 Once upon a time, a long time ago, and by that I mean when I was naive and 7 years ago. I was working with a motley crew of witches that like to call themselves a coven, or a grove depending who was talking. Now, at this time I had been extremely solitary. Even with my family being the way they are, it is definitely not a group effort. So my understanding of things was limited to say the least. So the two that “lead” the group, were a Druid and something that resembled Traditional Wicca. So our group rituals typically combined both traditions and because of this when we called quarters the person calling would in all essence call out whatever came to mind because it added what we needed at the time. For example, if I were to be calling water and I said water please provide us with love and creativity, that’s probably what we needed at the time. Now, this particular instance we were celebrating Ostara, sitting in our favorite forest preserve acting like Pagan Royalty in this wonderful amphitheater in the woods, when we decided right before lunch was a great time to do ritual. So we lead our procession into the amphitheater, all fancy in our robes and we begin calling quarters. Now, we start in the East because that’s something Druids and Wiccans have in common. The lovely novice that typically called Air, stands up tall and proud like a true Guardian of Air and loudly announces; “I call Air! Please bring forth your Winds of Change!” and then and there, in the middle of opening the quarters, the Druid and the Wiccan slap their foreheads in unison yelling “dammit”. As I’m standing there in the North quadrant waiting for the grumbling to end and an explanation to be had. Mind you, Ostara is the Spring holiday, ushering in change and sunshine. Change was happening no matter what we asked of the elements. This is when the Druid gives us instructions to combat the Winds of Change. Now who am I to question them? They’re older (by a whole 6 years) and wiser (assuming you don’t look too much into it). I’m fairly confident I asked for strength to help us through the coming changes and challenges, but who knows this long ago. The real question I should have been asking at the time, why fear the Winds of Change? Change is an important part of our lives. It’s how we grow and learn new things, and may the Gods forbid you ever get stagnant and boring. To be fair I have no idea what the Winds of Change brought me that year, but I do recall how ominous they made them sound. The Wind of Change sounds a whole lot more powerful and mystical than what they really are. All you’re doing is calling for Air to clear out some of the old, which conveniently, air wants to do anyway. It’s why the first thing we do on a wonderful Spring day, is open the windows. So why would our “leaders” insist that what he did was a bad thing and we needed to stop it or at the very least limit it? Mostly because they were cowards. Change is something to be celebrated! Wonderful things have happened to me while the winds were blowing me in all the weirdest of places. If it weren’t for the Winds of Change a few years later, I wouldn’t be currently working as a teacher at a wonderful preschool, or again to get the job at a new school. So the next time someone decides that the ominous Winds of Change need to be called upon, sit back and enjoy the ride.
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The past week or so, I’ve been battling a serious head cold. Lethargic, congested, cranky, the whole 9 yards and then some. Now you’re wondering, how does a witch battle the common cold? I prefer NyQuil. Aspirin and Ibuprofen works too. Sure, you can use chamomile tea, lemon and honey, hell if you’re fortunate to have planned for these things you can drink some handy dandy elderberry tonic, but that requires more effort than just boiling water and more energy than what you have when you’re already sick and wishing you already made it. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a magick spell to rid yourself of the common cold. Hell, do you really want to cast when you’re not feeling well? No, the answer is no. You already don’t have energy and your mental and emotional state of mind is extremely important when it comes to casting magick. If you’re happy and healthy, you’re more likely to have great results. So, if you’re lacking energy and grouchy what kind of results do you think you’re going to have when you’re casting magick? Shitty ones, that’s what. If you have no focus, no energy, or any kind of desire to do more than sip on chicken noodle soup, you’re not going to have any results you’re looking for; assuming you get any results at all. So my suggestion is lay off the magick when you’re not feeling well. Now, if you’re in search of a spell to prevent colds when you’re healthy, I suggest a good multi-vitamin and good old fashion healthy eating and exercise. You can’t expect magick can’t cure everything, nor should it. Nature provides us with enough to keep us healthy that does not require petitioning higher powers to solve these mundane problems. If we never get sick, our immune system doesn’t get any stronger and we are more susceptible to worse illnesses that require a doctor's intervention. I’m not a doctor, so I can’t tell you what is the best for you, but for me over the counter cold medicines and a big ol’ pot of lemon tea are really working.
The under the weather, The Grey Witch Paganism as a lifestyle is severally undermentioned. We live our lives, but we keep these spiritual aspects separate from our mundane lives. For those of us that manage to combine the two, congratulations! Feel free to share the how! For me, it is a tricky art combining my spiritual life with my mundane one. I teach for a living, and this creates some unique challenges. Especially during seasonal changes when I want to bring aspects that I enjoy into my classroom. So, here I will post different ways I combine my spiritual life with my mundane one; and let me tell ya, it is quite amusing. Like always, feel free to share below!
My day begins before the sun even begins to rise and my friends, I am not a morning person, like at all. No matter how hard I try I REALLY cannot seem to get out of bed one second before I absolutely have to. Which means my first interactions with any of the higher powers, is before I even leave my bed. Ah yes, I can see it now, the wonderful face of this isn't the stereotype, every book I have ever read says that I need to kneel before my alter, light my specific candle, and chant a specific amount of times. No, no my darlings you do not have to do this on a daily basis. My first chanting prayer in the morning is still all snugging in my bed. It is short and to the point,
"Thank you Great Goddess for keeping me safe through the night, Thank you Great God for this new day." That's it. To the point. It also starts my day with gratitude. Being a teacher, it helps being grateful for when my students get rough and they require more patience. Now, you all may be wondering if I carry any charms on my person. I do, in fact, I wear a few. I have a fabulous necklace that looks like a flower, and my keychain with a citrine crystal on it, and of course, my shoes. Now I know you all re-read that last one, yes my shoes. I have charmed my shoes to help guide me through my day and support me. Why my shoes you may ask? Well that’s for another time. So after the hustle and bustle of getting ready to run out the door for work my next interaction is usually in my drivers seat. With my mornings starting so early, many people around where I live drive around like speeding bullets, so I usually say a short prayer for travel, mostly like this: “As the sun rises so shall I to the challenge, Great Spirit please protect and guide me through my day.” Yes darlings, it really is that simple. That is my morning. Now, many of you may feel like I should have knelt at my altar at some point and don’t get me wrong, I definitely do. It is just not before I go to work. How does your morning routine go? Comment below |
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