Prarie Hearth Newsletter July 2000 Volume 7
Authors:
Robin ManyWaters
Jainus Windsong
WhiteWitchWoman
Shantith
Maeschilde
Cinnamon Moon
Volute
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"An Invocation for Summer"
Fireflies and Summer Sun,
In circles round we become as one.
Singing songs at magic's hour
We bring the winds and timeless power.
Turning inward, hand to hand
We dance the hearth to heal our land.
Standing sacred beneath the Sky
We catch the fire from out it's eye
Swaying breathless beside the sea
We call the Goddess, so Mote it be!
-Patricia Telesco
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Merry Meet and welcome July!
July is the year at high noon, a young matron with hazel eyes, sun-
bleached hair and a strong, golden god by her side. July is festival
and celebration and long-remembered holiday as well as full moon and
fireflies and smell of sweet clover at the roadside.
July is the gray-green of oat fields turning to gold. July is
meadows frosted with Queen Anne's lace and daisies, and night hawks
in the evening sky, and fledgling robins, and half-grown rabbits
eating the lettuce in the garden. July is lightning and thunderstorm
that jolt the hills, rain like silver threads hung from the high,
dark clouds. It is field corn reaching for the sun and glistening
with the morning dew and thrusting its gold-hung spire of tassel up
for the dry winds to kiss and bless and make fertile the sprouting
young ears beneath.
July is weeds grown lush, horseweed in the waste place, and
milkweed and nettle and forbidding thistle; and pigweed and purslane
and rough-leafed German weed in the garden. It is string beans
prolific, and bean beetles; it is squash flowers, venerable symbol of
fertility, and squash beetles. it is tomatoes coming to fruit and
horned tomato worms which turn into sphinx moths.
July is get-up-and-go, vacation time, the shore, the lake, the
country, anywhere but home. July is hot afternoons and sultry
nights, and mornings when it's a joy just to be alive. It's fresh
cherry pie. It's the first sweet corn. It's baby beets, well
buttered please. July is a picnic and a red canoe and a sunburned
neck and a softball game and ice tinkling in a tall glass.
July is a blind date with summer.
The full moon in July falls on the 16th, and is called the Mead or
Buck Moon. New moons arrive on 1st and 30th.
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We have a lot of contributions to the newsletter this month, keep up
the good work guys! Remember, if you would like to submit anything
to the newsletter, e-mail me at prariewitch3@hotmail.com for more
information! This month we welcome a new monthly columnist, White
Witch Woman, who will be doing a section on dream interpretation.
Everyone have a great July and I hope that you enjoy the newsletter!
Blessed be!
Robin (PrarieWitch)
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Contents:
Daily Affirmations for July, by Robin ManyWaters
Herbalism for July: Herbal Menagerie, by Jainus Windsong
Herbs of the Sabbats, by Shantith
Meditation for July: Deep Breathing, by Robin ManyWaters
Aphrodite, Hecate, Witch- Mother Goose!?, by Maeschilde
When a Spell Fails, by Robin ManyWaters
Aphrodisiacs and Other Uses of Fragrance, by Volute
Spell of the Month: Regenerating Massage, by Shantith
Dream Interpretation, by WhiteWitchWoman
The Value of Myth, by Cinnamon Moon
Website of the Month, by Robin ManyWaters
Amazing Grace for Witches, author unknown
Words of Wisdom, by Robin ManyWaters
Pagan Humor: The Charge of the Credit Card Goddess, author unknown
______________________________________________________________________
~ D A I L Y A F F I R M A T I O N S F O R J U L Y ~
"Today I will have faith, and all will be well."
"Every moment of every day opens the way to my aspirations that
enhance reality. I will be open and receptive to reality and its
gifts."
"My lessons are not easy. But they will ease my way. Better days
begin today."
"The pain of love increases my rapture."
"I will appreciate the design of my life today. I will draw myself
close to the day."
"My higher power will help me know the real me. I am all that I ever
needed to be; I am unique and special, and I will come to believe
that."
"My soul is as bright as the summer sun."
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~ H E R B A L I S M F O R J U L Y ~
I'm baaack!
Although I've made enough time to work on the herbal section this
month, time is still at a premium for me. So, for this month, I will
list a wide selection of useful herbal incenses, brews, and what-have-
you.
HERBAL MENAGERIE
A useful one for those of you in areas plagued by drought-
RAIN INCENSE (caution! poisonous ingredients!)
4 parts Heather
1 part Fern
a pinch of ground rice (any type works)
1/2 part Henbane (poison) - Tobacco may be substituted
Burn outdoors with a suitable spell to attract rain. If using
henbane, do not inhale the fumes, as they are poisonous.
OFFERING INCENSE
2 parts Frankincense
1 part Myrrh
1 part Cinnamon
1/2 part Rose Petals
1/2 part Sandalwood
1/4 part Dragon's Blood
Burn as an offering to the Lady and the Lord.
HEALING BATH
3 parts Rosemary
2 parts Lavendar
2 parts Rose
1 part Peppermint
1 part Cinnamon
1 part eucalyptus
Grind herbs well, stuff into a small sachet, and add to a bath to
speed healing. (If a doctor reccomends abstaining from bathing, heed
his advice before mine.)
HOUSE PROTECTION ANNOINTING WATER (caution! poison!)
3 parts Rue
2 parts Rosemary
1 part Vetivert
1 part Hyssop
1 part Mistletoe (poison!)
Steep for 13 minutes in very hot (not boiling) water, and use to
annoint windows and doors in your house. DO NOT DRINK! Very
poisonous!
ASPERGER (for sprinkling purification brews/salt water/holy water)
Mint
Rosemary
Mistletoe (poison!)
Use resh sprigs of each plant and bundle together. Use a new
asperger each time. Discard in a forrest of field after each use.
HEALING INCENSE
2 parts Myrrh
1 part Cinnamon
1 pinch saffron (not part, saffron is expensive!)
1/2 part Thyme
1/2 part Eucalyptus
Burn to enhance spells of healing.
WITCHES OINTMENT (non-toxic, legal version)
3 drops Frankincense oil
2 drops Myrrh oil
1 drop Rose oil
1 drop Orange oil
Mix oils and add to melted shortening (crisco). Stir well, and store
in a container marked with a pentagram. Use before ritual to unite
with the lady and the Lord.
MAGICAL INK
Smoke of Frankincense - see below
Smoke of Myrrh
Rose Water
Sweet-smelling Red Wine (a few drops)
Gum Arabic
Mix the "smokes" with a little rose water, a couple drops of wine,
and add gum arabic to achieve an ink-like consistency.
(To get "smoke", hold a spoon over smoldering frankincense and myrrh
gum, wait a second, then carefully scrape the black ash from the back
of the spoon into a bowl. Work carefully- the ash floats very easily
and is very messy.)
PURIFICATION BREW (for asperger)
Vervain
Rue
Rosemary
Oak
Rose
Carnation
Thyme
Basil
Jasmine
Mix equal parts of each with rain water in a nonmetallic bowl and
allow to sit for 3 days protected from light and tightly covered.
Strain and use with an asperger, or annoint youself for protection
from harm.
RAINBOW BREW (not really herbal, but cool!)
When it rains, look for a rainbow. If you find one, put a
nonmetallic pot outside to catch rain. If it rains while the rainbow
is stil lpresent, save the water, as the rainbow has blessed the
water for use in all magickal works.
WITCH FINDER TALISMAN
1 part Rue
1 part Agrimony
1 part Ground Ivy
1 part Maidenhair Fern
1 part Broomstraw
Make a sachet and wear to know others of the Old Religion. Use
purple cloth for more potency.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, that's about all the time I have this month. Hopefully I'll
continue to find the time to do this section (not easy when you work
as much as I do), and just maybe I will find a coherent train of
topics to address. So until next time, merry part, and blessed be!
-JW
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~ H E R B S O F T H E S A B B A T S ~
HERBS OF THE SABBATS:
To be used as decorations on the altar, around the circle, in the
home.
Samhain - Chrysanthemum, Wormwood, Apples, Pears, Hazel, Thistle,
Pomwgranates, all grains, Harvested fruits and nuts. The Pumpkin,
Corn.
Yule - Holly, Misteletoe, Ivy, Cedar, Bay, Juniper, Rosemary, Pine.
Place offerings of apples, oranges, nutmags, lemons and whole
cinnamon sticks on the Yule tree.
Imbolc - Snowdrop, Rowan, the first flowers of the year.
Ostara - Daffodil, Woodruff, Violet, Gorse, Olive, Peony, Iris,
Narcissus, all spring flowers.
Beltane - Hawthorn, Honeysuckle, St John's wort, Woodruff, all
flowers.
Midsummer - Mugwort, Vervain, Chamomile, Rose, Lily, Oak, Lavender,
Ivy, Yarrow, Fern, Elder, Wild Thyme, Daisy, Carnation.
Lughnasadh - All grains, grapes, Heather, Blackberries, Sloe, Crab
apples, Pears.
Mabon - Hazel, Corn, Aspen, Acorns, Oak sprigs, Autumn leaves, wheat
stalks, Cypress cones, Pine cones, Harvest gleanings.
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~ M E D I T A T I O N F O R J U L Y ~
Deep Breathing
Sit in a straight-backed chair supporting your lower back with a
pillow if necessary. Your chin should be level with the floor, eyes
closed, back straight, hands resting on your knees, palms up &
fingers relaxed. In this position you should be comfortable &
relaxed, the spine straight & the torso erect.
Breathe deeply for several minutes. Relax. Forget. Visualize the
multitude of tensions & worries of your everyday life exiting your
body with your breath. Relax in the chair - now open your
consciousness. Allow your conscious mind to be receptive & alert.
Commune & talk with the deities. Toss around symbols in your head. If
you wish, chant one of the names of the Goddess or God, or a group of
them. This is an excellent tool for slipping into the twilight world.
Select a time & place with care. Light should be subdued, candle-lit
is excellent. Burn white or blue candles if you wish. A bit of
incense is fine too, but too much smoke can obviously cause problems
during deep breathing.
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~ A p h r o d i t e, H e c a t e, W i t c h - Mother Goose ! ? ~
I was thumbing though a book of poetry and came across the following:
This knot I knit,
To know the thing, I know not yet,
That I may see,
The man that shall my husband be,
How he goes, and what he wears,
And what he does, all days and years.
Crow Omens
One's lucky,
Two's unlucky,
Three is health,
Four is wealth,
Five is sickness
And six is death.
Whenever the cat of the house is black,
Its lasses of lovers will have no lack.
Spell of Power
One-ery, two-ery,
Ziccary zan; Hollow bone, crack a bone,
Ninery ten:
Spitery spot,
It must be done;
Twiddleum twaddleum
Twenty ONE. 1
Well, I thought, what intriguing little spells and verses; they would
be perfect to print with the coming Samhain Tide. I looked to the
source of these jewels and was astonished to learn they were not only
from Mother Goose, but published to the general public for hundreds
of years!
Hundreds of years! Right in the middle the fanatical Christian
suppression of anything even remotely Pagan, are these and other
verses. They were printed and illustrated in books that were lovingly
read to the children of the time. I wondered how many people knew or
suspected the origins of these rhymes and then I opened my own
childhood Mother Goose book and experienced the second thunder bolt
of the day. On the title page of The Oxford Nursery Rhyme Book, is a
picture of, as far as I'm concerned, a witch riding a goose. In the
various images of Mother Goose I came across in the coming weeks, I
consistently saw an old woman, tall pointed hat, black cat and even a
broom. Could the resemblance to a witch be any clearer?
In my book's picture, she carried an egg in her right hand as she
flew. My Pagan mind jumped to symbolic connections between eggs and
fertility and old women and wisdom. This is a very potent symbol for
young children to gaze upon. How many people consciously saw a witch
reading stories to their children? Did they know that she was passing
along hundreds if not thousands of years of wisdom? Did they know
that storytelling has always been the role of the old woman, the hag,
the witch?
Amongst the lace, baby powder, and pastel pinks and blues is the very
image we have been warned against. Even though we have been
instructed by our most threatening authority figures (church leaders)
not to trust this woman, indeed to shun her, she is watching over and
reciting to our beloved children as Mother Goose.
We have been told for centuries that the witch is evil, consorts with
the devil, hexes the innocent and boils infants in her cauldron. Her
image is meant to represent the old and the haggard and the
frightening.
With all the bad press, you'd think she would have been banished from
all sight, yet at the height of the steam- cleaned morality of the
Victorian age, she is there as Mother Goose. In some depiction's she
is plump and grand motherly instead of spooky and witch-like, but
most often she is how I have described above.
I decided to do some research into this matter and see what I could
come up with. I first did some reading on the general subject of
Mother Goose and what follows is a medley of information I came
across in three different encyclopedias.
Mother Goose is described as ". . . fictitious narrator of nursery
rhymes. She is the smiling old woman with magic wand, tall hat, and
flowing cloak who rides through the air upon a goose. . ." 2 ". . .
fictitious old woman, reputedly the source of the body of traditional
children's songs and verses knows as nursery rhymes. . ." 3 ". . .
Some scholars believe that Mother goose is based on a real person,
but others say that Mother Goose is a fictional character." 4
Mother Goose's identity has been attributed to the Queen of Sheba of
biblical times to Queen Bertha, the mother of Charlemagne in medieval
times, (Bertha's nickname was 'Goose-footed Bertha' or 'Queen Goose-
Foot'. This nickname was not elaborated on, but one can speculate
that she had some webbed toes or was pidgin-toed.) to Elizabeth Goose
(Vergoose/Vertigoose) of colonial Boston.
No one will ever prove who she was or from whence she came, but it is
my opinion that she is a combination of real-life women and
arctypical characters. No matter how suppressive or scolding a
patriarchal society is, it cannot eliminate our need for the divine
feminine.
Mother Goose has not only cloaked ancient pre-Christian beliefs from
modern eyes, she was the medium of scathing political commentary. Her
rhymes were taken from ancient folklore, songs, ritual, proverbs and
the political opinion of the common folk. Below are two examples of
her political tongue:
Georgie Porgie, pudd'n pie,
Kissed the girls and made them cry.
Attributed to a promiscuous monarch of the day.
Jack Spratt could eat no fat,
His wife would eat no lean,
And so between them both, you see,
They licked the platter clean.
Possible commentary of the fat and greedy churchman , and in
particular an Archdeacon named Pratt.
I next investigated the goose she always rides and did not have to
dig very deep to find a solid vein of goose mythology. I learned that
geese, ducks and swans have been in our history and storytelling for
thousands of years.
The Egyptian goddess Hathor gave birth to the sun when she took the
form of the Nile goose and was often referred to as the 'Goose that
laid the Golden Egg'. The goose was sacred to Celtic tribes because
of the connection to the Sun-Egg. Even today in some areas of
Ireland, the goose is 'kept but not eaten'. In medieval times it was
forbidden to kill a goose in midwinter because the sun was thought to
need the incubation of the goose in order to be re-born.5
Our own dinner-time custom of a chicken's wish bone can be traced to
Western Europe when a goose was killed and eaten at Martinmas (Nov.
11. Currently Veteran's Day in the US). The breast bone was allowed
to dry over night and the next day the oldest of the household made
her/his divination on the coming winter based on the shape of the
bone when pulled apart.
The goose has been linked to a holy bird which flew in front of the
earth-mother Berchta in Germanic lands. This same Berchta is closely
related to Queen Bertha (mentioned above) and is connected with
fertility.
Gula the Healer, goddess of ancient Ur, is pictured seated on four
geese as they fly across the ocean or the sky. From India, China and
Japan come ancient stories of young women riding geese across the
sky. These images are nearly always referred to as symbols of
fertility. The goose being the male symbol (the sun) and the woman
the corresponding female (moon) element. Aphrodite and Adonis are
seen riding in a chariot drawn by two swans. 6 Alone, Aphrodite is
depicted on the back of a swan or goose from the Mediterranean to
Britain.
I must come to the conclusion that Mother Goose being in the company
of such an ancient symbol is no accident. I must also conclude that
her resemblance to a witch is not happenstance, but our need to keep
this woman and her teachings close at hand. However superficially we
detest the hag, she manages to stay in our midst.
At this time of year, she is everywhere as the wicked witch_ someone
to fear and hate, yet the costume of the witch is one of the most
enduring for children and adults at Halloween. I can take some
comfort that the witch will always stay close by, even if too often
portrayed in a negative light, but my warmest comfort comes from her
image as Mother Goose. She is a hag of wisdom and learning, also
known as Hecate, the ancient Greek triple goddess who ruled heaven,
earth and the underworld. She guides us into the future with lessons
from the past. I know Mother Goose is a witch and now, so do you.
1. Skelton, Robin and Blackwood, Margaret. Earth, Air, Fire, Water,
Arkana, Penguin Group, New York, 1990, pp. 65, 69, 72, 229.
2. Bracy, William. Collier's Encyclopedia, P.F. Collier Inc., New
York, 1993.
3. The New Encyclopaedia Britannica 15th Edition, Encyclopaedia
Britanica, Chicago, 1994.
4. The World Book Encyclopedia, World Book Inc., Chicago, 1993.
5. Bracy, William. Collier's Encyclopedia, P.F. Collier Inc., New
York, 1993.
6. Walker, Barbara G. The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols & Sacred
Objects, Harper and Row, San Francisco, 1988, p. 402.
7. Armstrong, Edward A. The Folklore of Birds, Riverside Press,
Cambridge, 1959, pp. 30-40.
Note: If you search into the origins of the lyrics to Simon and
Garfunkel's popular song Scarborough Fair, you will discover that a
good deal of it is from a Mother Goose rhyme called The Tasks. 1 p
229.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
~ W H E N A S P E L L F A I L S ~
"When an inner situation is made conscious,
it appears outside as fate."
-C.G. Jung
In order to work a succesful spell, a witch must be at least
functionally free of resentment (anger) and resistance (fear). What
do I mean by that? I mean that any buried emotions must be aired
before the work can proceed. The same holds true for any buried
payoffs not working. Unsuccesful spells are seldom mysterious. They
are, instead, universal defenses against what might have become
(rightly or wrongly) a negative effect, or an effect coupled with
negative influences.
Remember, magick is nuetral. It relies firmly on your will to take
form, shape and effect.
When casting any spell, it is a good idea to ask yourself a few
simple questions. These questions will help remove common negative
emotions and fears standing between you and a succesful casting.
1. List any resentments (anger) you have in connection with this
spell. It does not matter how petty or irrational these resentments
may seem, they are still important.
2. List any fears about the spell, or anyone connected to it.
3. Ask yourself if that is all. Have you left out any "stupid"
anger? Get it on the page!
4. Ask yourself what you will gain by casting this spell. Be as
specific as you can be without listing things that impose on the will
of others.
5. Ask yourself if this spell is neccesary. List supplemental non-
magickal things you can do to help out your spell.
6. Make sure that the spell is not imposing on the will of others.
7. Ask yourself if you are mentally focused on the task at hand and
ready to begin casting.
Remember, don't dwell on the outcome of your spell. Have faith and
confidence in your intent and your abilities, and your life will be
full of succesful magick. And remember...
What doesn't kill your will, will only make your spell stronger!
~~~~~~~~~
"Every time we say Let there be!
in any form, something
happens."
-Stella Terril Mann
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~ A P H R O D E S I A C S and other uses of F R A G R A N C E S ~
Aphrodisiacs and Other Uses of Fragrance
Introduction: How many times have you walked into a store and felt
assaulted by the plastic-like new car scent of the majority of
popular bottled colognes? How many times have you looked across a
room, seen an interesting person...but upon approaching that person,
you are repelled by a cloud of nostril burning stench? Some of the
pre-made scents on the market are not conducive to magickal workings.
However, by usuing a bit of experimentation and your intuition, you
will be an expert at developing scents that will work for you.
A good perfume is a concentrated, oil-based delight to the senses. By
starting with a quality scent that you purchase or make with
essential oils, and then charging it magickally, you can make your
perfume do more than just smell good. Many natural ingredients that
are used in perfumery have a long history of magickal use. By
searching your magickal formularies, texts on aromatherapy, and using
your intuition, you can develop some incredible scents. Then, charge
them with your energy and intent to work in specific ways.
Attraction, protection, and good fortune are all easily charged into
your blends and will work far better than the type you purchase at
the local magick shop. (Like 'bend over' or 'love potion #9')
Scents can be powerful memory triggers. Use the same one each time
for your favorite meditation or ritual, and you will find that after
a while, just smelling that scent will trigger the appropriate mind
state. This can be applied to many magickal workings and many forms
of fragrance such as incense, oils, potpourri, etc. Place your
finished and charged blends in exotic bottles and keep them in a cool
place. Avoid exposing them to light or air. See the Essential Oil
Company and other suppliers on the links pages in the Further Studies
section if you have trouble finding what you are looking for.
Poison: The perfume named 'Poison' uses the powerful ingredient of
natural attar of roses. This rare and costly ingredient makes the
perfume especially good at holding attraction charges.
Patchouli: essential oil has the ability to amplify the energies of
other ingredients, and can amplify your own personal energy. It is
excellent when used in combination with other oils. By itself, it
could make others mistake you for a hemp smoker (it was, and
occasionally still is used to 'cover' the smell of pot).
Amber: The resins imported from India that are named 'amber' are fine
attraction scents and will hold a variety of magickal charges,
usually associated with love and friendship.
Musk: True musk is prohibitivly expensive and illegal to collect in
some places. It is a wonderful fragrance, but there are equally
powerful substitutions that don't have such a brutal impact on
wildlife. Artificial musk is hard to categorize as useful or as
garbage. There are many many synthetic forms of the scent and some
are better than others. Considering that one of four people cannot
smell musk, and that many people are allergic to it (synthetics
especially) you might find that it isn't worth your effort. However,
if the person you wish to woo says they like it, go for it!
Rose: Oil of rose can be charged with a variety of intentions, but
like amber, it seems to have an affinity for love and attraction
work. Women, use alone or in blends; men, best used in blends but
some varieties of rose are excellent alone for you as well.
Rosemary: Crisp, clean, and clear! An herbal evergreen scent that
perks up minds and the interest of onsmellers (like onlookers).
Rosemary holds many magickal charges, but can be excellent when used
to protect against negative associations while attracting just the
right person. A good scent to use in combination with 'soul mate'
workings, or when attending a Pagan gathering.
Blending Your Own Scents (potions!)
Perfume is classified by it's 'nose', or by the characteristics of
it's scent. If you keep these categories in mind while making your
blends, you will be more likely to develop an appealing fragrance.
First, using your research in aromatherapy, magick, and intuition,
select one or two basic essential oils you would like to begin with.
Then, plug them into these tried and true combinations to refine the
sent.
Here is an example: You like the magickal attributes of jasmine, but
don't want to smell like a grandmother. Jasmine is a floral scent
that would blend well with nearly any of the groups, but let's say
you wish to add sandalwood because of it's magickal attributes. Now
you have a 'Woody Floral' You could then add vanilla (to make a woody
floral oriental). You may not want to add anything else to this blend
except your magickal energy.
Bergamot blends well with many scents and can often 'brighten' them.
Fragrance Classifications:
Citrus Family- such as lemon, bergamot, grapefruit, orange, etc.
Citrus
Floral Chypre Citrus
Spicy Citrus
Woody Citrus
Aromatic Citrus
Floral Family- such as violet, jasmine, rose, narcissus, tuberose,
lilac, lilly of the valley, etc.
Single fragrance floral
Lavender
Floral bouquet
Green floral
Aldehydic floral
Woody floral
Fruity woody floral
Fern Family- not really made up of ferns, but simply a description of
the 'nose'. Primary scents are coumarin, oakmoss, wood, some lavender
and bergamot.
Fern
Sweet oriental fern
Flowery oriental fern
Spicy fern
Aromatic fern
Chypre Family- This is a relatively new family that was named after
the 1917 perfume called "Chypre" made by Fracois Coty. The primary
scents are patchouli, labdanum, oak moss, bergamot
Chypre
Flowery Chypre
Aldehydic Flowery Chypre
Fruit Chypre
Green Chypre
Aromatic Chypre
Leather Chypre
Oriental Family- sweet and powdery, vanilla, labdanum, animal notes
Woody floral oriental
Spice floral oriental -this is the most commonly used of the oriental
family. The perfume 'Opium' is in this category
Sweet oriental
Citrus oriental
Flowery semi-oriental
Leather Family- an interesting and very sensual family that is rarely
used. Essence of smoke, burned wood, and rich tobacco is the feel of
this group that often contains floral top notes.
Leather
Floral Leather
Leather Tobacco
Application of Scents
Three guidelines to using magickal fragrances:
1) all scents can be successfully used by males or females, no matter
what the manufacturer states.
2) Less is more! A fragrance should not be a constant. People's noses
will shut off the reception of a scent if it is too strong or
persistant. (Like a cat owner who can't tell when it is time to
change the litter box because their nose tuned it out.) When applying
fragrance to yourself, think of it as a subliminal whisper...a scent
should draw people in to get a better whiff. See Application of
Scents for more...
3) Experiment and use your intuition as primary sources of
information. Use books and work by others as secondary references.
Remember the guideline of less is more? Here are some tips about how
to achieve the subliminal whisper effect of scenting yourself.
Fill an atomizer with your blend, spray into the air in front of you
and walk into the mist. Repeat as needed. (I usually stick to three
times in general, but it depends on the scent.)
Use a fivefold annointing technique. These hot spots on the body will
warm an oil and help dissipate the scent. Apply a total of three
drops of fragrance in the following manner:
One drop on your finger touched to either side of your neck
One drop on your finger touched to your belly or between your breasts
One drop on your finger touched to the back of each knee
If you expect to participate in intimate contact with a person, apply
your fragrance to less erogenous areas or to your clothing or hair to
prevent your partner from tasting your fragrance blend.
Stong scents that can irritate the skin (such as clove and wormwood)
can be applied to a cotton ball and placed in a pocket, bra, sock or
filigree locket
Scents that sink (the majority of scents that make up 'Obsession')
should be applied to the upper body
Scents that rise (such as rosemary and 'Drakar') should be applied to
the lower body
To determine if a scent rises or sinks, place a drop on a cotton ball
and tie it to the ceiling from a string so that it hangs at waist
level. Stand 1 foot away from where it hangs and smell how stong it
is. Now, sit down on the floor one foot away from where it hangs and
smell how strong it is.
Delicate scents (such as true rose) can become acrid smelling when
heated by body or when reacting to skin chemistry. Apply these to
clothing or hair.
Some oils will react with and damage metal, plastic, jewelry
(especially amber and jet), or stain clothing, so keep them away from
valuable or visible areas.
Some fragrances last longer than others. Knowing their potency
durration will help you plan when you will need to reapply a scent.
Experiment with your blend and use this general guide that reads from
longest lasting to shortest lived:
Spicy and musky, strong and true;
Woodsy scents are there for you.
Herbals and 'greens' last almost as long;
Flowers and fruits are are quicky gone.
--volute--
The chemistry of your skin will affect a scent. Touching the actual
oil will contaminate it and make it change (usually negatively) or
will make it go rancid more quickly. Do not tip a bottle over with
your finger covering the hole to get a drop, use a glass dropper that
you store in its own special empty bottle. Use a different dropper
for each oil or blend. If you are creative, you can make special
apparatus for your scents. Wrap the bottle of oil together with an
empty dropper phial. Use strands of beads; copper, silver, or other
wires; fimo coverings; crochetted wraps; embroidery string; or even
glue to keep them together. If you glue them together, you can cover
them with decorative papers to make them look nicer, or purchase
decorative labels available as stickers at some gift and card stores.
Sometimes I simply use a rubber band to keep the two bottles together!
______________________________________________________________________
~ S P E L L O F T H E M O N T H ~
REGENERATION MASSAGE
A spell based on ancient Druidic beliefs to lift your spirits.
You will need :
* Dried or fresh vervain leaves,
* Rose otto, Sandalwood, and sunflower oils,
* 2 Blue candles.
Vervain (verbena offincinalis) was one of the Druids' most sacred
herbs, and was used to cleanse there altars, for divination, as
amulets, and for their most important spells. It was also mentioned
in the witch trials, where it was thought to make the wearer
invisible and able to fly. This spell will not enable you to fly,
but can certainly raise your spirits.
Method:
Gather or buy your Vervain leaves on the day of the full moon, then
charge them with the moon's rays by facing the moon holding the
leaves in your outstretched hands, and repeating:
''Imbue my sacred herb with light,
with power full, both day and night.''
Now the Vervain is charged, you may keep it to use whenever you
wish. Before the massage, put the vervain leaves in boiling water
and leave to infuse for ten minutes. Meanwhile, dilute 2 drops of
Rose otto oil, and 5 drops of Sandalwood oil into 1oz (25ml) of
sunflower oil. Next strain the infusion, add it to your bath water,
and soak for at least 10 minutes to gain its full effect. In a warm
room, lit with the Blue candles massage yourself with the oil. Start
with your legs, stroking from ankle to thigh, and travel up your
body. Finish by covering your eyes with your hands and breathing
deeply for a few seconds.
______________________________________________________________________
~ D R E A M I N T E R P R E T A T I O N ~
My name is Alexsandra Lyons. I have been an active wiccan more than
22 years, Had my coming of age rites at 9 and dedication at age 11,
High Priestess of the covent of the White Goddess, Licenced minister
& psychic. Currently I am writing a book of dreams. For further
informaion on me or to join my class for new to the craft that starts
on Lammas, Tuesday August 1st,2000 - Please go to the Knowledge
circle and join.
http://communities.msn.com/KnowledgeCircle
If you have a private dream you would like defined forward it to
WhiteWitchWoman@hotmail.com subject title DREAMS. Please allow for 5-
10 days for a reply Thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE DREAM
This month's Dream comes to us from the mind of PrarieWitch.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear WhiteWitchWoman,
I dreamed that I was being chased. By a group of people, I don't
know whom, nor why. I was with my family at my childhood home, but
some of the "family" in my dream were not actual members of my
family, and I did not know them.
At any rate, the chasers sent a tiger after my family. The tiger
mauled a few of the family members before the door to the house got
shut to lock the tiger out. I had to close the door and lock a few
of the members outside.
Some of my family members betrayed me and let the Tiger in. I slit
my wrists and sat in the bathtub and faked being dead in order to
fool the chasers. They came in the house and chopped off my head to
make sure I was dead.
I rejuvinated. I ressurected into a different body. The chasers
took me and one other girl outside (all the rest of the family became
the chasers, or were killed), surrounded us in a circle and took
turns applying various tortures to us. First, the punched us and
pushed us to the ground one at a time. Next, they stuck two pins in
each of our eyes (four pins per person), pinning them half shut, then
they made us look in the mirror. I mentioned before that I was not
in my body, and saw that I was a pretty blonde with long, wild hair
and chiseled features. Next, the took hammers and beat us with
them. Finally, the hung us up on meathooks for the night, with some
sort of ointment to attract flies that would bite us.
This dream really takes the cake on any other dream that I have ever
had. I have never had so many odd elements combined in one dream,
nor so much gruesome detail, nor pain.
Perhaps I should mention that this dream occured the night after
attending my first pagan function, Earth Religious Awareness Day, in
which I had a deeply spiritual experiance and a wonderful time.
Any insight on this dream?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE INTERPRETATION:
I dreamed that I was being chased. By a group of people, I don't
know whom, nor why. I was with my family at my childhood home, but
some of the "family" in my dream were not actual members of my
family, and I did not know them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BEING CHASED BY UNKOWN PEOPLE CONNECTS WITH THE UNKNOW FAMILY
MEMBERS, THESE ARE PAST BLOOD KIN, THAT SOME CHASED YOU MEANS SOME
WISH TO CONNECT WITH YOU FOR YOU DO NOT REMEMBER THEM, AND THE HOUSE
WAS A SIGN THAT YOU WHERE SAFE EVEN WHEN CHASED, BECAUSE YOU VALUE
YOUR PLACE OF REST AND IT IS A HAVEN TO YOU FROM BEING TIED TO PLACES
THAT ARE NOT AT PRESENT SHOWS A DEEP TIE TO YOUR CHILDHOOD AND
PERHAPS YOU HAD A DEEP DREAM LIFE EVENT THERE THAT IS BECOMING
RELIVENT NOW AND SHOULD TRY TO SEARCH YOUR FIRST RECALL, THERE IS I
AM SURE SOMETHING OF IMPORTANCE PERHAPS A FORTELLING IN A DREAM IN
PASSING THAT NOW YOU SUPRESS OR CAN NOT REMEMBER.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At any rate, the chasers sent a tiger after my family. The tiger
mauled a few of the family members before the door to the house got
shut to lock the tiger out. I had to close the door and lock a few
of the members outside. Some of my family members betrayed me and let
the Tiger in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE TIGER WAS SENT BECAUSE IT IS PART OF YOUR CHOSEN ANIMAL TOTEM,
THE CAT. THAT IT ATTACK'S WAS BECAUSE YOU TRYED TO LOCK IT OUT OF ITS
TIE WITH YOU/ THAT YOU STATE, SOME LET THE TIGER IN, AND YOU WHERE
BETRAYED, IT IS THAT YOU HELD FEAR FOR THIS ANIMAL, YET YOUR FAMILY
KNEW IT WAS THEIR ONLY TRUTH TO LET THEIR POWERS IN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I slit my wrists and sat in the bathtub and faked being dead in order
to fool the chasers. They came in the house and chopped off my head
to make sure I was dead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THAT YOU KILL YOUR SELF IS A SIGN THAT YOU WOULD GIVE INTO FEAR AND
DISTROY YOURSELF RATHER THAN FACE, WHAT MUST BE FACED, THAT IS WHY
YOUR HEAD GETS CHOPPED OFF, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT STOP YOUR FLIGHT AND
CONFRONT YOUR FEARS. SHOWS THAT YOU ARE GROWING YET STILL THE MONDAIN
DRUGERY OR REAL IS RATHER A THING YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXSCAPE FROM.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I rejuvinated. I ressurected into a different body. The chasers
took me and one other girl outside (all the rest of the family became
the chasers, or were killed), surrounded us in a circle and took
turns applying various tortures to us. First, the punched us and
pushed us to the ground one at a time. Next, they stuck two pins in
each of our eyes (four pins per person), pinning them half shut, then
they made us look in the mirror. I mentioned before that I was not
in my body, and saw that I was a pretty blonde with long, wild hair
and chiseled features. Next, the took hammers and beat us with
them. Finally, the hung us up on meathooks for the night, with some
sort of ointment to attract flies that would bite us.
This dream really takes the cake on any other dream that I have ever
had. I have never had so many odd elements combined in one dream,
nor so much gruesome detail, nor pain.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
WEN YOU TRAVEL IN THIS PART AND UNDERSTAND WHY YOU ARE SEEING WITH
ANOTHERS EYES, YOUR ARE NO LONGER IN THE FIRST STAGE OF YOUR DREAM
BUT IN THE REALITIY OF THE BODY YOU ARE IN... THAT THE OTHERS BLIND,
AND DO EXTREAMLY PAINFUL THINGS TO YOU, (4 PINS 4 BEING THE NUMBER OF
DEATH)STILL YOU SEE THAT YOU ARE NOT IN YOUR OWN BODY SEE YOUR
REFLECTION THAT IS OF ANOTHERS BODY/ THIS SHOWS YOU WOULD RATHER HELP
OTHERS WHO HAVE BURDENS THAN HEAL YOURSELF AND YOU WOULD GIVE
YOURSELF TO HELP ANOTHER BEFORE HELPING YOURSELF, I WOULD SUSPECT A
LATENT ABILITY TO FIND LOST CHILDREN OR MISSING PERHAPS MURDERD
PEOPLE. YOU HAVE YET TO TAP INTO THIS ABILITY BECAUSE YOU ARE STILL
NOT STRONG TO DO IT OR AVIOD THE COMPLACATIONS THAT WOULD ARISE IN
YOUR LIFE IF YOU DID SO.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Perhaps I should mention that this dream occured the night after
attending my first pagan function, Earth Religious Awareness Day, in
which I had a deeply spiritual experiance and a wonderful time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
THAT YOU SAW THESE THINGS SO CLEARLY AFTER SUCH A POWERFUL DAY IS A
TEST BY SPIRIT TO SEE WHAT YOU WILL CHOOSE TO USE AND CHANNEL WHAT
YOU HAVE EARNED, & IF YOU HAVE GAINED THE INSIGHT UPON HOW TO DO SO.
IT ALSO SHOWS YOU HAVE MANY POSSABLE DESTINYS AND ARE AT A BRIDGE IN
YOUR LIFE YOU MUST CHOOSE WHICH WAY YOU FACE AND CHANNEL FORTH YOUR
UNCONSCIOUSLY & CONSCIOUS WILL AND WAY WITH WIZDOM AT THIS TIME.. DO
NOT GET OVER BURDENED AND SEEK THE PURE TRUTH OF WHAT YOU WISH TO DO
AND CREATE. THESE WILL BE THE SEEDS OF HARVEST TO BE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brightest Blessings from White Witch Woman!
______________________________________________________________________
~ T H E VA L U E O F M Y T H ~
Many people today think that myth is something that comes from an
old bardic tale by a winter hearth. The myth is often perceived as a
story to tell children to frighten them into behaving or stir their
imaginations. At the very least it is a form of entertainment today.
While it can be seen as a good source for a fantasy story, it does
hold other value. For decades now I have studied the myths and
folklore of many cultures, so much so that I tend to forget where
this or that one came from at times. I have also come to see that it
doesn't always matter. As I looked into the myths I found that
patterns began to emerge. Settings changed, names changed, but the
core of the story remained the same. What is important about that?
Well, if you think about it, many of these cultural myths came from a
wide variety of countries when there was no form of world travel or
communication between them. I find that interesting. It draws my
attention to the universal archetypes--the figures that all cultures
share in one form or another, the characters we can all relate to,
the pantheons that dance in lost memories. Somehow we all recognize
them and they hold meaning for us. (That's another topic altogether.)
In myth we discover the exemplification of role models for
courage, strength, foolishness, and any number of characters traits
or tragic flaws. They are the stories that we are reared on and they
set the stage of life. While this is well and good there is something
else at the core of these myths that emerges. It's the central theme
that also tells of creation, of spiritual pathways, and the secrets
of the ages. I am a medicine woman. I practice the shamanic pathway
and have seen the value of myth when it is brought to life through
ritual ceremonies. It gifts us with wonder, but it also lets us
become a part of it. While this technique is not restricted to the
shamanic path, it is well utilized there. Let me give an example of
how it can be applied and perhaps you will be able to sample the
value for yourself.
Imagine, if you will, that you are a tribal member who has
gathered on the Northern Plains with hundreds of others. Your
spiritual leaders are preparing for the ceremony and there is a buzz
in the air. Everyone can feel the excitement and the focus of the
festivities as the energies seem to charge and permeate all that is
taking place. Ceremonies of purification are going on in the Mother
Lodge (sweat lodge), and individuals are beginning to emerge in
costume appropriate to the occasion. Everyone is starting to become
very focused as the people begin taking their places.
There is a sacred roadway that your tribe uses to make pilgrimages
to the ceremonial grounds where the dancing, feasting, and
celebration will conclude. It is morning right now, and the walk
along the sacred road will take up a good portion of it. It will be
afternoon when the tribe gathers around the Medicine Wheel and the
fires will be lit as the dancers enter this Sacred Hoop of Life. The
ceremony itself will last through the night and all will greet the
rising sun as it spreads its first light of day and sends its energy
across the face of the land.
This road is sacred, it is used only for ceremonial purposes and
is honored through ritual cleansing by sweeping the negative energies
away and smudging. It is prepared now. The tribe, led by a shaman or
holy person, begins to gather at the start of this roadway. All eyes
and ears are directed at the leader as he or she begins to speak of
the ceremony that is taking place. Through the telling the myth
begins to unfold. In the words spoken by the shaman a spell is woven
and all are caught up in symbolism, costumes, and events of the myth
that are re-enacted along the way. As the walk begins there are
certain places where shrines are erected and the procession stops for
the telling of a tale that is part of the overall myth. These shrines
have become ingrained with a particular telling and hold great
symbology for you and the rest of the people. As you stop at these
shrines memories flood your mind and summon the images of a different
time, when some event took place and the lesson is conjured. As this
procession progresses the drums, rattles, and flutes combine with the
chanting and songs. You are taken deeper into the myth until you are
lost to the mundane world and have been captured by the spell. You
are in the NOW. You live the myth and you are a part of it. Each
person has a role to play either as a character or as an observer,
but all are a part of it, and each role is important.
Enfolded in this spell-weaving are mysteries and sacred truths
that come to life. To live a myth in this way is to invoke its power,
to understand and ingrain it into your own spiritual teachings, to
hold its truths and know them first-hand. The technique, as I have
stated, is not exclusive to the shamanic pathway. It is used in the
coven-work of the witch, by the solitary practitioner, by pagans of
all sorts, and in the religious teachings of the world as they honor
their sacred celebrations. It brings them to life and reminds us all
how the Wheel of the Year turns, how the Spiral Dance continues, and
how we are very much a part of it all. It strengthens our foundations
and allows us to honor the precious Powers that Be and our Creator.
We come to relate to certain characters as role models for our own
life path and others as examples of what not to do or be. We see
through example and the soft eyes of our inner spirits and we are
enlightened. We learn lessons that speak of mysteries and sacred
truths, of medicine or power, of magick and wonder.
The next time a myth is presented to you look at it closely. Ask
yourself what the lesson is and see how it pertains to your life
today, and to your spiritual path. We are not that far removed from
these places in time and the truths of the myths stand the test of
time through the centuries. Treasure the myths you hold and see them
for more than just a winter tale to be told or some small part of
history that may or may not have taken place. It is not just the
story itself but all the intrigal parts that give it value. Why the
characters acted as they did, their motivation, passions, and greed
where it applies are important. The retribution for those acts, be it
reward or punishment, is important as we see the lesson emerge. See
the mysteries unfold and the sacred truths for what they are, as the
unknown and hidden secrets begin to reveal themselves to you. Then
ask yourself if these things don't hold value today. I think you may
be surprised.
Myths are the remnants of the oral traditions that held the
mysteries of the sacred teachings for those who knew how to see them.
In them we find the hidden and lost shadows that our ancestors
carefully preserved. Look to them with new eyes and treasure each one
that comes to you. It is a gift of Spirit that you hold and if you
are wise you will see the value of the myth. May the Winds speak of
the old tales and Spirit bless you with understanding their
teachings.
Cinnamon Moon
______________________________________________________________________
~ W E B S I T E O F T H E M O N T H ~
This month's featured website is Catala's Realm of Witchcraft at
http://www.silvermoon.net/catala/webpage.htm
This page is beautifully maintained, and contains a vast array of
knowledge to explore and encounter. Contains many of the basic
elements found on most pages dealing with witchcraft, but the
webmistress does it well, with beautiful graphics, and a bit more.
______________________________________________________________________
~ A M A Z I N G G R A C E F O R W I T C H E S ~
Amazing Grace for Witches
Amazing Grace
How sweet the Earth,
That bore a Witch like me.
I once was burned,
Now I survive.
Was hanged but now I sing.
'Twas Grace, That Drew
Down the Moon,
and Grace that Raised
the Seas,
The Magick in,
The people's Will
Will Set our Mother Free.
We Face The East,
and breathe the winds,
That move across the Earth,
From gentle breeze to huricane,
our breath will bring forth change.
Turn Towards the South,
and Feel the Fire,
That burns in you and me,
The Spirit's flame shall rise again,
and Burn Eternally.
We Greet the West
Our Souls awash,
In Tides of Primal Birth,
Our Pain and blood, Our Tears and Love
Shall cleanse and heal the Earth.
Reach into North,
and know your roots,
Down Deep ancestral Caves.
We find the Wisdom of the Crone,
of Circles we are made.
Amazing Grace
How Sweet the Earth
That bore Witches like We.
We once were burned
Now we survive
were hanged and now we sing.
Goddess bless,
So mote it be
Our Magick Spirals on,
Merry meet and Merry part
and Merry meet Again.
______________________________________________________________________
~ W O R D S O F W I D SO M ~
Our progress today, and certainly our serenity, is enhanced by our
willingness to accept all that we are blessed with today. Not only
to accept, but to celebrate, trusting that these events are moving us
toward our special destiny.
Flowing with the twists and turns in our lives, rather than
resisting them, guarantees smooth sailing, helps us to maximize our
opportunities, and increases our serenity. Accepting our
powerlessness over all but our own will and attitude is the first
step we need to take toward finding serenity.
Resistence, whether it is against a person or a situation in our
lives, will compound the problem as we perceive it. We can believe
in the advantages for growth that all expereinces offer. We can sail
with our experiences. We can be open to them so they can carry us to
our destination. We can trust, simply trust, that all is well and in
our favor, every moment.
______________________________________________________________________
~ P A G A N H U M O R ~
THE CHARGE OF THE CREDIT CARD GODDESS
"Listen to the words of the Great Mall Mother, who of old was
called Bargain Basement Shopper, Flea Market Browser, and The Half-Off
Sale Spotter: "Whenever you have need of anything, or simply have
an irresistible urge to spend money, once a month, or more often if
your credit limit permits, and better it be when your charge card
isn't overextended, you shall assemble in a huge place called The
Mall, to adore the Spirit of Spending, AKA The Great Mall Mother. You
shall be free to charge as much as you want, and as a sign that you
be free, you shall have Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Sears,
and J.C. Penney cards at your fingertips. Charge pagan CD's, charge
herbs, candles, and Tarot cards, charge chocolate, charge anything
that shall bring you ecstasy of the spirit and make your life more
joyous on earth.
For my law is CHARGE EVERYTHING! The charge card is the secret
that opens the doors of all the shops in the mall. The Cauldron of
Credit is the Holy Grail of unlimited spending and high finance
charges. It gives knowledge of eternal debt in exchange for the
freedom to buy what you want even when you can't afford it. It brings
reunion with all your friends and neighbors who've also come unto the
mall to use their plastic. Nor do I demand aught of sacrifice, except
that you shall deposit your entire paycheck in the bank to cover your
credit card bills, for behold, I am the bringer of all material
things, and my account number, expiration date, andcredit limit are
poured out to all who apply and are found to qualify.
_____________________________________________________________________
Well, that is our newsletter for this July! Stay tuned for the
August issue, coming out the last week of July. Remember, if you
have any contributions for the newsletter be sure to send them to
prariewitch3@hotmail.com or e-mail me for more information!
Also, a new feature is that we will be putting the contents of this
newsletter, all past newsletters, and all future newsletters up on
the web with pictures, to make your reading more pleasurable.
The Prarie Hearth Virtual Coven Community has a new manager, as I am
to busy with Ask A Witch to give the Prarie Hearth Community my full
attention. Welcome Dawnmarie as the new community manager, and be
sure to check out the improvements that she has made on the site!
Prarie Hearth Virtual Coven Community
http://communities.msn.com/PrarieHearthVirtualCoven
Ask A Witch
http://communities.msn.com/AskAWitchCommunity
Have a Blessed Summer, and may your days be filled with love and
light!
With Love,
Robin (PrarieWitch)
_____________________________________________________________________
