Hallows Everyday - 25

Black Cat - fortune meets opportunity.

The Halloween Oracle by Stacey DeMarco

The mysterious but beautiful black cat makes its appearance today. This cat, sleek and black, tells us that good fortune and opportunities will be knocking at our doors. However, we must keep a look out and grab them while we can.

It used to be that black cats were a sign of evil, hunted down and killed because they were associated with witches and the dark aspects of the supernatural. Historians believe that the massive killing of cats in the name of stamping out this evil led to the spread of the bubonic plague which killed millions. The cats kept the rat and rodent population down, rats spread this dreaded disease. We know better now.

 This card is a sign that good fortune is waiting for us, but we must grab the opportunities when they present themselves, those opportunities flash by quickly. One can do all the money or love spells that they can, but unless they go out, seeking opportunities, their spells will fail. We must always do the work in the mundane world when working magick, because this is where we are now, this is where we manifest our desires and dreams.

If you truly wish for something, you must be aware of the possibilities. Go where the action is, so to speak. Nothing comes to us without investing in the dream.

Blessings dark and deep!

30 Days of devotion - 19

Day 19 - What quality or qualities of this goddess do you most admire? And find the most troubling?

Forest Guardian by Alcove

I was initially drawn to Hekate by the inner work She seems to require from me. Although I knew it was time for that work, I wasn't sure I wanted to do it. Somewhere inside, I knew it was going to be the work of my life. She is a hard mistress at times and yet can be nurturing, guiding gently. She can and does, many times, tear one apart and watch how one rebuilds. That rebuilding, difficult as it is, is the main quality that I admire. Hekate has made me what I am and continues guiding/shoving me on along my spiritual and magical path. Even during the most trying of times, I feel that what She does always has good reason and will make me wiser and a better priestess.

The harshness I sometimes experience with Hekate can be troubling, disrupting to my life, generally at an inconvenient time. Of course, I know there are good reasons for this, but it is difficult. As much as I am honored to be guided to that work, it can cause fear, drama, and other difficulties that those in my life, with the exception of a very few,  can understand.

Hekate is my Soteira,  my Phosphoros, my Propolos - Savior, Lightbringer, the One Who Leads me. She is Antaia, bringing those night visions that amaze and terrify. She is Enodia, presenting me with different paths to follow. She is Nykteria and Nyktipolis - She of the Night, Night Wanderer - leading, and sometimes dragging, me along. And so I go, I am Her's, there really is no choice.

Blessings Nine!

Is It Still A Mystery Tradition?

There will be many people who will not agree with what I have to say about this subject. Lady knows, some of my own friends, practicing witches, Pagans, and Polytheists, all for many, many years, don't all agree. We simply agree to disagree and go our own ways, down our own paths, because we are friends, and we truly respect each other's right to practice as we see fit.

Respecting others' right to practice as they choose is very important. How I choose to practice is none of anyone's business. However, if you are attending one of my rites, you will not be able to bring your children. I know many who have their children attend rites for sabbats, full moons, and other rituals. I don't attend those rituals. I don't attend large open rituals, especially with people I don't know. If you are invited to attend my rituals you will not be a man, you will be a woman who was born a woman, and you will be expected to be respectful of the Goddesses, Spirits, the Ancestors, the other women, and the way this coven practices. You will be expected to wear simple ritual clothing, not some outlandish, silly costume. You will come with the mindset that this is a mystery tradition for women, it is not open to just anyone; my coven, my choice of who belongs.

Why? Well, there are a few reasons. I see my practice, my artes of magick, communion with the Goddesses, as sacred and private. I feel, and again, this is only my opinion, my way for me, that a very large ritual generally ends up as dead space with many people who do not focus, are not respectful because they think it is a party, a freaky thing to do - not all, but many I have attended in years past. I want to know who I am practicing with and where they are coming from spiritually. I want to know that they are serious about their journey.

I also want to create a place where women are not intimidated or judged by standards that society has chosen. I want them to feel safe to open themselves to the Goddesses, to each other. I want them to find that sacred safe place.

We have sacrificed the Mystery for acceptance and popularity; with that we have lost a great deal. I do not give a rat's patootie  how others' judge what I do. It isn't open for discussion or opinions. And that is a good thing. While I share many things on this blog, there is much more that isn't shared and will never be. However, I want to give women who are searching for something more Goddess-centered, more woman-centered, a safe place for spiritual expression. I want to share a basic foundation for them to build their own practice, away from prying eyes and judgement.

For some reason, at this Hallowstide season, I felt the need to share this.

Blessings dark and deep! 

Hallows Everyday 29

Invisibility, authenticity

The Halloween Oracle by Stacey DeMarco

Heart beating we sense

But do not see.

They touch, we chill,

They come unseen.

They are all around us now, even those who rarely come through the veil. It is the time. We can feel their presence, grasp a brief flicker of an image from the corner of our vision, feel an occasional touch. It is both exhilarating and disturbing, this Hallows time. It is the natural way of the Unseen to hide themselves and make themselves known. It is not, however, natural for us. 

In our everyday lives, we are sometimes invisible; no one sees us, and we feel separated and alone. However, at times, it is what we need, helping us go about our way without being disturbed, able to create our magick unseen. We need that invisibility to be left to ourselves.

At other times, this separation, being unseen, unnoticed, leaves us feeling as if no one cares. Those  who are more extroverted may find this a cold place, leaving depression and anxiety. We all must learn to use this invisibility wisely and to our advantage.

Being invisible can allow us to gather information, see the truth others project when they think no one sees them. This can be, as Stacey writes, a double-edged sword. While sometimes helpful, other times that invisibility is easily abused, invading privacy, making us privy to information not meant for us. When this happens we may not see the truth; there are always secrets, things held back. We will make mistakes with this information not meant for us, perhaps even taking words out of context, stealing others' ideas and hard work, using the information unethically.

This card presents itself to remind us that while sometimes useful, when hiding ourselves, holding back so we are unnoticed, choosing to be invisible, we must be discerning. There are times this is necessary and helpful, but many times when we use invisibility, we are repressing, not speaking our truth, not expressing who we truly are. Trying to be someone else, cloaking who we really are, is destructive to the true self and never serves us. Instead, it causes energetic and emotional blockages that keep us from being healthy and growing on all levels of our being.

Right now, we are full, like pomegranates, of seeds... seeds rich with new ideas and possibilities. Those seeds will burst forth later and they are meant to journey upward, into the light of day to be seen, to be heard. 

Choose wisely when you decide whether to hide or be your authentic self. The authentic self, when kept hidden, festers in a dark hole. It can be a dead, between place, a place where the living do not belong and the dead will not be part of.

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! 

Weekly Affirmation

Don't wait for someone to bring you flowers. 

Plant your own garden and decorate you own soul.

(unknown)

Blessings nine!

Wild Women

"Within every woman there is a wild and natural creature, 

a powerful force, filled with good instincts, 

passionate creativity, and ageless knowing. 

Her name is Wild Woman, but she is an endangered species. 

Though the gifts of the wildish nature come to us at birth, 

society's attempt to "civilize" us into rigid roles has plundered 

this treasure, and muffled the deep, life-giving messages 

of our own souls. 

Without Wild Woman, 

we become over-domesticated, fearful, uncreative, trapped."

Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Weekly Affirmation

I easily find the gift in every challenge.

In my heart I know there is always a gift,

and therefore it is always revealed to me.

Michael Alperstein

I felt, after yesterday's oracle, that this was the perfect follow-up for this week's affirmation. As I am facing a bit of challenge right now, I have a great deal of support. One friend told me, I MUST believe absolutely that all is well. And so I do... or I am working at it the best I can.

All is well in my world.

Blessings nine!

Weekly Oracle

Shaman of Reflections

The Shaman Oracle by john Matthews & Wi Kinghan

I am the Shaman of Reflections. I offer you who calls upon me the opportunity

to see beyond your mirror image,  and to recognize within yourself the truths that

you may never have perceived. I challenge those who believe there is only one pathway

to follow. In the mystery of the mirror I show each individual his or her true self.

Look into the mirror and be challenged by what you see; and not just a physical mirror... the mirror of your thoughts, contemplations, situations, your soul. Look into the magick mirror. See deeply and past the everyday image, look into the soul, the heart, the past. What have we hidden that, if brought forward, will assist us on this path we travel, this path that has many branches and byways. That deeply hidden image is where our wisdom, the wisdom we have within us, will be. 

This card is a very clear indication that self-clarification is needed. It is time to acknowledge the truth, accepting reality, and then understanding that the challenges we face are valid ways of moving along our path to understanding ourselves and what we need to accomplish, what we have decided to do... or the tasks the goddesses and gods, ancestors, and/or spirits have set for us. 

I see this as, if you will pardon the language, the no bullshit card. Take a good look at what you are doing, what you think you want to be, to achieve - is it what you really want to go for? Are you  really up to the task? There is no shame in acknowledging that your aren't ready or willing to take on this, that's fine so go on your way to whatever is next for you. But some will be called kicking and screaming, but know it is what must be - do it anyway, you've been called and don't have the choice anyway. It will just keep coming back.

Then there are other things, challenges in the mundane, and these may be your greatest fear, the thing you absolutely don't want to have anything to do with. I am in that position right now, dealing with one of my biggest fears. Despite it being a challenge in the mundane, I know my goddesses are behind it, another test, task, whatever one wishes to call it, placed in my path to rip me apart and hopefully put me back together... wiser than before.

Reflection is many things.

Blessings nine!

Weekly Oracle

Auxo - Increase

Ancient Feminine Wisdom of Goddesses & Heroines

Kay Steventon & Brian Clark

Auxo is one of the Horai (or Horao), goddesses of the seasons, the natural order of nature. In particular, Auxo is She who adorns the crops with nourishment, increasing their growth, and bestows prosperity and wealth. Auxo blesses our lives with joy and festivity, appearing when there is something to celebrate.

When Auxo's card appears, it signals a season of rapid growth, expansion. Business escalates, creative work flourishes, all that we need presents itself for us to utilize. Wellness, revitalization, and

a new sense of fertility and expansion flows into whatever we do bringing us abundance.

This card tells us that this is a time to celebrate, dance, allow ourselves to be filled with optimism for our futures. This is an abundant time of growth and development, make use of this energy.

Blessings nine!

Weekly Oracle

Gratitude

Vintage Wisdom Oracle by Victoria Moseley

It has been clinically proven that a thankful life is generally a happier life. We are usually receiving much more than we give, but don't realize it. Instead, many times we focus on what we don't have instead of how very rich our lives truly are.

The Gratitude card presents itself to us today, inviting us to unearth the bounty of our daily lives by remembering to be grateful. This is a favorable time to express thanks to someone who has helped us in some way, or just to count the blessings in our lives.

The continued practice of this alchemical virtue, gratitude, can animate forgiveness, heal the past, and bring about a daily sense of wonderment and peace. From a cosmic perspective, to become unconditionally grateful for the adventure of life, with all its ups and downs and regardless to outcomes, is to merge with the Divine, the Goddesses.

Naturally, being human, we may not achieve this everyday, but the days we do, in my experience, brings a deep peace. And there is always something to be grateful for. Yesterday was a very raining day where I live. An acquaintance was complaining about the rain, saying she hated it. I looked out and said, "Oh, but think of how green everything will be. The plants and trees are having a shower and a good drink, everything is flowing, everything is being washed clean - Mother Nature cleansing the Earth." She thought for a moment, smiled, and agreed. Off she went, without opening her umbrella, dancing in the rain. In that moment, she chose to be grateful for the deluge of rain, letting it wash her clean, seeing it as a gift from Mama Earth.

Blessings nine.

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

The Messenger

from The Magdalene Oracle by Toni Carmine Salerno

This card has presented itself today because there is an energetic shift taking place. Those of us who are sensitive to these energies are already aware of what is happening. My discussions and requests for assistance in dealing with the feelings that are the result of these changes, tell me there are still many who don't understand what this shift is.

The Messenger appears to give us the encouragement we need, the loving voice that tells us we are not alone, and most of all, we are the inspiration and the light for others.

This energetic shift is absolutely in our best interest. We will see changes, perhaps travel to different places. We will meet new people and become channels of information for others. We must open ourselves without fear, for new experiences and accomplishments that lay ahead. We may very well be the beacons of light that assist others to open spiritually and emotionally, changing their lives. We must remain grateful for this opportunity to share. 

We will be a great source of inspiration for those we encounter; we must go forth in love and light.

Blessings nine.

Weekly Affirmation

I am open to awakening and healing for my highest good.

copyright 2011, E A Kaufman

Most of us just assume that we are open to whatever is for our highest good. Have you ever considered what "highest good" means? Have you considered that "highest good" is not always in line with what we want or desire? When you think about, it can be pretty complex.

When I use that term, "highest good," I always have a pinch of hesitation, because I am completely aware of the meaning. I may need to be ripped apart and sewn back together to achieve it, not a pleasant experience, but it will serve me. I know it might not be fun, in fact it could be really a difficult process. I have to consider if I really am open to it.

So... before you use this one, think about what you may go through to get to that highest good (whatever that may be) and whether or not you are ready, willing, and able. Then,, make an adjustment, if necessary. I am open to awakening and healing for my highest good, but slowly and easily. Then again, some of us just want to do this; for those, the addition of, fastening my seat belt and ready for the wild ride, would be appropriate. ; )

The bottom line, though, is that our highest good really is what we need to achieve, what really is worth the struggle.

Blessings nice!

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 Oracle

Ariadne - Soul Made

Ancient Feminine Wisdom

of Goddesses & Heroines

by Kay Steventon & Brian Clark

Ariadne, she who betrayed her family, according to mythology, to help her lover. He then abandoned her. However, this devastating outcome of her passions brings her to the very edge of a precipice, in fact, renewal. 

When we receive this card, we are in that place, the edge of renewal, being awakened to the truth of ourselves. Is it others who have betrayed us or ourselves? We have all been betrayed, but we need to consider how often we do just the thing we'd really rather not, to please someone else. This is betraying ourselves. We are abandoned by others who force us to do so, and therefore abandon our true selves as well.

Ariadne comes to us as a reminder that betrayal and abandonment strip away the illusions, awaking us to our authentic selves and divine truths. She embodies the soul's journey through the labyrinth of our lives and the arrival at a genuine relationship with ourselves.

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!

Weekly Oracle

1 - The Sun

Energy Oracle Cards by Sandra Ann Taylor

The Sun nurtures, brings blessings, and new life is born in the spring. This week is a time of a new beginning, a new light in our lives, a time to nurture and restore ourselves. Creative energy runs rampant, let them come into being, let yourself give birth to them, large or small, artist or otherwise. They may only be thoughts, inspirations, let them come, let them be.

Visualize the radiant Sun's golden rays shining, pouring down over you, settling into your sacral and throat chakras; from these two energy centers your creation will come into being and then be expressed. 

Inspiration, abundant growth and blessings - all from within. See that which you wish to bring into being. Allow the birth. The Sn, She shines upon you and your intentions.

Blessings nine!

Weekly Affirmation

I take my power and reach, with joy and self-knowledge, for my highest purpose. 

- E A Kaufman

State this affirmation at least nine times once a day, more if you feel so inclined. The purpose of stating it repeatedly is to allow it to become part of your core belief system. 

In your heart, at its deepest center, you know what you want, what is healthy for you. This affirmation may vey well be the assistance to bring that desire into being. You have the ability to make it so.

Blessings nine!

Everyday Hallows - 31

Skull of Light, Illumination

The Halloween Oracle, by Stacey DeMarco

Hallows Blessings to all. Thank you for joining me in this journey through the month of October and Hallowstide. May you be blessed by the Goddesses, your Ancestors, and the Guardian Spirits who assist you. May you find all that you need as you travel this path.

The Skull of Illumination brings our Hallows Everyday and the nine days of divination to a conclusion. We have arrived at a place of clarity, understanding. Walking the path in the darkness, we found and continue to find, torches to guide us along the way. The wisdom that has been given to us on the path of our exploration is the light that allows us to see. What we see is the past that has shaped us and given us the foundation that now supports us. We can see the light in the darkness shows the Unseen, and we can proceed from here secure that the way will somehow always be lit for us so we can find what we need. It is up to us whether or not we continue along a path that is not always acceptable, certainly not easy, but rewards us with magick and mystery.

Our way really is lit as we forge ahead, learning from what is shown to us. We can stop hiding in the darkness and instead see what it has to offer.

Blessings dark and deep!