, about the animal sacrifices - animal sacrifices are made during a ritual, but the stereotypical representations you’ve seen and heard of on TV really are mostly just stereotypical (false!) representations - it’s not just a big gory mess with lots of blood and whatnot; by killing an animal the believers release life, which is used to respect and thank the Loa (who then spiritually consume it) and propitiates them.

The dolls: little dolls with pins and curses in them are not a part of traditional Voodoo. I’m sure a number of people have adopted it for the sake of tourism and whatnot, but really it’s likely that this was a myth spread by other religions to give the Voodoo religion a bad name. Pwen, however, are used: pwen range from simple dolls to seriously elaborate artworks, and are made as a representation of the Loa (which by the way can also be spelled Lwa). Not as crazy doom-on-you-all puppets in the shape of your enemy.

Well that’s all for now, I may potentially add to this every once in a while when something new comes along.

*disclaimer: I do not practise Voodoo and all my knowledge is derived from books and other secondary sources. I apologise for any mistakes and really don’t want to insult anybody. If there are mistakes, feel free to contact me to correct me at fg80@sussex.ac.uk*

2:19 pm  •  13 October 2012  •  31 notes

lawsoffateherbal:

Eucalyptus Steam Inhalation (Respiratory Tract Relief)

A kettle of boiling water

A large bowl

Eucalyptus oil

towel or blanket

Table and comfortable place to sit

20 minutes of time

Instructions:

 Carefully pour the boiling water into the bowl

Add a few drops of Eucalyptus Oil

Hold your head over the bowl and cover with a towel or blanket creating a tent

Close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply

Every few minutes pull back the tent and get some fresh air

Continue to inhale taking breaks for fresh air for 20 minutes

Note: Treatment should not be employed for children, pregnant women or nursing mothers, people with heart problems, or individuals with disorders of the central nervous system.

(via )

7:50 am  •  28 September 2012  •  11 notes

(Source: cosmic-rebirth)

3:50 am  •  28 September 2012  •  90 notes

thecandidcrow:

Yggdrasil

The Tree of Life in Nordic mythology was a giant ash, Yggdrasil, which linked the realms of the gods, humans, and the underworld; from its roots sprang a fountain from which rivers flowed.

(via akoaykayumanggi)

7:57 am  •  17 September 2012  •  194 notes

wicca-pedia:

A

A year and a day – used by dedicants as their amount of study time to reach the next degree

Altar – a table or other surface on which ritual tools and items are kept; can also be used as a working space or shrine

Amulet – an object that naturally produces effects

Anoint – the act of putting oil on a person during a ritual as a sign of consecration

Aromatherapy – the use of essential oils, herbs, flowers, and other scents to heal the body, mind, and soul

Astral entities – living and non-living beings on the astral (spirit) plane

Astrology – the ancient occult art of stargazing to divine the future

Athame – a ritual knife used only for directing energies; used to symbolize Fire

Aura – the electromagnetic field surrounding the body

B

Balefire – a sacred outdoor fire burnt as part of a Sabbat celebration

Banishing – a magickal working performed to remove evil threats, darkness, negativity, or people embodying those qualities

Bard magick – a spell or magickal working done in song

Bell – a ritual tool used to invoke the Goddess

Besom/Bosom – a broom used for purification and cleansing

Binding – a magickal means of restraint

Blessing – use of magick to benefit an object or a person

Bolline – a ritual knife that is used for physically cutting

Book of Mirrors – the book in which a Witch writes their personal experiences in rituals, spells, divination, etc.

Book of Shadows – the book in which a Witch records everything they have learned and written

C

Cairn – an artificial pile of stones often found in a cone or pyramid shape used to indicate a sacred space

Cardinal directions – the four directions and their corresponding elements (North: Earth :: East: Air :: South: Fire :: West: Water)

Cauldron – a symbol of the womb of the Goddess; used to burn incense, brew potions, mix herbs, etc.

Censer – a tool used to burn incense and to clean or create atmosphere (the act of doing so: censing)

Chalice – also called the cup or goblet; used for cakes and ale celebrations

Charge – to fill an object with magickal properties

Cleansing – to disband or get rid of negative or unwanted energies

Consecrate – to cleanse, bless, and set apart for ritual use; to make sacred

Coven – a group of practicing and studying Witches, usually 13 people

Crone – the third aspect of the Triple Goddess; the waning third

Cross Quarter days – the Fire Sabbats, those that don’t fall on solstices and equinoxes

Crossing ritual – a ritual done for someone who has passed on

D

Dedication – a promise between a student and the Goddess to study

Degrees – levels of initiation in Wicca earned by studying

Deosil – clockwise

Divination – any practice that reveals the future or the unknown

Dressing a candle – anointing a candle with oil or herbs in order to obtain certain magickal properties

E

Elder – a coven member who has obtained an advanced degree

Elements – Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit

Empath – one who can feel the emotions of those around them using an innate psychic ability

Equinox – happens twice a year, the day is exactly half light and half dark

Esbat – a ritual celebrating the full moon

Evocation – to summon an appearance of a spiritual force

F

Familiar – a physical or astral (spirit) creature that has a psychic bond with a Witch

Feast – a ritual meal shared with the God and Goddess

Full moon – the fully-waxed phase of the moon; the best time for magick

G

Great Rite – ritual union of the God and Goddess performed either symbolically or sexually

Grimoire – similar to a Book of Shadows but a public text, sometimes belonging to a family or a coven

Guardians – the Watchtowers or Watchers of the our elementals and their directions (North: Earth :: East: Air :: South: Fire :: West: Water)

H

Handfasting – a pagan wedding ceremony in which the people’s hand are fastened together with a ritual cord

Handparting – a pagan type of divorce

Hereditary Witch – a descendant from a line of Witches who has learned the craft from a member of their family

Holy days – Pagan/Wiccan holidays

Horned God – Pagan Father God

I

Image – an altar piece representing a God or Goddess

Incantation – the words of a chant

Incarnation – the present physical life

Incense – used to symbolize Air

Initiate – someone who has undergone the rite of entry into a coven or Tradition

Inscribe – to carve or mark with runes, symbols, or words into wood, metal, or candles

Invocation/Invoke – calling upon a deity to assist a ritual

L

Libation – an offering of liquid that is often poured on the ground to honor the divine during a ritual

Lustral bath – also called a ceremonial bath; used to cleanse your soul and spirit

M

Mage – general term for anyone doing magick

Magick – the willed movement of energy to enact change

Maiden – the first aspect of the Triple Goddess; symbolizes youth, innocence, and curiosity

Moon magick – the belief that working rituals at the time of certain moon phases strengthens the magick

Mother – the second aspect of the Triple Goddess; symbolizes care-giving and fertility

N

Neophyte – student

Numinous – possessing sacred power

O

Occult – that which is hidden and known only to a few

Oil – used as an anointing agent

Old religion – the name given to the practice of Witchcraft

Old soul – one who has reincarnated several times

Omen – a sign or event signifying a future event

P

Paganism – an umbrella term that encompasses a group of Earth-based religions

Path – a method, system, or approach to magickal knowledge

Pendulum – an object attached to a string or chain used in divination by reading its movements

Pentagram – a five-pointed star in a circle; used to symbolize Earth

Polarity – equal and opposite energies

Potion – a magickal or medicinal blend of herbs, liquids, roots, and other natural elements

Purification – filling something with positive energies

Q

Quarters – the four cardinal directions that correspond with an elemental spirit (North: Earth :: East: Air :: South: Fire :: West: Water)

R

Raising energy – done through dancing, chanting, or visualizing

Rede – rule or law enforced by the honor of the individual

Reincarnation – the belief that we have multiple lives; a new personality is developed in each life

Ritual – a mentally- and physically-focused ceremony; a set of movements, words, and actions designed to attain a goal

Runes – a set of sacred symbols carved or painted on small stones or wood by the Vikings; used in divination and can be used as a writing system

S

Sabbats – Wiccan holidays

Sachet – cloth bag filled with herbs

Sacred space – the space of a circle

Scrying – a method of divination that uses reflective tools to induce visions

Skyclad – nude

Smudging – the act of cleansing an area using herbs or incense, usually sage

Solitary – a Witch who does not belong to a coven and works alone

Solstice – the point at which the Earth faces directly at or away from the Sun

Soulmate – the person who completes one’s soul

Spell – mental, physical, and emotional energy used to bring about a change

Spell crafting – the practice of creating spells

Spirit – the fifth element

Summerland – the Wiccan “Land of the Dead”; where the dead wait until they are reincarnated

T

Tarot – an ancient system of cards used in divination

U

Uncasting – opening the circle at the end of a ritual

W

Wand – a tool that directs energies; used to symbolize Fire

Warlock – a traitor against the craft

Wheel of the Year – a pagan calendar used by most Wiccans

Wicca – a loosely structured religion under the Pagan umbrella

Wiccaning – a ceremony celebrating the birth of a child

Widdershins – counterclockwise

Witching hour – the hour before midnight when the moon is full

(via agoodpaganwife)

3:50 am  •  17 September 2012  •  247 notes

eclipsis-lunae:

I’ve recently read Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, and Metal, and here are shortened and simplified notes from the chapter “The Rainbow of Power”, that I’d like to share with you.

Even when you don’t know what exactly your stone/crystal is, you can tell a lot from its colour.

Red stones

Projective, active stones. Planet - Mars, element - fire. Strenghten body and will power. Promote courage, lend energy to the body, provide additional power to rituals by their presence on the altar. 

Linked with blood, often worn to relieve anemia, to halt bleeding, to heal wounds. Once were carried to prevent miscarriage. Can be used to overcome sexual dysfunctions.

Pink stones

Receptive stones. Calming, soothing, used to relax the physical body as well as the mind. Attract a love, or strengthen love already present. Can be worn to promote self-love. Promote peace, happiness, joy and laughter. They stimulate the lighter emotions, help attract friends and encourage openness toward others.

Orange stones

Projective stones, “symbols of the Sun”. Related to personal power. Excellent stones for people with low self-esteem - expand awareness of self-worth. Luck-attracting stones, symbols of success, worn during spells to assure a positive outcome.

Yellow stones

Projective stones. Planet - Mercury, Sun; element - air. Used in rituals involving communication - writers, public speakers. Protective, can be used to strengthen the conscious mind. Worn during magic to heighten visualization abilities. Stones of movement, of exchange, of energy and mental awareness.

Used to promote digestion, to regulate the nervous system, and for skin problems.

Green stones

Receptive stones. Planet - Venus; element - earth. Used in healing magic, can be carried or worn to guard the health. Promote luxuriant growth when worn during gardening (put a few of the in the earth of house plants). Increase fertility, promote conception. Used in spell involving money, prosperity, and luck. Grounding and balancing stones.

Strengthen the eyes, control the kidneys, relieve stomach problems and prevent migraines.

Blue stones

Receptive stones. Planet - Neptune; element - water. Calms the emotions. Excellent for halting nightmares. Worn to promote healing. Used for purification (wear blue stones while bathing).

Reduce fevers, remove ulcers, eliminate inflammations, reduce or remove pain.

Purple stones

Receptive stones. Planet - Jupiter, Neptune. Mysticism, purification. Worn for meditation, psychic work or when you need to contact the subconscious mind, or higher forces. Colour of healing and peace. 

Relieve complaints in the head - headache, mental illness, concussion, hair problems. Relieve depressions, produce restful sleep. 

White stones

Receptive stones. Planet - Moon. Linked with sleep and psychism. Used for protection after dark. Considered to be a lucky stones. Can be charged to act as a substitute for stones of any colour.

In past were worn to promote lactation. To be rid of a headache, carry a white stone in your pocket.

Black stones

Receptive stones. Planet - Saturn; element - earth. Symbolic of self-control, of resilience and quiet power. Sometimes viewed as protective, often used to ‘earth’ a person. Can be used when performing a spell of invisibility (when you don’t want to be noticed). 

- source: Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem, and Metal, by Scott Cunningham

7:59 pm  •  16 September 2012  •  271 notes

what-witch:

Pendulums are Quick easy but constricting of answers. 

YWN: A Pendulum (This can be as simple as a piece or string with weight at the end)

1) Hold the pendulum with two/three fingers with the weight hanging down freely.

2) Ask it if your name is (Insert your name) and note the way it swings (For most people this will be vertically) This is Yes

3) Ask If you are a Goat (presuming this is false for you O.o ) and it should swing a different way (Horizontal for most people) This is No.

4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 a couple of times to check you’ve got it right and then ask away.

5) If the pendulum is still than you don’t know the answer.

NOTE: Pendulums Only answer Questions you know the answer too, even if the answer is deep in your subconscious. If you want to use it in Divination than I would strongly advise against this as you need far more skill in premonition work than the average Witch to get an answer that is near the truth.

Tips: You can bless or use a crystal in the pendulum to keep in positive and keep away negative energies 
I like to wear mine as a necklace so i can use it any time

Warnings: I guess my Note counts as one.

(via wiccanink)

7:57 pm  •  10 September 2012  •  50 notes

(Source: hindu-kitty, via bellbookandcandle)

4:00 pm  •  10 September 2012  •  166 notes