Merry meet,

Aren't we all seekers?
Ever since we started crawling, we discover the world and with every step we take we learn, but every step also takes us further on the path of the unknown. Thus we seek our way and therefore we are all seekers.

No one can put things on our way for which we aren't ready yet.  And once we are ready we seek knowledge and go on our way to discover what more the unknown can tell us.  Making it so, that the unknown soon becomes the familiar.

We can use a little help along the way, just because it takes less time.  For you can find everything on your own - that's for sure - but it will take a little longer.

Therefore I am happy to put some bits of information on your path.

It is your path, isn't it?  Yes, because you came to visit this log, this means you were already on your way to discover this magic world.

Welcome on the path, walk along dear fellow seeker and find the way that suits you best.  

Blessed be.

16-05-2007 om 00:00 geschreven door Litha

Unite with nature

Becoming a Witch means first and foremost to reunite with the surrounding nature.

This means we have to develop a (new or renewed) feeling for nature and we can only do that when we surround ourselves with natural materials.

Ware wool or cotton, not polyester or nylon.

Use a wooden comb and brush, to brush your hair, to avoid electric sparkles.

Electricity is one of the most powerful energies in nature, but also the most difficult to control.  It often moves in erratic ways and seems to have a mind of its own.

Electricity has both good and bad qualities, but as a starting Witch you better

avoid working in an environment where a lot of electricity is in the air.

            (Even more experienced Witches can still have serious problems due to

            unexpected electrical whims.)

Try to sit or stand on natural materials when performing Witchcraft so as not to perturb the sanctified air. Of course it is best to stand (barefooted) on solid ground such as the soil of a garden or park, but as many people live in towns, tucked away in small apartments that don't even have a balcony, an alternative must be kept in mind.

So, if you perform in your house try to sit on wooden floorboards, stone tiled floors or if need be on a woollen carpet on a concrete floor.  Al these are better than to sit on polyester floor coverings or plastic sheets, which again can cause static electricity.

We live in a world full of vibes. Good vibes and bad vibes, pure vibes and "polluted" or perturbed vibes. Everything radiates its own vibes, from stones and animals over human beings and all sorts of objects in between.

So, no, don't be so naïve to think that only Mobile Phones or Microwave ovens radiate vibes.  Everything does.

What Witches try to do is harmonize these vibes.  Make everything in the world back in balance.

All the more reason not to let things perturbed by static electricity.  If you have ever seen the striking of a lighting you know that it moves in very erratic directions.  That is not exactly harmonised or harmonising. J

In order to make changes we must first be aware of the state of being of people, animals, objects, stones, plants and what more inhabits this planet.

Therefore we need to be attentive.

It used to be a rage in the sixties to talk about "Awareness", but being aware of things is not enough.

We have now come to the next step of "Mindfulness".  To make it simple to understand I can say;

We may be aware of the cat in the room, but if we do not "mind" the cat, we might trip over it.

Knowing that the cat is there is one thing, but minding that she is there, means we have to really pay attention to her.

Now we must try to be aware and mindful about everything that surrounds us.  If you do, you might find yourself less prone to trip over things or bump in to things.  That's a good beginning.

17-05-2007 om 21:52 geschreven door Litha

For you it is so...
What ever you heard about witches: it is not true.

What ever you heard about witches: it is true.

Is this a joke? 

No, but as every witch is free to make her own religion as she goes (along the path)

there are no certainties in being a Witch.

What is good for you is not necessarily good for the next person. (And vice versa)

There is but ONE RULE that all witches obey and it says it all in just eight words:

         "As you harm none, do as ye will"

Particularly the first part of this rule is important; the rest will follow all by itself.

Just as our mothers used to tell us:

"Never do to others, what you wouldn't like to be done to you" 

it says it all.

Some witches simply believe in Magic.

Some witches believe in the Powers of the Universe and the Forces of nature. (like me)

Some witches believe in Gods and Goddesses.

Some witches believe in Spirits (of wood, stone, air, fire and so on)

Some witches believe in not much at all and use bits and pieces from everywhere

to add to  "their" religion and call themselves the Chaos witches.

Some witches are only concerned about nature and use wisdom
            from different sections of witchcraft and call themselves eclectic witches.

Some witches call themselves Pagan

Some witches call themselves Wiccan or Wicca or Wicca-followers

Some witches call themselves White witches and

Some witches call themselves Gothic Witches

A lot of witches call themselves believers of the "Old Religion"

Some witches are Witch in the deepest or their heart and soul.

Some witches are purely witch on the outside

and off comes the magic when they undress to go to bed.

There are Witches that gather in groups called "Covens" and

there are Witches that feel fine on their own and they call themselves Solitary witches (like me)

I can go on for a while and add to the list just about all sorts of witches, but believe me

the only truth is the one in your heart.

If you believe something to be true, than for you that is so.

If you experience that something feels good, than for you that is so.

No matter if a hundred other people claim it not to be so, FOR YOU IT SO.

Everyone has a right to believe, or not believe as they wish.

You make and create your own world around you as you see fit.

You are the centre of your own world, so do your best to make it a wonderful world.

Let no one tell you what to do, not even me.

(Those are not my own words, though I have written them in my heart ever since I read them. They are the words of the great Lord Gautama Shakyamuni, the Buddha, and they are so right!)

People get their wisdom from books.  It starts at school when you learn to read and it goes on like that for the rest of your life. You learn from books, from what other people found worth entrusting to the paper. 

Paper is a tame mutt, paper is very willingly, it lets everyone write on its back.

Any fool can write a book.  Even the oldest books are not worth more that the recent pocket dictionaries.  You don't know the people who wrote them, nor under what circumstances, nor where they got their wisdom. 

So again; do not let anyone tell you what to do, or what to believe. 

Find the truth for yourself and test and try every bit of knowledge that you gather.

It is pretty much like picking mushrooms, for there are poisoned ones and there are healing ones and there are those who are simply "yummy".

It goes just like that with books.  There are beeswax books, there are downright dangerous books, there are good books and very good books and there are those who are simply fun to read. 

Don't fill you pretty little head with just anything.

After having tested and tried every bit of information, accept it only if it feels right to you. 

When in doubt > turnabout.

Same goes about what people may tell you to do or to believe. It is not because you enter a group of people that those people can tell you what to do.  If it does not feel right, don't do it!  If you do not like their attitude; leave!

If you do not like to read this blog; close the little red cross atop at the right hand side and all is over.

Saying "no" is easy.  Saying "yes" should come from the heart.

Now off you go and make sure you pick some good mushrooms now!

18-05-2007 om 00:00 geschreven door Litha

Do witches need tools?

NO.  You do not NEED anything at all, because being a Witch is not about tools and looks, it is about what's in your mind and how you work with it.  Most things can be done perfectly well with an ordinary forefinger.

Now of course, some things are easier to do with tools.  Therefore I give you a shortlist of things, most witches have at home.

Athame  (knife with wooden handle)

Boline    (knife with white handle)

Broom    (Always wood, never plastic!)

Cauldron  (small and fitted with three legs)

Chalice   (Silver, wood, glass or any other natural material)

Pentacle (Tablet in wood, clay, stone or
               any other natural material, with a

               five point star in a circle, on it.)

Sword     (Not too long, so as to keep it manageable)

Cone Shaped Hat (works as an antenna or
                             a funnel to receive craft (power) )

Wand     (Short wooden staff with magical symbols)

Staff       (Long wooden staff to walk with)

Rope

(Three sorts:

1- a thin one to wear around your waste
      when performing magic

2- a much thicker and longer one to shape the circle with

3- thin ones (you can cut the length as is desired) for plaiting
    to make talismans, witch ladders and small objects
    that can serve as an amulet

Candles, candleholders, incense, water, biscuits

A Cloth or cushion to sit on, etc...

Now remember:

None of these tools are essential.

The only purpose they serve is to keep your mind focused on what you are doing.  It is a tangible reminder of the act.  It helps you concentrate on what you had in mind.

If you lift a sword or a wand, than this theatrical act reminds you that you have the intention to do something "out of the ordinary".  And second; it lengthens the reach of your hands and arms, therefore your act becomes far-reaching. All of this only states "In Mano" what your mental intention is.

Now if any of these tools make you uncomfortable >> don't use them!

If you do not like to handle knives or swords, simply don't use them!

No one should force you to do anything against your will, not even making you taste a new softdrink.  If you don't like certain things, walk away from them.

A person who forces another person, is always wrong no matter how little a thing it is about.

When you start performing rituals, you can just as well draw circles with your finger as with the Sword.  You can drink from a cupped hand just as well as from a Chalice. You can strew salt, sand or pebbles in stead of laying down a cord.  You can simply raise your arms instead of a knife or a sword. The only thing that won't be easy is to cut herbs with your finger. J

But as you can see, tool are convenient but not necessary.

19-05-2007 om 00:00 geschreven door Litha