Thankful Thursday (1/24/13)

This week I am thankful for...

1. The rain - I love rainy weather and the cozy environment it makes (though not so much the inability of others to drive in it).
2. Lazy nights on the couch with hubby and kitty.
3. The ability to buy fresh and organic foods that hold so much more life energy within them.
4. The time off I've had from school (time to start thinking about going back in a week)
5. The fact that I get to go to Pantheacon this year with 3 wonderful ladies *squee*

Shadow Journey

Felt the muses descend today so Witchy Wednesday is my poetry.

Shadow Journey

Welcome to the deep within

The place where your true journey begins.

Fear not the shadows that loom large

They are not the ones in charge.

You have had the courage to go this far

Open to your inner shining star.

Beat the drums and blow the horns

It’s time to embrace you in all your forms.

The past has taught you to be strong

Hold not onto it too long.

But step forth into the strength and power

That is yours like the blooming flower.

Embrace the shadow and make it yours

Feel it sink into your very pores.

For you are a being of true power

Now is the time, now is the hour.

All original content copyright Julie Grucza, 2012-2013

Celebrations

Celebrations!

What do you celebrate?  The things we celebrate and the important events we mark as part of our practice is a key ingredient and should reflect our belief system.  Many of us (myself included) follow certain celebratory patterns that we don't always have a full connection with.  As part of my journey this year I've been thinking a lot about what celebrations I want to include as part of my practice.

Source: http://www.themodernpagan.net/?p=128

Seasonal Celebrations:
These beliefs I guess have changed as my life has changed, either because I have become more in-tune with the cycles or because I live somewhere that you can somewhat tell the difference in the seasons.  I think that plays a big part, whether you actually notice the changes.  For the first time since I've started I am finally getting in-tune with the idea of Imbolc, I can see the winter giving way to longer daylight and greater warmth.  But for most of my practicing years I've struggled with this one - partly I believe because I've lived in areas where you really don't notice much of a difference in the season until spring really kicks in.  I've struggled with Lughnassadh for similar reasons, failing to really feel the difference in the season and I find it difficult to celebrate something that I just can't connect with.  So I'm working through whether I keep with this 8 season system or if I work out something of my own, something that holds value to me and that resonates with my life.

Source: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/moon%20phases

Cyclical celebrations:
I have decided to work with both the full and the dark moon for the year.  I feel that both events are of equal importance and while I may not always do something elaborate (ok, who am I kidding I'll rarely do something elaborate, I'm a simple girl at heart) I will do something to mark the occasion.   I know some people do not like working with the dark moon and the full moon definitely seems to get more play in most peoples practices but I think there is value to be had in doing work appropriate to both ends of the spectrum.
I would like to begin to incorporate something to honor the sun on a regularish basis but I haven't quite worked out what I would like to do for that.

Source: http://bookofserenity.webs.com/handfasting.htm

Life celebrations:
I haven't really thought to much about this in my practice thus far.  I guess I've been relatively free from the need.  I have not had any deaths in the family, births, coming of ages etc that I would feel a need to do something for.  I don't plan on having children so any celebrations related to that is likely never to occur.  I am not even someone who makes a big deal of birthdays or anniversaries so I've got quite a void going here.  Celebrating monuments in life is very important so I feel this is something that I have to work on a little.

Source: http://www.pagunview.com/2012/12/05/in-search-of-the-true-spirit-of-christmas/

Holy Days:
Some people do celebrate different pagan Holy Days.  These are related to their deities, their path or are just historical Holy Days that drew them.  At this point I don't celebrate any of these.  I don't feel that there are any particular days that I am drawn to, but I can see the significance of participating in them.

Free Friday (1/18/13)

Okay, I'll be the first to admit I don't have a clue what to write about today - Free Friday and the lack of prompts is actually making it difficult for my somewhat still cold addled brain to form any kind of ideas that may be on interest to myself let alone anyone else.  In fact I've spent most of the last two days feeling somewhat like I'm functioning on a slightly different time dimension from the rest of the world.  But I do not want to fall out of the habit of sticking to my blog routine and so I feel I need to write something.  So I thought I'd drag myself on here and let you all know about the activity I'll be working on tomorrow that I will then post images of once it is done.

With the beginning of the new year it is time to create a new Dream tree - I believe I posted mine from last year on this blog somewhere :)  This tree will be my dreams for the year, what I hope to achieve and want to work on.  It functions somewhat like a vision board really.  I read the wonderful Roman's post on vision boards last night so I'm going to take a leaf out of that experience and try and focus on feelings and imagery and see how that goes.  I'll post pics over the weekend.

UPDATE!!

Well here it is, the finished Dream Tree for 2013.  Had such a wonderful time making this with some lovely friends.  Here's hoping it flourishes throughout the year.

Thankful Thursday (1/17/13)

This week I am thankful for...

1. The job change hubby got so his new schedule allows him to do his sporting activities and gives us a day together.
2. Finally having the courage to go to my first hoopdance class - I even learned a few new moves :)
3. Warm kitty snuggles on a cold winters day
4. Finding a few moments to paint
5. The glorious sun filled days and crisp cold nights.

How to Make a Spirit Doll

I'm attempting to fight off the dreaded cold and flu bugs that are doing the rounds at the office today so I'm somewhat groggy and not entirely up to making much sense in a post but I don't want to break the habit of posting so for today I will cheat.  I'm going to post a link here to a wonderful witchy activity that I will be partaking of with some beauteous souls in a month or so.

How to Make a Spirit Doll

Source: http://www.gaiansoul.com/2012/10/how-to-make-a-spirit-doll-step-1/

You can download a wonderful e-book to share and to assist you with making your own.  I can't wait to do mine and I will post pictures and a write up on the process when I do.

Sacred Space

Source: http://healing.about.com/od/healernetwork/ig/Pictorial-Site-Index/Sacred-Spaces.htm

Sacred Space

I'm sure that I've probably posted about this before, but having done some research during my last course at school (History of Religion) and some work on my own, and being in that current mindset of reevaluating my own sacred areas at home I have decided to tackle this topic again.

One of the discussions we had during my class was the idea of sacred space and what classifies something as sacred space.  We as human beings have created for ourselves sacred spaces as a part of that process by which we attempt to better understand our relationship to the divine/world/universe.

In the process of self-identification as a spiritual being, the Man, first spontaneously and then deliberately, creates a concrete milieu of his connection with the transcendental world. Creation of sacred spaces can be compared with pictorial creativity, which also belongs to visual culture and appears spontaneously at a very early stage of shaping of personality. http://hierotopy.ru/contents/CreationOfSacralSpaces_01_Lidov_Hierotopy_2006_Eng.pdf

Source: http://www.oakandwillow.org/YAD6%
20Overview%20of%20the%20Lesson.htm

 So creating sacred space is essential to being human - what then constitutes these sacred spaces?  How do they become sacred?  This was one of the questions that I posed in class and sadly didn't get much of an answer to.  When we consider that there are natural places that are seen as sacred and there are man-made places that are sacred what defines the sacred?  Can we define what makes something sacred?  A mountain top is said to be sacred and so people make pilgrimages to it, does it obtain its sacred nature from the dedication as a sacred space or from the energy that people have put into the place or both?  It really is quite difficult to define.  To me a sacred space has an aura - vague I know - but there is just something that one feels or is drawn to in a place that just lets you know it is sacred.  That feeling could be the energies of many people worshiping and praying (such as a church) or it could be the field of energy that exists around a certain natural site.  I have personally experienced both of these examples.  Obviously I am not a church going person, however, I have gone to churches (in and out of use) and there is an energy to them that lets you know you are in a sacred space.  I have also found hidden trails on hikes where I've stepped into a particular area and come to a complete standstill as a wave of knowing that this place is somehow sacred has descended upon me.

How then do we create our own sacred space?  First, we must come to some understanding of what a sacred space is to us.  I personally quite like this definition:

Source: http://holessence.wordpress.com/
2010/03/23/sacred-space/

At its most basic, it is a place which invites the contemplation of divine mystery, and encourages an attitude of spiritual openness.  A sacred space is not necessarily where answers are grasped or understood.  Rather it is where questions are asked, conversations occur, rituals are perpetuated, dances are performed, songs are sung, and silence is heard. www.sacred-spaces.info/sba/index.html

 We can and should I believe attempt to create a sacred space in each of our homes.  This does not necessarily mean that we have to set aside a room to devote purely to this (although if you can lucky you) but rather that I believe it is important for there to be some area where you can take a moment to stop and connect.  If all you have available to you is a shelf on a wall, the top of a dresser, a small corner on your desk or in a room you can still turn that space into something sacred.

All the arts play in to creating sacred spaces, because a space is both its architecture and its furnishings, its sounds, its smells, its touch, its taste.  http://magazine.biola.edu/article/11-fall/what-is-sacred-space/

 In order to create your sacred space take some time to think about how you are likely to use it.  Is this going to be a spot you can stop, sit, rest, contemplate?  Will it most likely be a place where you can but pause for a moment or to center and offer thanks?  The purpose and use of a place plays a part in its design (as may other considerations such as location, other house members and pets etc).  Once you know how you're likely to use it you can begin to think about the things that will identify it to your mind as sacred space. Our minds love symbols and our senses are the perfect way to trigger and emphasize our connection with the divine.  Your sacred space doesn't need to be a full blown altar, it doesn't have to have tools and paraphernalia cluttering its every surface, it may be as simple as a candle or picture some incense or crystals etc.  Use your senses and imagery to create a space that for you says "this is sacred".  Your process might be something as simple as a shelf where you have an image of deity some form on incense and a set or prayer beads - your practice is to stand, light the incense and take some time reciting a chant while you work the prayer beads.  The image connects you to the divine, the incense triggers your sense of smell and helps create an association to the sacred and the texture of the beads becomes an act that also begins to register a connection when in use.

Source: