PaganWitch

My New Athame

Kendra — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:34:49 +0000

While I was on my “quick trip” to Southern California for Samhain, I picked up my new athame. I went to The Enchanted Crystal, which is up in Running Springs, CA. and was looking around, mostly for an athame, but well… it’s a New Age store, I”m a pagan, do I really need to explain why I was in the store? LOL! Anyway, I saw this really great “hidden” athame, which looked like a tree but the top branch came out and was an athame. I looked at the price and it was well within my budget. AFter about 5 minutes of me staring at the athame, Zenah, the owner of the store, came up and started talking to me about the athame. She asked me about what other things I had on my altar, and then suggested I look at other athames in the store for comparison. That’s when she showed me this one!

The entire peice stands about 18 inches to the top of the hilt of the dagger. The dagger comes out of the dragons hand, which makes for a very impressive flare during a ritual. The blade is dull and is actually a letter opener, but it’s heavy and feels good. It’s made of stainless steel as well. The dragon base is, I think, pewter or maybe ceramic.. I don’t know what it is, but it’s cool. So there it sits on my hearth. Since the new moon is coming up on Monday, I am doing a cleansing and consecrating ritual this weekend to bless and consecrate my new athame. Then the next class that has a full moon, we’ll be doing a ritual and I’ll use my new athame in the ritual. I can’t wait!

I’ve been looking through all my books and online to find a good athame consecration ritual. There’s alot around, but nothing that really struck me as the right words/actions. So I’m going to come up with my own. I know that’s what I should do anyway, but I didn’t want to reinvent the wheel if I didn’t have to. I’m lazy and pressed for time, so I didn’t want to try to come up with stuff. But the Goddess wants me to and isn’t letting me get away with being lazy, so fine! I’ll write my own damn words! LOL!

Which reminds me of one of my favorite pagan poems ever!

Butt Prints In the Sand ~ Anonymous

One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of the Goddess they were,
But mine were not along the shore.

But then some stranger prints appeared,
and I asked Her, “What have we here?
These prints are large and round and neat,
But much too big to be from feet.”

“My child,” She said in somber tones,
“For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait.”

“You would not learn, you would not grow,
The walk of faith, you would not know,
So I got tired, I got fed up,
And there I dropped you on your butt.

“Because in life, there comes a time
When one must fight, and one must climb,
When one must rise and take a stand,
Or leave their butt prints in the sand.”

Samhain – Ritual Review – Ecclasia

Kendra — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:06:02 +0000

One of the things that I was taught in Ecclasia is that every Sabbat Ritual should be discussed and critiqued by the students. I've always loved this because it solidifies my memory and confirms the things I liked and disliked about the ritual itself. Those are always good things to remember for your own refrences when you are creating your own rituals.

A Blessed Samhain

Kendra — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:58:40 +0000

Most people consider tomorrow, October 31st, or Sunday November 1st, Samhain. However, the reality of it is that Samhain doesn’t fall on a specific date. It falls on an astrological occurance, which is 15 degrees Scorpio. Which isn’t until November 7th this year. This is an interesting fact, which I wasn’t aware of until recently.

Samhain (sow’ en) – Major Sabbat, 15 degrees of Scorpio
So, if you’re like me, instead of waiting till next week to celebrate, you’ll be celebrating from tomorrow until next Saturday. LOL! I think it’s only proper to have a week long celebration. I for one will be going to two public Samhain celebrations, the brown cording ritual (which will be on the Full moon on Monday) and I will also be doing a little family celebration as well. whoohoo! I love it when I can have continuous celebrations for the holidays, especially my favorite holidays.So what are you going to be doing for Samhain? Will you be celebrating only on Oct. 31, only Nov 7th, or the entire week? Let me know what you’ll be doing for Samhain. Whatever it is, may you have a wonderful, blessed and safe Samhain!

Cords, Knots, & Braids…. Oh MY!

Kendra — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:36:36 +0000

I was going to talk about cords in my last post because I mentioned the boys going through their Brown Cording next week. Then I realized that if I talked about cords, that post would end up much longer than I really wanted it to be. So, I figured the best thing to do was dedicate a whole post just to cords. This is that post.

Cords – What Are They Good For?

In Wicca cords, knots and braids are used in magic a lot. Actually, they are used in society a lot for all types of magic. If you’ve ever “tied a ribbon on your finger” to remind yourself of something, you’ve done a little knot magic. Ribbons being tied around packages are remnants of old magic and rituals. And for the “serious” witch, you’ll use knots and cords in magic for bringing all sorts of good luck, wishes, and various outcomes to your life.

Although there are lots of different spells that can be found for tying knots (including the marriage knot), I’m not going to be talking about that here. You can find that information just about anywhere. What I am going to talk about are the cords that we wear in ritual.

In Wicca, but most specifically in the Ecclasian tradition, we wear cords of various colors during our rituals. These cords aren’t just pretty belts to wear around our robes. These are used for several reasons. One reason is to show your standing or rank within the coven. The other is to help keep you grounded and centered within the circle.

The Colors & Their Meanings:

Brown – Just finished the beginning Wicca course and is dedicated to the Wiccan path.
Black – Given at Wiccaning – a person who has gone through the “Threshold” and is on the path to Initiation into Ecclasia
Silver/Gold – A Silver or Gold strand is added to the Black cord at initiation, symbolizes a 1st degree initiate. The choice of color is up to the initiate, Silver symbolizing the Goddess and Gold symbolizing the God.
2nd Silver/Gold – A second strand of either Silver or Gold is added to the Black cord at the 2nd degree. Must be the opposite of what was chosen at 1st degree (i.e. If Silver chosen at 1st degree, Gold must be taken at 2nd.)
Red – is add to those who choose the Teachers path in Ecclasia
Blue – Added to those who choose to be healers
Yellow – Added to those who choose to be diviners
Green – Added to those who choose to be Herbologists
White – The white cord is only given to those who go through 3rd degree training and have become elders in the path.

These are two examples of cords within the Ecclasian tradition.

Brown Cording

The Brown Cording ritual that my sons and the other students in the Beginning Wicca class will be going through is this coming Monday. I obviously can not tell you anything about the actual ritual, but needless to say it’s a big step for anyone on this path. They will be affirming their dedication to the Wiccan path and starting the Threshold into further studies. I am proud of my sons and my students for taking this step and I am looking forward to guiding them further onto this path. I’d like to thank each of them for allowing me to be their teacher and guide and I can’t wait to work with each of you further!

Updates & Other Witchy Things

Kendra — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:39:23 +0000

So, as you may have noticed (and I do hope someone has, because I’d hate to think I”m the only one coming to my blog. LOL) the site has been going through some changes. My wonderful boyfriend bought me Artisteer for my birthday and I’ve been playing with it ever since. I’ve created several different Wordpress Blog Themes for pagans with it, and will be giving them away for free soon. In the meantime I’m testing them out here on my blog to see how they look and work and I’ll probably pick one to be “My theme”, which will be the one that won’t be given out to other people. That’s why I don’t have the themes up for grabs just yet. If you have a theme idea you’d like to see, leave me a comment and I’ll try to work it out!

Now for Other Witchy Things:

My two sons are going to be brown cording on Monday. I’m actually very excited about this. They are taking a very important step in their spiritual journy and I’m very proud of them. They are growing up and becoming wonderful young men in the craft. And much like the rest of their schooling, I am teaching them and guiding them through it! It almost brings tears to my eyes!

I am also starting another Beginning Wicca class. This one will start on Nov. 6th and continue through the new year. It will be on Fridays at 6pm. If anyone is interested and in the Las Vegas area, please email me for more information.

This Samhain is going to be BUSY for me. Saturday I need to get my garage cleaned up for the ritual on Monday. Then the boys are going out to the movies with friends. Sunday, Kelly, Robi and I are going to be driving out to San Bernardino for the Samhain ritual at Ecclasia and then driving back to Las Vegas right after the ritual. Then Monday after work is the brown cording ritual. Then Friday I start my second Beginning Wicca class. Saturday is the Las Vegas Pagan Pride day AND the Samhain ritual with PWCC! LOL! I don’t know when I’m supposed to breath or sleep. LOL! But it sounds like fun!

A Pagan Contest Just In Time for Samhain

Kendra — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:53:06 +0000

I”m sure you’ve seen it around the other Pagan Blogs, so this shouldn’t be something new to you. Mrs. B of Confesssions of a Pagan Soccer Mom is having a wonderful giveaway… every day through Halloween! This is just one of the fabulous giveaways that I’m entering.

This giveaway comes from Spelled with a W! A darling Tarot Card Bag from Spelled with a W made in their workshops by the invisible witch. The bag is made of black linen, fully lined with black silk dupioni & is trimmed with a cotton ribbon that is printed with details of how to draw a maze. Also included are other goodies including herb samples, oil samples, small tins of resin incense and a pair of lodestones and their food.

This is only one of many giveaways that are going on at Mrs. B’s, so head on over there and take a look and enter!

Good Luck!

An Award for My Blog

Kendra — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:10:44 +0000

I was awarded the Triple Awards from Jasmina Radosavac @ MeaCulpa BathandBody. I just love these awards because it means that people are actually reading my blog and like what they have to see and read here. So thank you Jasmina, from the bottom of my heart!

Now for the rules and my nominations!

Here are the rules for the recipients:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great Attitude and/or Gratitude!

3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

And the nominations are:

Full Moon – Review of a Ritual

Kendra — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:43:15 +0000

This was a nice and quick little ritual, that was a good one to do with my boys. It didn't take very long to do and went really well with the things we've been going over in class. Overall, I'd say this was definitely worth the money I spent purchase this ritual. I may decide to subscribe to the rituals, whether I use them or not, they would be good to have in my witches arsenal. I would highly recommend going to this site when you are in need of a quick easy ritual that feels good. I wouldn't say do this all the time, but on occasions like this, when you want something quick and don't have time to do it yourself.. this works out nicely.

Mabon – Autumnal Equinox – Pagan Harvest / Thanksgiving

Kendra — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:01:36 +0000

Mabon is tomorrow, Sept. 22. It is considered the "Second Harvest" and is celebrated much like a Thanksgiving day. It is the second day of the year that is in complete balance, both day and night are equal. It is also the last Sabbat of the pagan year. This is the time of year when you celebrate and give thanks for all that you have.

What’s In A Name?

Kendra — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:30:10 +0000

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. Romeo and Juliet ( Quote Act II, Sc. II).

Names – they are so important for so many reasons. Not that many years ago, babies weren’t named until they were between 1 & 2 years old because of the high infant mortality rate. Boys were given “girls” names to hide their gender from the gods in fear that they would be jealous. Native Americans gave their children names after their personality had been established and then often as they turned into young adults they would take on new names from their circumstances or attitudes. Names are important because of all of these reasons and more.

When you give anything a name, you are labeling it, describing it, changing it, giving it power. That’s why when you are in the craft y ou take a name that represents your path, your spirit, and who you want to be as much as who you already are. Your “Craft Name” signifies to the mundane world and the spiritual world that you are ready to spiritual workings and that your path is chosen.

I have taken 2 “Craft Names” during my spiritual journey. I chose different names because of the point on my path that I was on called me to take a new name. I didn’t take a name because a book told me to, but because SPIRIT told me to. I didn’t realize it until Monday at my Wicca class, but that’s what has been holding me up with my Second Degree training, I need a new name, one for this part of my journey.

The first, many may already know, Wyndsong, was taken about 15 years ago when I first started studying Wicca. This name has become a part of my persona as much as my given name, Christine. It is who I am… and yet, not completely. I chose Wyndsong for 2 main reasons, because I am a Libra and identify with the Air element and love the wind and because I love to sing and hear songs in the wind all the time. (Side note on the spelling: I use a y instead of an i because of all of my online dealings, windsong has been taken in just about every forum, site and membership online from the beginning, but “wyndsong” is still all ME!).

The second name I chose, and the one I’ve been currently using, was chosen around my 1st degree training and initiation. This name is Kendra Makani, which roughly translates to Knowing Woman of the Wind. See how I’m sticking with the “Air Elemental” correspondences? Being a Libra is very important to me, and so is being identified with the element of Air. This name was chosen for more than it’s elemental correspondences, it was also what I wanted to become in my spiritual path. I wanted to become a knowledgeable woman within the craft. This name was my “Mother” aspect of the goddess, where Wyndsong was my “Maiden” aspect.

Now, I have decided to take another name. I do know what it will be already, but I will not be sharing it here, at least not yet. I will however, tell you how I came to pick the name and what it means to me.

Monday night, at the Beginning Wicca class that I’ve been teaching here locally, we were discussing craft names. We were talking about what they mean, how to choose them and so on. I told the class about my two different craft names, as I did above, and then suddenly it hit me. I needed a NEW name for this part of my journey. So That night, and last night I went to bed asking the Universe to send me a message. I wanted to know what my name should be. I was hoping that I would have a dream about my name… instead I had some disturbing dreams about being sick and being in a plane crash. Not the kind of dreams I was hoping for! So I started looking around online at goddess names, fairy names, and then resorted to those stupid name generators. Not so much to actually find a name, but to find some sort of inspiration.

Then I found the Pythorium website and their Pagan Name Generator. This generator not only asks you to type in your given name, but also what element you’d like the name to be associated with. BINGO! Of course this made me very happy, and I plugged in my name and the element of Air and a name popped up that I had never heard of before. Certainly not online, and definitely not in the craft community (at least none that I had seen). So again, this made me VERY happy! I really don’t want to be one of a million others with the same name. So then, I looked up the history, meaning, and numerology of the name. It so happens to be a very important person in Alexandrian times, Egyptian! Again, this is perfect for me, because I am very drawn to the Egyptian pantheon. She was a real person, a philosopher, scientist, astrologer and teacher. The numerology was also perfect! So, after much study of the name, and it feeling so right with me (I even love the spelling, it’s purrrty when I write it in cursive), I think that this will become my new craft name.

I don’t know when I’ll “officially” take the name, and I may never decide to use it online. Mostly because I want it to be more sacred.. however, I tend to change my mind about things quite often, so I may start using it only as my Pagan Only persona. We’ll see. I haven’t decided quite yet. Of course I’ve already decided to go see if the domain name is taken! LOL!