Just for today be kind to every living being

I am not perfect by any means, but I strive every day to live the Reiki precepts, especially “Just for today be kind to every living being.” I am struggling a bit with this at the moment, but struggle is the key, I am working on it. There is so much hate out there lately, no compassion for  people who really are innocent, kind, and just trying to live their lives without placing themselves where they shouldn’t be, such as a young woman who went out to jog and enjoy her day, but never made it home. And perhaps too much compassion for people who, honestly, are coming from a place of hate and irresponsibility. Think about what you are doing and the consequences that may follow. Stop being hateful, it isn’t good for you or anyone else. And that is said with compassion, truly.

Just for today, be kind to every living being. 

💖🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻💖

Blessings deep and bright!

Winter Magick Day 11

 

A Solstice Blessing

May you find peace 
in the promise of the solstice night, 
that each day forward is blessed 
with more light.
That the cycle of nature,

unbroken and true, 

brings faith to your soul 

and well-being to you.

Rejoice in the darkness, 

in the silence find rest.

And may the days that follow 

be abundantly blessed 

(Unknown author)

Full Moon Blessings

 Full Moon Invocation

Mother, Goddess of moon and star,
Bring your presence from afar,
Manifest on this Your night,
and bless me with Your sacred sight!
Grant the knowledge and clarity, 
to understand Your words to me.
Lend Your power, send Your light,
Aid me in my work tonight!
With love and wisdom please embrace,
All within this sacred place.
Mother, I now call to You,
Bring Your message clear and true. 

- unknown author -

May all you wish to manifest

Come into fruition!

Blessings dark and deep!

Autumn Equinox Blessings

 Autumn Equinox Blessings. 

Sweet Dreams

Now I lay me down to sleep,

Blessed Goddess, in Your keep.

Send sweet dreams the whole night through

And keep me faithful, good, and true.

And in the morn when I wake,

Gentle Goddess, feed me cake!

Barbara Ardinger 

In addition to the little prayer, sprinkle a few drops of pure essential oil of lavender over your bed, then lay down and breathe in the  calming scent. Sweet dreams!

Blessings dark and deep!

21 Days of the Winter Solstice 21

Solstice Blessings

Upon you and yours.

May the Goddess, who is our light,

guide you in all you do!

Blessings bright and golden!

21 Days of the Winter Solstice 1

Winter Solstice Tree Blessing

Holy Lady, Creator of Trees,

bestow Your abundant blessings upon 

this our Solstice tree, a symbol of joy.

May its evergreen branches be a sign

of your never-fading love & wisdom.

May its colorful lights and ornaments

 decorate our home and our world with love & peace.

May the gifts that surround this tree

be symbols of the gifts we have received

from the beautiful Earth Herself.

Blessed Winter Solstice tree within our home,

may Joy and Peace, wisdom and abundance,

compassion & love come and nest 

in your branches and in our hearts.

So mote it be.

  a Christian prayer for blessing the Christmas tree,

found at beliefnet.com & re-worded by E A Kaufman

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday - 31

I wish you

The brightest of blessings

in the deep and beautiful dark

of this Hallows season.

Hail the Crone!

Hail the Dark Goddesses!

Blessed be!

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday - 22

Prayers For the Autumn Evening

(light a candle)

Candle brightening, flame's own flower,

harbinger of daylight's ebb;

Light the pathway to the bower - 

find the way to spirit's web.

(after your evening ablutions)

I cast off the garments of today

and ask my Goddesses to bless me

with healing, nourishing, restorative rest

as I sleep this night. *

 (before going to bed)

I quieten my soul with the chimes of the silver branch:

great gladness in my heart, no sadness in my mind,

rich rest within my soul.

May these three clear notes, gifts of the Goddesses, *

resound through all beings,

bringing peace and rest at this Autumn day's end.* 

(extinguish your candle)

Vessel of Healing, Cup of Transformation,

I am but a drop of your draught

as I sink down to sweet sleep.*

prayers from

Celtic Devotional, Daily Prayers and Blessings

by Caitlin Matthews

Blessings dark and deep!

* a few adaptions were made to these prayers to reflect my own practice.

Hallows Everyday - 21

Prayers For the Autumn Morning 

Upon Rising

I kindle my soul from the Autumn sunlight,

(light a candle)

glow of life, glow of light, glow of love,

be upon my being, my heart, and my soul

this Autumn day,

from break of light, till fall of night.

(choose a small pocket stone from your collection to carry on this day)

From the treasury of  my soul I draw forth,

gem of light, gem of life, gem of love

to preserve my soul from to darkness,

On this Autumn day.

Before Leaving You Home In the Morning

I mantle myself in the covering of creatures:

stillness of owl, perception of eagle,

humility of wren, speed of horse,

strength of bear, courtesy of deer, repose of serpent,

silence of mouse, courage of salmon.

Nine creatures about me to clothe and protect me, 

on the ways that I walk.

(extinguish the candle, place the stone in a pouch 

and tuck into your bra, over your heart)

prayers from 

Celtic Devotional, Daily Prayers and Blessings

by Caitlin Matthews

Blessings dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday - 18

2 - Self-Renewal

Soulful Woman Oracle

by Shushann Movesessian & Gemma Summers

This is a new deck I just obtained and this is the first card I have drawn; perfect for this season. 

As I clean out old energies

I have more space for that which

wants to be birthed into my life.

Time to do some clearing work on ourselves, in our homes, work, even the car. When was the last time we smudged any of these places? When was the last time we took the time to really focus and bless our spaces, ourselves? This card reminds us that this is the perfect time to take stock of what is around us and how it affects us. Perhaps some decluttering and autumn cleaning is in order too. 

When we keep our spaces and selves clear of stagnant or unhealthy energies, we are more fully able to release what doesn't serve us; the energy that is fresh, healthy, and energetically enriching and nurturing is more easily available to us. Our minds, on an intellectual level as well as a psychic level are clear and open to receiving the messages that will assist us on our spiritual path.

Sort through the physical, emotional, and psychic debris, letting our intuition guide us as to what we want to keep - that which aids us, and that which needs to be let go of. Whatever it is that is ready to be released will go effortlessly if we allow ourselves to be in that place of openness to the goddesses' wisdom and healing. This will become a rebirthing for us, while letting us make room for new blessings, ideas, new life.

Blessings dark and deep! 

Hallows Everyday 31

Hallows Blessings

to you and yours.

May your Ancestors watch over you always.

May the Goddesses guide and protect you.

May you find the Mysteries you seek.

Abundant and most holy blessings

dark and deep!

Hallows Everyday 28

Skull of Flowers, Coming Through the Ashes

The Halloween Oracle by Stacey DeMarco

To blossom and bloom

The work must be done.

Through fire and ashes

Our fortune it comes. 

The seed... it always begins with the seed. Nestled in the rich, nourishing earth, it waits. When the time is right, it opens and makes its way through, up, up, around, pushing, no matter what obstacles may be in the way, to to burst into the world and be. This card, the Skull of Flowers, is about that journey and the rough ride of birth.

It is interesting that I was discussing just this journey with one friend and listening to another who is experiencing adversity right now. I also think of what the goddesses do to us when they claim us, tearing us apart and then watching as we put it all back together again... different, more experienced, perhaps better than before, surely? After all that we go through when we hit a rough patch, no matter what the outcome, we do come forth more knowing for the journey.

The Skull of Flowers presents itself today, just a few days away from the great holy day of Hallows/Samhain, because this is where it begins. We will snug down for the winter, reconsidering all that we might need and want to be, just like the seeds. Hallows gives us, energetically, the blank canvas to begin again if we choose, to create, make changes, or to deal with what the Goddesses, Ancestors, and other Spirits may feel we need to rework ourselves.

This Skull card signals blooming into fullness and fruition. What we want in our lives can be ours if we are willing to do the hard work. And it will be hard, a trial with obstacles, but the best is always gained that way. If we really want something it is so much more satisfying to sweat for it, know we, ourselves, did it. Of course there are the things in life that are thrown at us, those events that we could certainly live without; not our choice, but they are opportunities no matter how much it hurts, how difficult the climb.

The Skull of Flowers celebrates success and achievement through adversity, the tough times, the hard climb. Success, nonetheless. Get busy.

Blessings dark and deep! 

Hallows Everyday 19

The following invocation was adapted by me from one written by Rev. Judith Lewis. She wrote it for invoking the God at Samhain. I have it in my Book of Shadows and when I reread it I thought it would make a wonderful ancestor invocation after a few changes.

Death walks among us as you pass your way.

Your time has come and gone, the wheel turns.

You have been the spring, the rejoicing summer,

the dying autumn, the still, deep winter.

You are the sorrow, the sadness,

and the coming of death to us all.

Back to the Mother who gave you birth

and nurtured you upon this earth.

Back to the womb of the darkest night,

Back to the chamber of rebirth.

And in that sleep which so restores,

You pass once more, as do we all,

to the Mother to be reborn.

Join us now, before you leave us,

Join us in rejoicing in life.

For without it, there is no death and rebirth.

And so is the cycle and the Lady's way.

Blessed be you, our Ancestors.

Blessings darks and deep!

Hallows Everyday 17

Song of Samhain

I am the Hallowtide of all souls passing,

I am the bright releaser of all souls pain,

I am the quickener of the fallen seed case,

I am the glance of snow, the strike of rain.

I am the hollow of winter twilight,

I am the hearth fire and the welcome bread,

I am the curtained awning of the pillow,

I am unending wisdom's golden thread.

from "Celtic Devotional,

Daily Prayers and Blessings"

by Caitlin Matthews

Blessings dark and deep! 

Hallows Everyday 2

Winter from the Halloween Oracle

by Stacy DeMarco

Today I asked the Ancestors for a message and they give me the oracle card, Winter. Most appropriate at this time as we begin our descent into the quiet of the year.

We are living in a time of dying now, plants are dying back, leaves drifting from trees, the Earth has given all She can give for now. The days are becoming shorter, and the beautiful, velvet night longer. Life is slowing its pace. We enter the time of metaphoric and literal death as Winter comes. Death, for most, is frightening despite the fact that we will all face it. Winter is the dead of the year, life slows almost to stillness. 

I remember as a child sitting in our back yard or walking through the woods nearby in Autumn. It was a special time; the scent of the air, the falling leaves, the crackle of the dying plants and grasses beneath my feet, the scarcity of animal life. I remember the utter stillness though, that is what stays in my mind, everything but the wind, halting, dying away.

The Ancestors have given us this card to remind us of what lies ahead, what is inevitable, and that we do not have all the time in the world. We need to look at ourselves, our lives, the way we live. Are these things, are we what we take satisfaction in? Do we appreciate what we have? Do we look at all the good there really is or do we focus on what we don't have, what we can't have, and the negatives? This is the time to let go of what stops us from living fully, what really doesn't serve us. It is natural and right and part of the cycle of our lives to move on, let things drift away, especially when they no longer benefit us. Too many live in a state of wanting what cannot be.

It is time to reassess our lives, let the past that holds us back die away and take the necessary action to make ourselves as happy and fulfilled as we can be. The burdensome past is over and cannot be changed. Let it go. Make the choice each day to see the beauty in our lives, and there truly is so much. This does not mean living in a fantasy world, but getting out of the fantasy. You have what you have, you are what you are, move forward with appreciation and make the best of your life.

Sit back for a bit as Winter moves in, contemplate and consider, plan and be what you wish to be within the bounds of reality. Appreciate every day you are given.

Blessings dark and deep!

Weekly Affirmation

New fields of resources and support now open up to me.

I am unconditionally supported in living out my Heart's Desires.

(infinite-life.com)

Weekly Oracle

23 - Deer

South/East, Feminine - Water

Shaman Wisdom Cards by Leita Richesson

I am Deer, quietly, gently, walking through my forest, wide-eyed with wonder at the beauty and magick that surrounds me. I listen and I watch, aware of both danger and good. I am unseen, part of what surrounds me, this is what protects me.

I am always aware of the pain of others. I feel sorrow for them, but my healing energy is all that is needed to heal others. I grow in leaps and bounds, I am free and joyful. 

Deer has come today to walk with us on our path, bringing us the message that we, each of us, are dear and need to treat ourselves as such. We need to treat ourselves with kindness, tenderness, especially in times of stress. Let go of fear and those around us will let go of their fear.

Deer medicine is about staying out of other people's business, staying out of their drama. Many times, by trying to help, to fix, we end up making matters worse. When we are kind, we can melt hearts of stone, allowing others to find their own way, healing themselves. This is what each of us must do. We are our own saviors.

I am Deer, I am warmth, I am beauty, I am gentleness itself. 

Blessings nine!

Weekly Affirmation

I look at my whole self, seeing and gathering all the patchwork pieces that make me who I am and embrace them with love and acceptance. I stitch them together into a beautiful whole being.

Affirmations are like planting seeds of reassurance, allowing us to speak to ourselves with love, turning the "Other" that lives inside us, she who doesn't support us, off. When we use positive affirmations it will begin a rewiring, so to speak. This rewiring quiets the "Other" and gives her what will bring her together with us as a supportive and loving part of our being. We need to love ourselves, we need to support and encourage ourselves, we need to be whole. No one can do this for us, we must do it, and we can. As Mary Marzo says, we are the ones we have been waiting for. 

Blessings nine!

Winter Solstice Blessings!

Artist: Joey Chou, joeyart.blogspot.com

Blessings dark and deep

on this, the longest night.

And as the light returns from sleep,

may blessings bright 

be yours to keep!

copyright 2014, E A Kaufman

Thanks so much for reading my sporadic ramblings, I greatly appreciate it. I wish you love and happiness, truly the most important things one can have, but also endless good health and abundant wealth, creative energy and the motivation to follow through with your ideas and inspiration, good friends, blessings, magick, the guidance and love of our Goddesses, and a very good life, indeed, forever and always.

Blessings nine,

The Witch of Stitches