I am not what one would say a 'magickal' witch, I am just a simple country witch that utilizes the gifts of Mother "Earth for my healing and well being. As a  practical country witch that is on the road more times than not, the use of stones, and crystals, herbs, and tarot ,is pretty much the extent of my 'workings'. Because these items are not big I can take them along for the ride, so that I will have them when I have a need for them, and now a days it seems I need them everyday. The gentle healing energy I get from my stones have been a constant help for me. I have many types of stones and crystals that I can wear as jewelry that makes it easier for me to have access to their gentle healing energies through out my day. The articles that I have posted from Over the Rainbow website, is a fantastic sight to learn many of the things you need to know in order to help in many areas of ones life, and I hope they can be of use to you all. I know that in order to really find out what kind of energy a stone or crystal has, it is my experience that by keeping that particular stone on ones person and being aware of whats going on , inside of self while you do, that sooner or later you will know what a stones energy is for you personally. I have found for instance when I wear my malachite jewelry that it is best for me not  to do so prior to my period/moon time, because it wants to help me bring up areas of my life that I need to work on, and at that time of the month their power is overwhelming for me and I wind up depressed over what issues come bubbling up, so I have learned that there is about a week period during the month that I do not want to wear that particular stone, any other time I have no problems with it and I am more able to work through those issues , and I am very thankful for their assistance at those times. I have some crystals that are excellent pain relievers and I use their assistance when my arthritis and Fibromyalgia flare up, and from experience they really do take the pain away when placed on the spot that hurts, I dearly love those healers and I am thankful to Mother Earth and Father Great Spirit for the gifts that they have given us to help us on our journeys.

I have found a wonderful way to clear, and balancing my chakras since doing it on my self the way most books tell you to do is a bit difficult for me, what I do is this and find it works wonderfully, I hold the appropriate chakra stone  in my left hand starting from the base chakra first, then I move  upwards when I am through with each chakra, and with my right hand I use my pendulum and I first see if it needs anything done by asking 'is this chakra ok? and then wait for my yes or no, if not I then balance it by saying ' I am now balancing it' and my pendulum will go in a circle, when it stops I then ask that chakra 'spend' in the direction that is best for me. My pendulum will either spin to right or the left.  and I wait until it quits spinning in that direction .and each chakra will then spend opposite of the last chakra that was done there after.This method has always worked for me and I find I do indeed feel better after I am through.

With herbs , i just grow alot of them and when I am home I just water and care for them and touch their leaves and take a deep breath in of there aroma and essence, I have been healed many times by just doing that. One time my back was out so bad, I was in so much pain, I could barely walk and straighten my back, when I got home my hubby helped me to where my herbs were, (in containers and pots) and I just started tending to them, clipping dead leaves off, transplanting some , watering and feeding them,  and oh what an aroma they were releasing , they all smelled so wonderful and strong that day! and by the time I was done, I was healed, no pain and I could straighten up, I was so overwhelmed by the loving healing they gave me and this was all done with out any magickal mumbo jumbo, I just cried with tears of gratitude and Thanksgiving for the gift I had been given that day.

I usually go to my health food store and purchase herbs already in capsule and pill form for what I need since I don't have the time to do that. And I buy what vitamins I am needing and these I take with me in my 'medicine bag' I carry an assortment so I won't be caught off guard on the road. I usually take, garlic, turmeric, echinacea and golden-seal, vitamin. C, tea tree oil, cranberry,oil of oregano, olive leaf oil,  vinegar capsules, these are for infections and viruses and the like, plus what other vitamins I take for my health issues at the time.

Tarot cards , I have 2 main decks I take with me, Universal Rider Waite, and a combination of 2 decks that I have picked out   of Cosmic tarot, and Gypsy deck, I picked each card that was the best for what the card meant, and it has turned out to be a wonderful deck to use. I use tarot mainly for spiritual purposes and meditations and sometimes affirmations.

So you see I am a practical practising witch, and I leave the magick for those that can do that , I just don't go for to much ceremony and ritual and keeping track of the time of day and week, and all the special words needed.  I just use what I need, with intent and purpose with gratitude and Thanksgiving. I follow the seasons and the moons which guide my thinking and meditation focus for those times, I decorate house and altar accordingly, and I like to keep my other blog theme to look like each turn of the wheel that I am in. It is just the way I live and think , it is a part of me , it is who I am. As a double Taurus, everything must be practical . Any thing I have even decorations must have a practical  use for, other than just taking up valuable space, my drums I put on wall, but I also bang on them, my turtle bag hangs on wall but I also wear it, some of my large stones are on display but I also use them when I need their help, my besoms are out in open and stand guard by my fireplace but I also use them to cleanse the aura of the house.. my snapping turtle shell/shield is on my outter door  of my office ,it is nice to look at but it guards my sacred space as well....etc..

So there you have in a nut or turtle shell a little peek into the world of  a practical country witch.

blessings to all

The Fool

Sometimes, the best advice we can recieve is the advice we give to ourselves.

 

So I've been reviewing old work and new, wondering what to let go of that isn't working out for me, and wishing out loud for some direction.  The Moon is in Pisces, meaning dreams and imagination will be strong in the emotional department.  Normally I don't report on Astrological aspects every day, but today I find myself really tuned in to things.  A good time to plan, excellent time to use my Tarot as a key to open my mind up and take a deep look into myself for answers.  Here's what I came up with:

 

Current Situation:  Seven of Pentacles

I'm re-examining my aspirations, trying to figure out my worth, asking myself what am I here to achieve?  Interlude in productivity.  I'm getting serious about setting my goals and finishing what I started.  I really am reaching the end of a project, but the real labor right now is making sure it's "good enough" to be seen.  I'm not talking about my "labor of love" projects that I often talk about here on this blog, I'm talking about my more "official" assignments that I've been neglecting out of anxiety.  So far I've lucked out having an understanding publisher.  Truth is, my heart isn't in the project.  It was at first and I glowed with the flow of money coming in with the advance, but then the task of actually getting stuff done got heavy on me.  I'm learning that I'm more comfortable doing work that is my own.  Does that make me a bad artist?  Isn't my job supposed to be all about illustrating other people's stories?  So far I haven't lucked out on getting hired to illustrate my own stories. 

 

A hurtful thing my brother said to me recently; he claimed that he has more talent than I, that I just have skills, no real talent of my own.  Coming from my closest blood relative, this cut me to the bone, made me very angry, and I slumped into a kind of emotional coma.  It's one thing to get criticism from a stranger, quite another to recieve it from your blood.  The best thing is to let that sort of shit go, but the words echo hard back enough to choke me a little.

 

I know I've often bemoaned over the past relationships I've had with other artists, where I miss the old collaboration thing and find myself going over things like some old fart recalling "back in the day" days of glory.  I did benefit from being in a group for a little while, but I've got this independent streak that holds me back from really participating in team efforts.  I tend to take control and steer things into what I think is the best way to do things, accidentally ignoring and hurting the feelings of other people who also have every right to express themselves as they see fit. 

 

Let's break down what this card means to me right now:

1.  Reflecting on my progress to date

2.  Making sure I'm on the right track

3.  Struggling to ignore the adverse opinions of family

4.  Questioning my motives

5.  Seeking a new approach

 

What led up to my current situation:  Two of Cups

The affections I had for my friends and family, putting them first, getting obsessed with finding lasting relationships, feeling like I can't do things all on my own...  Sometimes when I get "hooked" onto relationships, I distract myself from concentrating on myself and end up trapped in a fantasy world I create with my friends.  No matter how comfortable this situation can be, and no matter how productive it has been, it's ultimately working against me.  My artistic career so far is still new, I'm not yet approaching my big break, but the more I get published, the more portfolio fodder I have to show that I'm actually worthy of attention.  I think without the constant moral support and reassurance from friends and family, I tend to feel like I'm invisible.  Like, who am I doing this for?  It can't be just for myself.  I'm doing everything out of love.  Maybe this is why I can't make this into a regular 24/7 job.

 

The only thing I'm really jealous of in this world is the emotional support, the sharing, the love other people have for each other, that kind of attention you don't have to ask for because it's just there.  I don't want the big kind of fame or glory, really.  At the heart of me, I want my family and friends to be proud of me and acknowledge that I'm here.  I believe this is a vital part of self that creates the kind of confidence a creator needs: community.  But even without it, the loss can fuel a desire to rise above that missing part of self -- out of that nothingness blooms an angry grief that tends to be this beautiful kind of defiance that, at once acts as confidence but can totally destroy the artist's strength.  Art can be both an act of destruction as well as construction. 

 

Let's narrow this card's placement here:

1.  Coupling in the way of self discovery

2.  Focusing too much on other people

3.  Dreaming too much about romance

4.  Sacrificing my artistic dreams for relationship dreams

5.  Trying too hard to discover community

 

Why I need to put letting go into practice:  Ace of Wands

Obvious answer.  A jump start or spark.  Energy.  My heart is clogged up with old longings and bad memories.  Best to use all that old crap to fuel a creative fire.  Not everything from the past was bad, but it's no longer of any use 'cept for telling stories and lies to make things seem more interesting.  What I mean by that is I've been through a lot of weird, strange stuff.  The wrong thing for me to do here is to let what hurts me stop me from moving forward.  There's a real temptation sometimes to sorta drop dead in my tracks.  I can only allow myself a few moments to breakdown.  There's nothing we can do to change the past, we can only do what we can now to create the future.

 

Aces are all about beginnings, about inventing, going about things in a different way...  The wands ace  stimulates you, wakes you up, encourages you to sing in the shower in the earliest morning hours... 

 

Like today.

 

How I should best let go of what doesn't work:  Ace of Swords

Strength in adversity.  Solution comes out of difficulty.  Forming new ideals and embracing new ideas.  The mind here conquers illusion, especially self delusions, and cuts away the deadwood, leaving room for fresh things to grow.  It's not often a sword that can be dull as a butter knife, this is a double-edged, heavy-duty killing tool.  I also see it as an arrow pointing me into the right direction.  Freed from what blocked me, I'm given this weapon to cut and run. 

 

A single act will clear the air.  It's time to do, not think.

 

 

 

 

Outcome (or how the future might turn out when I put this advice into action):

Six of Swords

Escape.  No more time to dwell on what I couldn't change.  Travelling out of danger, getting out of the woods, experiencing a quiet time after a stormy conflict.  My struggle has been with myself more than anyone else.  Out of the emotional confusion will shine a light.  The clouds recede and I'm open to invite fulfillment and accomplishment.  Sometimes with the six of swords comes someone willing to offer you a hand out of the muck.  This could also lead me to another location where the living is easier and calm.  I get the feeling that part of my rut is I feel a restriction here and need to get out more.  Recieving an invitation to visit friends or meet new people is ideal.  I begin to think of events I could participate in that are coming up in my area.  I begin to miss the interaction I had with others when I worked as a professional psychic.  I worry that the predictions and visions I once shared were bogus.  In any case, my adventures are blessings and I can always have more, and I shouldn't have to wait for someone else to invent them for me.

 

I am beginning to see things better.  I'll be all right.

 

(And yes, the paintings featured here are from my original Tarot designs -- though now that I look back at them, I feel the need to design yet another deck!)

Today is a day of mixed blessings.  Let me be thankful for the two sides as opposed to seeing only the negative!

My arm is aching and making my hand ache.  I didn't see the PT at all this week and might not next week either depending how the whole house thing goes.  There's been a muscle twitching away in my forearm all morning and it's driving me nuts.  Well, too late, isn't it?  I was nuts long ago!  I think I'll pick up some of those heat pack thingeys.  The ones that you can stick on and are activated by oxygen...  They're a stupid amount of money, but you can at least move around and they don't drip or anything.  Or maybe I should do ice.  I hate ice. 

I saw the Theresa, the MT yesterday.  She spent most of the hour working just on my back and hips.  It's amazing how much one muscle being out of alignment can screw up the rest of your back, arm, leg, whatever.  At least I can move again.  She definitely earned her money yesterday, knots EVERYwhere.

K did some job searching online and rewrote his resume on the CalJobs site.  I guess he got what I was saying.  I do wish he could do it on his own w/out me having to say it. 

Accomplishments of a Domestic Goddess nature:  Cleaned bathroom except for floor, washed dried & hung up uniforms, washed and dried but didn't put away other laundry, cleaned laundry room floor where K had spilled huge amt of detergent and left soapy film, threw away odds and ends of clutter, cleaned the inside of the washer, cleaned detergent from around washer and dryer that K missed. 

I spent the better part of the day and night yesterday in meditation and divination.  The Tarot deck I used is "The Tarot of Love" and my focus during this divination rite was on relationships.  Not just the romantic type, but more on my friendships.  I've been a very lonely lass this winter.  This has allowed me to be very productive illustration wise, but not very happy socially.  I need new hope and new perspective.  I think I may have grabbed onto something with this reading.  I won't go into every detail of the reading because such things are private, but what I've decided to share with you here is my Tarot table and even a glimpse of my journal.  Consider this a peek into my spiritual life. 

 

What I love about Tarot is it just appeals so much to my creativity.  Each card is part of a story I'm writing for myself.  This reading was very deep.  The card deck is very specific, very people oriented, and is one deck I only use for myself.

 

Here is a recipie for a great Tarot reading for one (that means you're only reading for yourself, nobody else, however a few of the suggestions here can be of use no matter who you are reading for):

Use a Tarot Deck that appeals to all of your senses.  You'll want one that is not only pretty, but easy to use, one that could represent your personality, one that feels good when you shuffle it, and one you've probably used a hundred times before.  I love old card decks.  I own more than a dozen decks, some were gifts, some I've just collected, some inherited from friends who gave up the game and knew I'd use them more.  I group the decks into different categories of use, some for love, others for problems, others for meditation, and then there are those three decks that rest on my night stand for daily/nightly use.

 

Lay the cards down on a nice silky cloth and place the cloth on a small table you're only going to use for readings.  I have a reader friend who swears by this!  You can charge just about anything with your personal power, and this includes furniture.  My Tarot table is rosewood, it's shaped in an octagon and comes up to waist level when I'm sitting at the couch or other chair (great for a short person).  My Tarot cloth is black silk with a red pentagram embroidered at the center.  I place the pentagram right side up or up side down depending upon the kind of reading I'm doing.  It's like a visual aid I use to direct energy.

 

Create atmosphere.  The room you're doing the reading in should not look like how it normally does everyday.  Dim the lights, light candles, and fire up the incense!  Use all the fancy, dramatic witchy props you've got at your disposal.  Mood is important, not always necessary, to help focus on a situation or question.

 

Always keep a record of the readings you give yourself in a private diary.  It's good to look back at the predictions you make for yourself.  Remember: you are always practice.  If you can't give a good reading to yourself, how you going to give great reading to someone else?  It is difficult to do a psychic reading for yourself.  I don't care how powerful an oracle you are for other people, it's damn hard to get outside of your own consciousness and wishful thinking to focus objectively on a personal issue of your own.  However, I believe in getting past myself.  This means literally putting myself in a trance state.  The readings I do for myself in trance and for other people I don't often remember!  So I've learned to use a bit of automatic writing while in trance to translate what I am deciphering out of my dreams.  It's a lot less complicated than I just made that sound.  Once I get into reading, time litearlly flies by without my knowledge of it, so setting an alarm or having someone ring a bell can help me to get out of that mode of thinking.  Otherwise I go all night.  Like I did last night, and now my sleep schedule is off... way off.