SHAPE SHIFTING

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Spells designed to bring about a difference in
bodily appearance in order to dissolve
mischievous enchantments by the fairy folk or
frequenters of the lower world were legion in
most cultures. In Celtic lore for instance, during
the process of dissolving the enchantment,
having cast a magic circle, the rescuer had to
keep repeating the name of the enchanted
person to remind them of who they truly were.
Traditionally the enchanted one would go
through several metamorphoses or shape shifts
in the following order: esk, adder, lion and finally
a bolt of red-hot iron. Then returning to human
form, they were left completely naked. They had
to be covered by a cloak – thus rendered invisible
– and washed in milk and then hot water.
If we accept the idea of the evolution of the
soul, the stage of heating iron until it is red hot
represents the process of transmutation from
animal to human. The final purification in milk
(which in Irish mythology is a healing
substance) and water restores the victim to his
normal self – he is reborn.
In many cultures iron is regarded as a tool of
purification. It was, and still is, dreaded by the
darker powers and many amulets and charms
fashioned from the substance were used to avert
evil. Iron pins or brooches were stuck in
headgear, a piece of iron was often sown into the
clothes of children and horseshoes were often
used to protect the homes and byres (cowsheds).
Women in childbirth were also said to be
protected with iron (see the iron protection
incense on p 57), sometimes by a row of nails
and at other times by a scythe or pitchfork. This
was so that mother and baby were protected
from evil spirits, particularly from the night

demons who were said to steal babies. Up until
quite recently in Scotland in some areas, it was
considered highly unwise to leave a baby alone
at all, lest it be stolen away by the faeries.

Winter’s End

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

YOU WILL NEED
White candle
Corn dolly
Fireproof receptacle
Either the sticky burrs from a cleavers plant
(which has a cleansing effect) or several pieces of
paper on which you have written your irritations
METHOD
✤ Light the candle.
✤ Cup the corn dolly in your hands and review
the previous year, particularly winter.
✤ Attach as many of the sticky burrs as you can
to the corn dolly, making each one represent
something that has irritated you.
✤ Alternatively, tuck the pieces of paper into the
corn dolly.
✤ Carefully set the dolly alight and place it in
the receptacle.
✤ As the dolly burns say these words or similar:
Begone dull and nasty times
Welcome moments fine
I greet the new times with joy and laughter
✤ When the corn dolly has burnt out, bury the
ashes as an offering to the earth or dispose of
them in running water.
Nature-based religions gave way to the Christian in
other ways as well. For example, the four-leaved
clover has long been associated with the sun, good
fortune and luck. To pagans it also represented the
Goddess form, the quaternity – the fourfold aspects
of deity

In Ireland, St Patrick is thought to have used
the trefoil (three-leaved clover) to demonstrate
the principle of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son
and Holy Spirit – to his followers. He would
have used material that was readily available to
him rather than the rarer and more magical
four-leaved plant, and would thus have
signified the move away from intrinsic magical
knowledge associated with Mother Earth.
Incidentally, the clover plant is thought to give
the wearer the ability to see the fairy form.

Weight loss knot spell:

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Cut a piece of yellow ribbon that’s the length of wrapping it around your waist once. Say, as you tie your knots:

“By knot of 1, my overeating is done.

By knot of 2, I exercise too.

By knot of 3, I eat fat free.

By knot of 4, I hydrate more.

By knot of 5, a diet I contrive.

By knot of 6, my thyroid I fix.

By knot of 7, this week I lose 7.

By knot of 8, weight loss is my fate. By knot of 9, success is mine!”

Tie ends together. Say “Knot 10 makes this true. As I will, so mote it be.”

(I highly recommend all knot spells)

FOLKLORE ON A Stopped Clock

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Lets examine the curious and sometimes sinister superstitions that have grown up around clocks over the years, and related how a stopped clock was often related to a death in many folk beliefs. Now this widespread superstition comes in two main variants, firstly there is the common tradition that a clock is stopped when some one dies. These days most people are familiar with it from a scene in the popular film Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), and the origin of this funereal custom has prompted much speculation over the years.

A commonly touted explanation is that folks stopped the clock when a loved one died so that the time of death was recorded accurately for when the doctor or similar vassals of officialdom came a-calling. However while this theory sounds all well and good, there is a problem with it – for it assumes that in ages past, our ancestors recorded deaths on certificates like we do today. However, death certificates requiring a doctor’s signature and attested details such as time and cause of death are a relative modern phenomena, with centralized death records only coming into effect in the late 19th century, and in the US death certificates were not introduced until 1910. Before then, deaths were recorded in parish registers and required far less details. But there are many sources that record this superstition dating back well before modern death certification came into effect.

So then, what was the origin of the custom? Another theory that has been advanced is that in olden times, clocks were large and noisy, and hence to silence the loud ticking they made, they were stopped, so to allow mourners to grieve in silence. A variation of this theory states that clocks in the room where the deceased was laid out were stopped so mourners did not worry about how long they spent paying their respects! Again both of these theories sound ostensibly plausible, but actually do not entirely fit the lore we have recorded. For many variations of the belief hold that the clock should remain stopped until the body is carried out of the house for the funeral. Then, and only then, may the clock be started again. It was therefore, a kind of symbolic gesture, acknowledging that for the dear departed time itself had stopped. Indeed this is made clear in one of the earliest references to the belief. In 1825, the Newcastle Magazine reports that –
At a northern latewake… the clock is shrouded and stopped, to signify that time has become a blank (for the deceased)
It has been also speculated that stopping the clocks is also a sign to the deceased’s spirit that their life is over and they must now move on from this life; quite literally a way of telling the dead ‘your time has ran out’. However it is also very possible that it is related to our second famous superstition about stopped clocks – that a timepiece will mysteriously stop when a loved one dies.

Now in the world of folklore, cause and effect is often not a linear process. Many superstitions originate in the same magical philosophies that give rise to sympathetic magic. Everyone knows the famous example of this – the voodoo doll, but as we saw in a previous article on witch bottles, sympathetic magic was a two way street – hence an evil curse could be rebounded back to the sender by example the magical ‘sympathies’ that power the original spell. Hence stopping a clock when someone dies may be similarly exploiting a magical sympathy, in this case to prevent the Reaper making a second call to the household too soon.

Clocks that mysteriously stop when a death occurs is often thought to be merely a hokey old plot device, with many crediting a hit song, My Grandfather’s Clock for being the origin of this superstition. Certainly this perennial favourite, written by Henry Clay Work, is a very old work, being first published back in 1876 (and if you are not familiar with it, the lyrics will be reproduced at the end of this article). And it is true too that the song has been massively influential – for it is thanks to Work’s song that we call grandfather clocks by that term – previous to this ditty they were known as long case clocks, floor clocks or tall clocks!

However what few people realize is that the song was inspired by a true life case. In the north of England, there is a little town called Piercebridge which is home to an old pub, The George Inn. Some one hundred and sixty years ago, The George was a coaching inn, run by two brothers named Jenkins. Their pride and joy was a long case clock made by the famed Thompsons of Darlington, for at the time Thompson clocks were renowned for their precision and accuracy with many famous clock-makers learning their trade at James Thompson’s workshop on High Row in Darlington. And by all accounts, The George Inn’s clock was exceptionally accurate, a very handy thing for travelers to a coaching inn.

However when one of the Jenkins brothers died, the clock began to lose time on regular basis. And when the surviving brother passed away aged 90, the clock, although fully wound, stopped. The new manager of The George attempted to get the clock running again, and despite being examined and rebuilt by Thompsons, the clock would not run. And indeed it never ran again, and can still be seen to this very day in the foyer stuck at 11.30. Now Henry Clay Work stayed at The George in 1874 and heard the tale of the stopped clock, and was thus inspired to write his famous song.

So if My Grandfather’s Clock wasn’t the origin of this superstition, where did it originate? Well according to documents left by the King’s Clockmaker, a Mr Vullamy, a clock in the royal household mysteriously stopped when George III died in 1820. And this historical oddity has been claimed to be the inspiration for the belief. However even a small amount of research will uncover a host of similar stories, and it appears that rather than being a folk belief, clocks do stop when some one dies. Now skeptics of course will claim that this is merely a trick of probability – and that obviously some people will die at the exact moment a clock that can be seen by relatives stops.

However while invoking that old favourite agent of debunking, Coincidence, seems all very rational and scientific, at the same time it is hard not to feel a little chill when reading account after account of people reporting clocks and watches stopping at the moment of a death. Particularly when you have reports of modern digital and electrical timepieces suddenly stopping, and even multiple clocks stopping when the death occurs. It is apparently a common enough phenomena for many doctors and nurses to have noted it as something that happens often when some one dies.

Some have even theorized it may be some electro-magnetic effect, generated biologically when some one dies that is to blame, for it is a scientific fact some people’s bodies do carry a certain electro-magnetic charge that will stop any watch they wear. Perhaps when we start to see ourselves more as complex electromagnetic events than just bags of meat, when biology gains a deeper understanding of the electrical energies that are so vital to making us living, thinking creatures, science will get us an answer. Until then however we cannot rule out the Reaper’s bony fingers stopping the clocks to say “Time’s up…”

MY GRANDFATHER’S CLOCK
by Henry Clay Work

My grandfather’s clock was too large for the shelf,
So it stood ninety years on the floor;
It was taller by half than the old man himself,
Though it weighed not a pennyweight more.
It was bought on the morn of the day that he was born,
And was always his treasure and pride;
But it stopped short — never to go again —
When the old man died.

Ninety years without slumbering
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
His life’s seconds numbering,
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
It stopp’d short — never to go again —
When the old man died.
In watching its pendulum swing to and fro,
Many hours had he spent while a boy;
And in childhood and manhood the clock seemed to know
And to share both his grief and his joy.
For it struck twenty-four when he entered at the door,
With a blooming and beautiful bride;
But it stopped short — never to go again —
When the old man died.

Ninety years without slumbering
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
His life’s seconds numbering,
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
It stopped short — never to go again —
When the old man died.
My grandfather said that of those he could hire,
Not a servant so faithful he found;
For it wasted no time, and had but one desire —
At the close of each week to be wound.
And it kept in its place — not a frown upon its face,
And its hands never hung by its side.
But it stopped short — never to go again —
When the old man died.

Ninety years without slumbering
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
His life’s seconds numbering,
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
It stopp’d short — never to go again —
When the old man died.
It rang an alarm in the dead of the night —
An alarm that for years had been dumb;
And we knew that his spirit was pluming for flight —
That his hour of departure had come.
Still the clock kept the time, with a soft and muffled chime,
As we silently stood by his side;
But it stopped short — never to go again —
When the old man died.

Ninety years without slumbering
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
His life’s seconds numbering,
(tick, tock, tick, tock),
It stopped short — never to go again —
When the old man died 

What is Death Witchcraft?

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Here is a few facts on Death Witchcraft.

I personally define death witchcraft as working with and honoring spirits of the dead (ghosts, ancestors) as well as the power of death itself (endings, resurrections). Death witches reflect upon the concept of death, come to terms with their own death, and work through spiritual deaths in our lives. We also communicate with the dead regularly. Many of us heal and help the dead, and in return, they aid us in our magical workings. Rather than fearing death, we embrace it as a pivotal point in the cycle of life.

How is this different from Necromancy:

Necromancy comes from the Greek words nekrs (“dead body”) and mantea (“divination by means of”). Literally, it means speaking to the dead through divination. Most necromancers receive insights about the past, present, or future through the dead.

Necromancy is part of death witchcraft, but it isn’t all of that path. Death witchcraft also involves working with death as a force, dead plants, healing the dead, and other aspects of the end of life. Some death witches also call themselves necromancers; others do not.

Today, the term necromancy is often reserved for ceremonial magicians who work with the dead. Some modern-day practitioners prefer to avoid the term because of its association with fantasy.

Why Do you perform Death Witchcraft?:

As with any magical path, everyone practices for difference reasons. Some people have an intense fear and fascination with death, and they aim to find peace through this path. Others have experienced the deaths of loved ones, and they want to heal and aid the deceased. Some worship a death deity or work as a mortician, while others are in it for the power.

Regardless of their reasoning, death witches choose to embrace death and actively work with it. Since death witchcraft relies on spirit work, it has a high learning curve and is one of the more taxing crafts out there.

What do you do in the Craft?: A lot of spirit work, namely contacting the dead. Some death witches focus on healing the dead, while others work with ghosts to perform other spells. Most death witches conduct shadow work to assuage their anxiety surrounding death as well.

Common techniques of the craft include tending to graveyards, giving offerings to the dead, helping the dead pass on, and traveling to the afterlife. Death witches also honor ancestors, honor different cultures funeral rites, and necromancy.
Some witches combine the craft with vulture culture, or becoming a mortician or funerary holder.

Is death witchcraft religious?:

Yes and no. Considering how much work death witches do with the spirits of a dead, a general belief in the afterlife is necessary. However, I do know some death witches who engage in past life work as an aspect of their craft instead of working with ghosts. Death witchcraft has the flexibility of neatly fitting into most religious beliefs.

Is death witchcraft a “dark” path?:

If you mean “dark” in terms of “evil” or “negative,” then no. Of course death witchcraft involves death, an idea that many people feel uncomfortable with. And it can be a hard and draining path. But evil? Or unethical? Not at all. With death witchcraft, you have the opportunity to heal yourself and souls around you.

Are there any rules in death witchcraft?:

I cannot enforce rules onto any path, but I will encourage one: respect both the dead and the living. The dead are not your slaves; they’re just as valuable as we are. Respect them, and they’ll respect you.

A Witches Guide to the Pagan Summer Solstice Celebration

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Litha, also known as the Summer Solstice, is a pagan holiday celebrated on or around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the longest day and shortest night of the year, and marks the official start of summer. In pagan traditions, it is a time to celebrate the power of the sun and the abundance and growth of the natural world. It is also seen as a time of balance between light and dark, and a turning point in the year when the days begin to grow shorter and the nights longer. This holiday is a time of abundance, growth, and light, and is associated with a variety of correspondences, including colours, crystals, deities, traditions, and ways to observe the holiday.

Litha pronunciation is “LEE-thuh” with the emphasis on the first syllable. The word “Litha” is believed to have originated from the Anglo-Saxon word for “midsummer” and is still used by modern pagans and Wiccans to refer to this holiday.

As a spiritual holiday, Litha is a time for rituals and ceremonies that honour the sun and the energy of the summer season. It is a time to connect with the natural world and to celebrate the beauty and diversity of life. It is also a time to reflect on personal growth and to set intentions for the rest of the year.

Overall, the meaning of Litha is one of joy, abundance, and connection to the natural world. It is a time to celebrate the light and warmth of the sun, and to embrace the energy of growth and transformation that comes with the summer season.

Litha Colours:
The colours typically associated with Litha include yellow, gold, green, and blue. Yellow and gold represent the sun, which is at its strongest and brightest during this time of year. Green represents growth and abundance, while blue represents the sky and the waters of life.

Flowers for Litha
Flowers are an important part of the Litha celebration.You can use them to decorate your altar, make flower crowns, or simply enjoy their beauty as a reminder of the abundance and growth of the summer season. Some flowers that are commonly associated with Litha and the summer solstice include:

Sunflowers: These vibrant flowers are often associated with the sun and the power of light.
Roses: With their beautiful blooms and sweet fragrance, roses are a symbol of love, beauty, and passion.
Lavender: This fragrant herb is often associated with relaxation, purification, and healing.
Marigolds: These bright orange and yellow flowers are often used in rituals to honour the sun and the power of fire.
Daisies: These simple yet cheerful flowers are a symbol of innocence, purity, and new beginnings.
Chamomile: This delicate flower is often used in rituals to promote calmness, relaxation, and restful sleep.
Yarrow: This herb is often associated with courage, strength, and protection.

Crystals:
Many crystals are associated with Litha, including citrine, sunstone, tiger’s eye, and amber. These stones are said to bring warmth, abundance, and vitality, and can be used in a variety of ways during Litha rituals and celebrations.

Deities:
There are a variety of deities associated with Litha, depending on your spiritual tradition. Some popular options include the goddesses Brigid, Gaia, and Freyja, as well as the gods Lugh, Apollo, and Helios. These deities are often associated with the sun, fire, and growth, and can be called upon to bring blessings and abundance during Litha celebrations.

Traditions:
There are many different ways to observe Litha, depending on your personal beliefs and traditions. Some common practices include:

Lighting bonfires or candles to celebrate the light and warmth of the sun
Decorating altars and sacred spaces with flowers, herbs, and other symbols of growth and vitality
Holding outdoor rituals or gatherings to connect with nature and honour the turning of the seasons
Creating and sharing meals made with fresh, seasonal ingredients
Participating in activities that celebrate creativity, such as dancing, singing, or making art

Ways to Observe the Holiday:
If you’re looking to celebrate Litha, there are many ways to get involved. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Spend time outside, whether that means going for a hike, having a picnic, or simply sitting in the sun and enjoying the warmth
Make a wreath or other decoration using flowers, herbs, and other natural materials
Light a candle or bonfire and meditate on the energy and vitality of the sun
Create a special meal or drink using seasonal ingredients, such as berries, herbs, or honey
Connect with friends and loved ones and participate in a group ritual or celebration.

Ritual for Summer Solstice
A ritual for the summer solstice, also known as Litha, can be a beautiful way to celebrate this seasonal turning point and connect with the energy of the sun. Here is a simple ritual that you can try:

Materials:

A candle (ideally yellow or gold)
Incense (such as frankincense or sandalwood)
A small bowl of water
A small bowl of salt
A flower or herb that represents summer (such as sunflower, rose, or lavender)

Steps:

Find a quiet, outdoor space where you can perform the ritual. If you cannot be outside, find a space near a window that lets in natural light.
Set up your materials on a flat surface, such as a table or altar. Light the candle and the incense, and take a few deep breaths to centre yourself.
Hold your hands over the bowl of water and say, “I bless and consecrate this water in the name of the sun and the summer season.”
Sprinkle a pinch of salt into the bowl of water and stir it with your fingers. Say, “I purify this water in the name of the sun and the summer season.”
Hold the flower or herb in your hand and say, “I offer this flower (or herb) in gratitude for the abundance and growth of the summer season.”
Take a few moments to meditate on the energy of the sun and the power of the summer season. Allow yourself to feel connected to the warmth and light of the sun.
When you are ready, blow out the candle and allow the incense to burn down. Pour the water and salt outside, thanking the earth for its blessings.

This simple ritual can be adapted to suit your personal beliefs and traditions. You may choose to add additional elements, such as singing, drumming, or dancing. The most important thing is to allow yourself to connect with the energy of the sun and the joy of the summer season.

Overall, Litha is a time of joy, abundance, and growth, and is a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature and celebrate the turning of the seasons. Whether you choose to observe the holiday in a traditional way or create your own rituals and practi ces, this is a time to honour the sun and all that it brings into our lives

Fairy Witches: The Age-old Connection Between the Fay and Witchcraft

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Today fairies are not just for little girls’ imagination, they’re for witches and magical practitioners too. There’s a magical trend – working with the unseen world, namely working with the fae. There are many historical and folkloric connections between fairies and witches dating back centuries. Let’s learn about this connection, as well as where and how the first witch made friends with fairies.

Morgan Le Fay: The “First” Fairy Witch

Ever heard of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table? Within the legends of Camelot are stories of a powerful and feared fairy witch. Her name is Morgan Le Fay, and in some versions of the Arthurian legend, she is King Arthur’s sister. The last two words of her name Le Fay literally means the fairy. Morgan Le Fay lived in Avalon and had abilities, and so was accused of being a fairy and witch.

Morgan Le Fay and the Isle of Avalon

Different versions of the Arthurian legend paint her in different lights. She was either the ruin or the savior of Arthur’s life. Legend says she took Arthur to the Isle of Avalon, to be his last resting place. Moreover, the Isle of Avalon was a magical place beyond the mist and inhabited by fairies. Nine magical sisters lived there, including Morgan Le Fay.

The Fairy Witch Trials

We have all heard of the unspeakable horrors that took place with the Witch Trials in Europe and America. Superstition and greed drove the massacres to occur. But what most people don’t know is fairies played a part in the Witch Trials too.

The Fairy Witch Trial of the Fisherwife of Palermo

Most of the Fairy Witch Trials took place in Italy. Out of the known sixty-five cases, the Fisherwife of Palermo’s fairy witch trial in Sicily was most well-known. The wife of a fisherman claimed she could leave her body behind and party with the elves whenever she wanted. She explained the King and Queen of Elves promised her riches and other pleasures if she denounced all other gods. She signed a contract and, on many occasions, spiritually joined the elves in feasting and revelry. The fairy faith was strong, and most believed the Fisherwife to be associating with fairies and not the Devil. So inevitably, they released her. Her accusers agreed she was merely “having dreams” of fairies and not physically copulating with “devils”.

Isobel Gowdie & the Queen of Elfame

In a witch trial in Scotland, an accused witch claimed she’d met with the Queen of Fairies (the Queen of Elfame) under the hills. Isobel Gowdie said the fairies taught her and other women how to fly on beanstalks to meet with other witches. Isobel’s confession is the most detailed account from this time period. And can be researched in its entirety online. I also recommend reading Emma Wilby’s book “The Visions of Isobel Gowdie.”

The Nature of the Fairies

Fairies were such an integral part of folklore in Europe that most people didn’t associate fairies with the Christian devil for many years. Often, as in the case of the Fisherwife of Palermo, the Church allowed the accused to go free. The Church explained these women’s experiences with fairies as simply dreams or mental illness. However, if fairies were mentioned in alignment with the Devil or familiars, or if the accused was thought to have harmed another using witchcraft, they were tried/tortured/executed.

The Irish and House Elves

As an elderly woman in Ireland you couldn’t keep your house too clean. Otherwise people would be suspicious of a bean-tighe in your home. A bean-tighe (pronounced ban-tee) was a female fairy similar to the Scottish brownie who tended house and watched over the children. They accused old women of witchcraft, particularly with fairies involved.

Cunningfolk and Fairy Friends

In opposition to witches who practiced maleficium, there were others who practiced “white” magic. The local cunningman or cunningwoman healed, counteracted curses, helped find lost objects and performed other helpful magical tasks. Many of the cunningfolk received their otherworldly knowledge from the fairies.

Biddy Early

An Irish woman by the name of Biddy Early was a cunningwoman who lived in the late 1700’s through the 1800’s. Biddy was called upon to not only heal people but to find lost items, to cure sick animals, and to aid in crop abundance. Biddy was well known for her herbal knowledge and for clairvoyance. Some said Biddy Early was given powers by the fairies, and that she carried a “fairy bottle” that told whispered the fairies’ secrets to her.

Modern Fairy Witches

The cunningfolk and witches of the past are gone but not forgotten. They live on in a new wave of witches and magical practitioners reviving the old ways. Some fairy witches practice fairy witchcraft by basing their magic and beliefs on fairy lore. Others follow a more religious form of fairy witchcraft.

The Feri Tradition

The Feri Tradition was created by Victor Anderson. This form of witchcraft is based on sensuality and can be very intense in nature. From my research it’s not focused on the actual belief or working with fairies, but more on an ecstatic experience within oneself. There are also various fairy Wiccan traditions that tie Celtic fairy beliefs into ritual and practice.

The REAL Connection Between Fairies and Witches

The real reason there’s a connection between fairies and witches is simple – nature. An undying, passionate love for nature and the preservation thereof. Witches walk the path of witchcraft because they seek to commune with the Universe starting with Mother Earth. Fairies are the spirits of nature, so naturally when witches work with nature, they are working with fairies. When nature spirits, fairies, realize a witch is a witch who cares and is in sync with Mother Earth, they will begin teaching that witch their secrets. Is it no wonder witches were closely linked with fairies during the Witch Trials? It makes sense to me.

Keep You Well Spell

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

This is a little herbal charm you can use to help ward off illnesses you might pick up from other people (like a cold).

A small branch or twig (about 3 inches long)
Sprig of dried rosemary
Gardenia petals, fresh
Mint leaves, fresh
Light blue yarn or ribbon
Freshly brewed chamomile tea
Bundle up the rosemary, gardenia petals and mint leaves with the twig, and wrap several times with the blue yarn. It should be wrapped enough so that no bits or pieces fall out of the charm.

Then set out a cup of hot tea on your altar surface. Have a sip, and picture a blue sphere around you that protects from illness. Now, dip one end of the exposed twig into the tea, and say the spell:

Herbal tea,
No illness be
Protect me,
Three times three.

Then dip the other end of the charm into the tea, and repeat the words. Set the spell charm aside to dry, then finish drinking the tea.

After that, carry the charm when you go out and are concerned about catching something from other people. You can recharge it with a fresh cup of tea, and repeating the words again. 

Specific Spell Timing

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

This is the other aspect of knowing when to cast a spell. Now I mean picking the right day or time to do the actual spell itself. There is no set rule that love spells have to be cast at exactly the right time or they won’t work. But choosing the time with the right energy will give your spell more power.

The most obvious choice is to cast a love spell on a Friday. That is the day dedicated to the Goddess Freya and it is influenced by the planet Venus. That makes it the strongest day for any love magick, so plan your spells for the end of the week.

You can add the phase of the moon to that is possible too, for some added love energy. Love is most active during a full moon, though new relationships can get a boost from the energy of the new moon. It depends on how you’re approaching your love spell.

Smooth the Waters

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

You can use this spell to help improve or mend a friendship that is going through a rough patch.

A large bowl (no plastic)
A sprinkling of salt
A sprinkling of rosemary
A key
Piece of string, about a foot long
Fill the bowl with water, and then add a pinch of two of both salt and rosemary. Give it a stir with your finger to get the water rippling. Repeat the following:

Calm the waters with my friend,
I want our troubles to finally end

While you watch the water, dangle the key over the surface and repeat the words again until the water is completely still.

Wear the key around your neck for 3 days, and make sure you put some effort into fixing what may be wrong with your friendship. This spell will help calm any tension right down

Seeds of Change

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Nothing says change more than a sprouting seed that grows into a plant. So harness that transformation for yourself, as long as you have a little patience. This spell works best when you’re trying to make some changes within yourself. You need:

An egg
A quick-growing seed (bean seeds work well)
Potting soil
A small piece of crystal
A black marker
The first part is a little tricky, but you do need to get it right. You need a cup-shaped piece of egg shell to start your seed, so crack an egg carefully so that the top end comes off and you’re left with about half an egg shell. Rinse it out gently and sit it out to dry for a few days before continuing.

Then use the marker to write a word on the outside of the shell to represent what you want to change. Place the little crystal in the shell. You’ll want to use a type of crystal that relates to what you’re trying to change (check the crystal chart) or use a plain piece of quartz. Fill the rest of the shell with soil. Press the seed into the soil and keep it moist. Use a cut piece of egg carton to hold the shell and leave it somewhere sunny.

Check the shell every day and take note in your mind as it starts to sprout and changes. Focus on that change and start to make your own changes as it grows. When it outgrows the shell, gently crack the bottom and then replant the whole thing into a larger pot so the plant can keep growing. Your own changes will thrive along with your plant.

Abracadabra Healing Charm

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

This is a very simple spell, but it’s been around for thousands of years and comes from old occult practices. I thought I’d include it.

Write the word “Abracadabra” on a small piece of paper, and on each line, right the word with one less letter, like this:

ABRACADABRA

ABRACADABR

ABRACADAB

ABRACADA

ABRACAD

ABRACA

ABRAC

ABRA

ABR

AB

A

Roll the paper up and wear it around your neck. The belief is that the illness will disappear just like the word did. 

Irish Fairies: The Banshee

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

The banshee (from ban [bean], a woman, and shee [sidhe], a fairy) is an attendant fairy that follows the old families, and none but them, and wails before a death. Many have seen her as she goes wailing and clapping her hands. The keen [caoine], the funeral cry of the peasantry, is said to be an imitation of her cry. When more than one banshee is present, and they wail and sing in chorus, it is for the death of some holy or great one. An omen that sometimes accompanies the banshee is the coach-a-bower (Cóiste Bodhar)–an immense black coach, mounted by a coffin, and drawn by headless horses driven by a Dullahan. It will go rumbling to your door, and if you open it, according to Croker, a basin of blood will be thrown in your face. These headless phantoms are found elsewhere than in Ireland. In 1807 two of the sentries stationed outside St. James’s Park died of fright. A headless woman, the upper part of her body naked, used to pass at midnight and scale the railings. After a time the sentries were no longer stationed at the haunted spot. In Norway the heads of corpses were cut off to make their ghosts feeble. Thus came into existence the Dullahans, perhaps; unless, indeed, they are descended from that Irish giant who swam across the Channel with his head in his teeth. ¹

The banshee appears in a few different forms, she can appear as a beautiful, ethereal young woman, or a stately matron type, but she is most commonly depicted as a crouching old hag with a hideous wrinkled face. She is also said to be the ghost of a woman who died in childbirth, and sometimes appears as a crow, stoat, hare, or weasel.

Whatever form she is witnessed in, she usually has long silver hair that she is brushing with a comb. Because of this, there is a superstition in Ireland that if you find a comb lying in the woods, you shouldn’t pick it up or you’ll be kidnapped and taken away by fairies. Although most people don’t touch mouldy forest combs for hygiene reasons.

She is said to wear either a grey hooded cloak or the grave robe of the dead, and her eyes are perpetually red from crying.

Many believe that she can take any of the above forms and change between them as she pleases.

Any child who grew up in Ireland has heard the stories of the banshee, who screams and wails mournfully outside of a house if a family member is about to die.

Aside from that, she isn’t known to interact with humans very much, never getting any more physical than scratching at the windows and doors of the unfortunate family. Which when you think about it, is beyond horrifying.

The sound of the screams is also a matter for debate, with people from different parts of Ireland claiming different screams. In Leinster, the scream is said to be so shrill that it shatters glass, in the north, it sounds like two boards being slammed together, and in Kerry, it’s a low pleasant singing.

Regardless of the sound, she is sometimes heard screaming for a few days before the death actually occurs, and sometimes just once.

Aside from being an omen of death, the banshee would also cry at the crowning of a true king, a famous example occurring at the crowning of Brian Bóru.

There are also stories that state that only descendants of legendary king Brian Bóru will hear the banshee’s cry. And another stating that only five specific families are targeted by the banshee: The O’Brien’s, O’Neills, O’Connors, O’Grady’s, and Kavanaghs.

The idea behind the banshee comes from medieval times, when women called keeners were paid to come to funerals and sing sad songs called Caoineadh (the Irish word for ‘crying’). As ridiculous as this sounds, families would actually pay a lot of money for a talented keener.

It is said the most wealthy and powerful families would hire a Bean Sidhe or ‘fairy woman’ to come and keen at the grave, since as we all know, fairies are much better singers than humans.

The myth was built upon by the fact that, in a true stereotypical Irish fashion, the keeners would be paid only in alcohol, and would end up as alcoholic old women who would eventually get banished from their communities as a result.

As for the scream, many believe it likely came from people hearing the screech of a barn owl late at night.

Again, since Irish mythological stories were mostly passed on orally, there are not a lot of ‘confirmed’ encounters with a banshee. But here are some famous ones.

In 1437, a woman claiming to be a seer approached King James I of Scotland and told him he would be murdered at the Instigation of the Earl of Atholl and he was.

Another, more recent case was in 1801 when Robert Cuninghame, the Commander in Chief to the British Forces in Ireland, dubbed the 1st Baron of Rossmore, invited some people to his house in County Wicklow after a party in Dublin castle. During the night, some guests reported hearing a ‘deep, heavy, throbbing sigh’ followed by a low voice saying ‘Rossmore’ repeatedly. The next morning the guests learned that their host had died suddenly during the night. ²

Flavors & Correspondences

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan


Almond(milk): mental clarity + fortitude, luck, abundance, healing + good health
Amaretto: opening the mind, warding against negativity, creativity, luck
Blueberry: aids in memory + mental clarity, calmness, youth + glamour magic, restoration, aura cleansing + strengthening
Caramel: aids in changes + transformations, soothing quality to spells, good in Fae magic, increases tenacity
Chestnut: warding + protection, prosperity, longevity + increase stamina
Chocolate: self love + nurturing energy, ancestral magic, grounding, love + sexual prowess
Cinnamon: spiritual + personal power, healing, success, lust, luck, prosperity, strength
Clove: protection, actualization of desires, banishing negative + hostile forces
Coffee: inspire creativity, clear emotional + spiritual blockages, dispel nightmares, fortitude + increased stamina, encourage diligence
Coconut Milk: confidence + aid in glamour magic, strength, beauty, love
Cow milk: nurturing, fertility + prosperity, protection, abundance, aid in motherhood
Hazelnut: self-love and compassion, inspiration, creativity, wisdom + insight
Honey: happiness, offerings + Fae magic, sweetness, love, prosperity, healing, passion, spirituality
Irish Cream: dreams + intuition enhancer, prosperity, growth, aid in change
Peanut(butter): stability, aid in manifestation + intuition, attraction, energy
Pecan: spiritual purification + protection, abundance + prosperity
Peppermint: healing, purification, psychic powers + transformation, sleep, prosperity, passion
Pumpkin: wishes + dream fulfillment, protection + guarding, prosperity, magic enhancer, love
Oat(milk): tradition + ancestral work, health, stability + fortitude, beauty + youth, comfort, home magic, healing
Raspberry: invoking fertility or love, kindness + compassion, desire fulfilment, creativity, libido + sex magic
Sugar: used to amplify spells, sweetness + love, attraction, comfort, Fae magic
Soy milk: success + strength, growth, healing
Toffee: playful 

Three Candle Joy Spell

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Add a little joy to your life when you need it the most. All you need is:

3 orange or yellow candles
Cedar oil
A few pinches of rosemary and marjoram
Rub oil on all three candles, and set them up on your altar. Light each one, then sprinkle each of the herbs on the table around the candles. Focus on the heat of the flames, and repeat out loud:

Happiness and joy, come into my life

Away with anger, stress and strife

I am happy, I am free

No more negativity

Hold your hands above the flames to feel their warmth. No need to scorch yourself. Be determined to see the positive side of things, and leave the candles to burn out.

Happiness Blooms

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Bring positive fresh energy to your life with happiness spells and fresh flowers. You just need:

Jasmine or Lilac oil
One fresh flower, any kind
Paper and pencil
Yellow candle
A heat-proof container

Light the candle, and write 3 things on the piece of paper that are making you unhappy right now. Put the paper in the candle flame and let it burn. You can drop it into the bowl when it gets going.

Rub a little oil on the flower, and breathe in the smell. Visualize your problems disappearing with the ash of the paper, and replace that stress with the joy of the flower. Set the flower in the bowl over the ashes, and leave on your altar to remind you to be happy.

Fairy Witches: The Ages-old Connection Between Fae and Witchcraft

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Today fairies are not just for little girls’ imagination, they’re for witches and magical practitioners too. But it’s not truly anything new. It dates back to at least ancient times. There are many historical and folkloric connections between fairies and witches particularly in European traditions. Let’s learn about this connection, as well as where and how the first witch made friends with the fae.

First, Let’s Define the Fae (As Best We Can)
For the intent of this post, I’ll be referring to the fae from an European traditional perspective. Keep in mind there are spirits similar or comparable to the fae all over the world in nearly every ancient, magical tradition. Just as there are mermaids in many cultures worldwide. For this post, I’m sticking to the fae of my personal ancestors’, as this is where my knowledge lies at this time.

So what are the fae, exactly? Can we even define them if we tried? The fae, also called faeries or fairies, have many names and many faces. We’ll see a large variation in temperament, appearance, folklore, traditions, etc. as we travel from country to country and region to region across the European continent. But if I had to define the fae, I’d say they are spirits or otherworldly beings that permeate Celtic lore. Sometimes they seem to be attached to natural landmarks, other times they are attached to homes, families or even individuals. They’ve even been known to attach to especially magical individuals….like witches.

Morgan Le Fay:
The “First” Fairy Witch

Ever heard of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table? Within the legends of Camelot are stories of a powerful and feared “fairy witch”. Her name is Morgan Le Fay, and in some versions of the Arthurian legend, she is King Arthur’s sister. The last two words of her name Le Fay literally means the fairy. Morgan Le Fay lived in Avalon and had many psychic and supernatural abilities, and so was accused of being a fairy and a witch by those who didn’t live on the Isle. And likely because of Christian influence in the Arthurian mythos.

Morgan Le Fay and the Isle of Avalon
Different versions of the Arthurian legend paint her in different lights. Morgan Le Fay is a paradoxical character, as are most powerful females in the old myths. Depending on the version of the story, she was either Arthur’s downfall or his healer and savior. The Morgan-friendly legends depict her taking Arthur to the Isle of Avalon, to be his last resting place. Moreover, the Isle of Avalon was a magical place beyond the mist and inhabited by fairies. Nine magical sisters lived there, Morgan Le Fay being one of the nine. Sometimes the Lady of the Lake is one of the nine sisters and in other stories Morgan is actually the Lady of the Lake herself.

The first fairy witch might have been Morgan Le Fay.
The fae have been known to “fraternize” with humans, particularly magical ones, for hundreds of years.
The Fairy Witch Trials
We have all heard of the unspeakable horrors that took place with the Witch Trials in Europe and America. Superstition, power-hunger, and patriarchal greed drove these massacres to abundance. But what most people don’t know is fairies played a part in the Witch Trials too.

The Fairy Witch Trial of the Fisherwife of Palermo

Most of the Fairy Witch Trials took place in Italy. Out of the known sixty-five cases, the Fisherwife of Palermo’s fairy witch trial in Sicily was most well-known. The wife of a fisherman claimed she could leave her body behind and party with the elves whenever she wanted. She explained the King and Queen of Elves promised her riches and other pleasures if she denounced all other gods. She signed a contract and, on many occasions, spiritually joined the elves in feasting and revelry. The fairy faith was strong, and most believed the Fisherwife to be associating with fairies and not the Devil. So inevitably, they released her. Her accusers agreed she was merely “having dreams” of fairies and not physically copulating with “devils”.

Isobel Gowdie & the Queen of Elfame
In a witch trial in Scotland, an accused witch claimed she’d met with the Queen of Fairies (the Queen of Elfame) under the hills. Isobel Gowdie said the fairies taught her and other women how to fly on beanstalks to meet with other witches. Isobel’s confession is the most detailed account from this time period. And can be researched in its entirety online. I also recommend reading Emma Wilby’s book “The Visions of Isobel Gowdie.”

Besse Dunlop, Fairy Witch of Lynn
Besse or Bessie Dunlop of Lynn was a woman accused of witchcraft in North Ayrshire, Scotland in the sixteenth century. The trial documents claim Besse Dunlop confessed to having a familiar spirit named Tom Reid, the ghost of a soldier who aided her prophecies and gave her healing remedies with which to make a living. She also confessed to visiting Elfame (elf-land) through an ancient cave. The Queen of Elfame supposedly sent Besse her familiar Thomas to help her as she was in a dire situation at the time.

The Nature of the Fairies
Fairies were such an integral part of folklore in Europe that most people didn’t associate fairies with the Christian devil for many years. Often, as in the case of the Fisherwife of Palermo, the Church allowed the accused to go free. The Church explained these women’s experiences with fairies as simply dreams or mental illness. However, if fairies were mentioned in alignment with the Devil or familiars, or if the accused was thought to have harmed another using witchcraft, they were tried/tortured/executed.

The Celtic and Germanic People and Household Fae
As an elderly woman in Ireland you couldn’t keep your house too clean. Otherwise people would be suspicious of a bean-tighe in your home. A bean-tighe (pronounced ban-tee) was a female fairy similar to the Scottish brownie who tended house and watched over the children. They accused old women of witchcraft, particularly with fairies involved. The kobold is a Germanic household fairy or dwarf that’s known to take up residence in a home and aid in the household chores. These household types seem to be more prevalent among magical or royal people.

Fairy witches are witches who work with fairies in their craft.
Cunningfolk and Fairy Friends
In opposition to witches who practiced maleficium, there were others who practiced “white” magic. The local cunningman or cunningwoman healed, counteracted curses, helped find lost objects and performed other helpful magical tasks. Many of the cunningfolk received their otherworldly knowledge from the fairies.

Biddy Early
An Irish woman by the name of Biddy Early was a cunningwoman and “fairy doctor” who lived in the late 1700’s through the 1800’s. Biddy was called upon to not only heal people but to find lost items, to cure sick animals, and to aid in crop abundance. Biddy was well known for her herbal knowledge and for clairvoyance. Some said Biddy Early was given powers by the fairies, and that she carried a “fairy bottle” that told whispered the fairies’ secrets to her.

Modern Fairy Witches
The cunningfolk and witches of the past are gone but not forgotten. They live on in a new wave of witches and magical practitioners reviving the old ways. Some fairy witches practice fairy witchcraft by basing their magic and beliefs on fairy lore. Others follow a more religious form of fairy witchcraft.

The Feri Tradition
The Feri Tradition was created by Victor Anderson. This form of witchcraft is based on sensuality and can be very intense in nature. From my research it’s not focused on the actual belief or working with fairies, but more on an ecstatic experience within oneself. There are also various fairy Wiccan traditions that tie Celtic fairy beliefs into ritual and practice.

The Connection Between Fairies and Witches: Natural and Ancestral Theories
I have a few theories as to why fairies and intricately linked to witches. I don’t think there’s any one answer, but it’s more of a web of answers. One of the reasons there’s a connection between fairies and witches is simple – nature. An undying, passionate love for nature and the preservation of it. Witches walk the path of the craft because most seek to commune with the energies all around us, radiating off of our Mother Earth.

Witches Love Nature, As Do the Fae
At least some of the fae are likely spirits of nature, so naturally when witches work with nature, they may find they are also working with elementals and the fae. When nature spirits, fairies, realize a witch is a witch who cares and is in sync with Mother Earth, they will begin teaching that witch their secrets. Is it no wonder witches were closely linked with fairies during the Witch Trials? It makes sense to me.

Fairies and Elves…They May Be Our Ancient Ancestors
Another theory is that the fae may actually be ancestral in origin. Shocking? It may be at first, but the more you study Celtic lore and history, as well as Norse Germanic tradition, you’ll see a pattern emerging. Many of our ancient ancestors claimed descent from faeries and elven races. In Ireland and Scotland, certain clans claim descent the Tuatha de Danann. Some say Cliodhna, Flidais, and Lugh are their ancestors (to name a few). And in Scandinavian countries, we have stories of our ancestors sacrificing to the álfar (elven beings), often on top of ancestral burial mounds. And being that many witches today seek to honor their ancestors, they are also naturally honoring the potential fae in their bloodline.

So when our ancestors in the Medieval Age and early modern era were accused of being witches and consorting with faeries, they were also often accused of being heathens or keeping the “old pagan ways” alive. Perhaps these faeries, our ancestors’ ancestors, came to those witches and pagans because they still believed. Unlike their converted counterparts.

Those Gifted With the “Sight”
In addition, in faery folklore, it was frequently said the fae would give their secrets and essentially “work” with people who had the “sight”. For example, Biddy Early. Or people who had psychic and medium abilities. And, of course, it also happened these individuals with abilities would end up being accused of witchcraft and sadly end up in a courtroom, on a pyre, or hanging from a tree. And if these individuals who had the ability to talk to the fae were fighting to keep the old ways alive including to honor nature and sacred fairy sites and traditions, it makes sense the fae would be more willing to communicate with them than those who weren’t

Making Daily Tasks Magickal

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Take daily tasks and make them magical! Enchant your cooking, cleaning, and working. A few simple words can go a long way when enchanting your daily activities. For instance, I usually bless my food for good health before microwaving and eating it!
Remember that spells don’t require a lot of materials and energy! A few words, sigils, drawing, singing, or imagining a spell is enough to cast it. Drawing a sigil on my arm for productivity is enough for me to get started on some homework.
 An altar doesn’t have to be fancy! You can use a pizza pan, a plate, a piece of wood, a cardboard box, or even a section of your floor as a space for an altar. Items on an altar can include a regular cup, some salt, blessed water, or whatever you want to add and can afford! All of these items are free, already on hand, or can be found at the Dollar Tree so you don’t have to break your wallet!
 Leave a sigil or charm for prosperity in your purse or wallet! Make sure to close or add loopholes to it so that it does not come from a negative place. This can attract some extra money to your pocket!
Enchant your most used items to make them last longer or to prevent damage! Clothes, shoes, kitchen appliances, and the laundry basket really could use a sigil or some type of enchantment so that they will not break on you when you really cannot afford to fix or replace them.

Intelligence Booster Potion (Home Herb Addition)’

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan


You will need the following items for this spell:

2 strawberries
2 teaspoons thyme
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon honey
Water
Unrefined quartz
Bottle/Jar
Bowl
Mash the strawberries over the bowl until they have been entirely crushed and there is juice in the bowl.

Add water until the bowl is around halfway full.

Add the Thyme, Cinnamon and Honey.

Stir until the honey has disappeared.

Add 2 thoroughly washed quartz stones

Let it soak for 1-2 hours

Strain over jar until there is no potion left in the bowl

Optional:
Bless this potion by adding 1 teaspoon of holy water and leaving outside under the moon for a night.

TREE MEDITATION

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

DEEP PEACE OF THE TREE MEDITATION

We work with many methods of meditation. Here is one, inspired by the deep peace of the trees, that you can practice, either as a spiritual exercise in its own right, or as a prelude to prayer, ritual or other meditation or movement work.
Its purpose is to help you feel centred and grounded, and to help you deepen your experience of being in your body and in relationship to the natural world. It encourages the flow of life-force, cultivates peacefulness, and harmonises Heart and Mind.
Each element of the meditation may be experienced for as long as you wish, and once you have mastered the simple sequence, you can deepen your experience by dwelling for a longer time on each part of the meditation.

Begin by standing or sitting, and becoming aware of the environment around you. If you are not outside in a natural setting, you can imagine yourself in one – such as a forest or woodland grove.

Now move your awareness to your body, and start to move the focus of your attention slowly down from the top of your head, relaxing into your awareness of your body as you do so. Relax your eyes and mouth, release any tension in the shoulders, and gradually move your awareness down through your torso and legs to the soles of your feet.

Feel your feet planted firmly on the earth. Imagine roots travelling deep down into the soil, and sense these great strong roots spreading wide and deep beneath you.

Feel the nourishment and energy from the earth travelling up these roots now, until you sense again the soles of your feet. Feel the energy flowing up your body as you move your awareness slowly, with love and acceptance, up your body: up your legs, your thighs, your torso and arms, your chest, your neck, your head.

When you reach the top of your head, just let go of this movement of awareness and rest in an awareness of just Being… still and calm, breathing in and breathing out.

When you feel ready, raise your arms, not forwards in front of you, but out to either side of you, palms facing down. Let your arms float up effortlessly as if they doing so of their own volition, floating up until they are parallel to the earth. As they reach this position at shoulder-height, turn your palms to face upward, and as you do this, move your arms back a tiny amount – just a centimetre or so – and enjoy the sensation this gives of opening your chest, your heart: welcoming the world. Imagine your arms and hands are like the first great boughs that mark the beginning of the crown of your tree. Sense the branches and leaves of your crown moving in the sunlight and sky above.

Stay in this position as long as you like, and then slowly move your arms up until your fingertips touch above the top of your head, sensing as you do this the top of the crown of your tree. Enjoy the stretch of this movement, and then retrace the movement: slowly lowering your arms down on either side, palms facing up until they reach shoulder-height, at which point they turn downwards, and continue in one flowing movement down, until fingertips meet at the groin, at the mid-line of your body. As you move your arms down to this position allow your awareness to move towards the earth and a sense of your roots, and then feel the energy of the earth flowing up the trunk of your tree, in other words your legs, until it reaches your hands, at which point your hands begin to travel, fingertips touching, up the mid-line of your body to your chest. Pause at the chest and let your fingertips touch your body. Then bring your fingertips up to the brow to touch there. Then raise the fingertips right up as high as they can go, to repeat the stretch above your head to the top of your crown.

Stay there as long as you wish, and then repeat the sequence twice more: separating your fingertips and sweeping your hands down with palms up, flipping your palms to face downwards at shoulder level until your fingertips meet just in front of your body, then bringing them up again to touch heart and brow before stretching up to the crown.

On the third and final sequence, after stretching up above your head, lower your arms and bring them to rest on either side of you. Then just rest in stillness for a while, open to your awareness, sensing yourself breathing in and breathing out.

When you are ready to finish this phase, give thanks to the trees, and gradually allow any sense of having roots, branches and leaves to dissolve as you become fully aware of your own body.

DEEPENING YOUR PRACTICE

Even on your first attempt to perform this meditation, you will probably notice the sense of calm and grounding the exercise brings. Stretching outwards seems to open the heart and engender a feeling of gratitude and openness to life. Stretching upwards seems to help one feel aligned, and touching heart and brow can feel very powerful, bringing into our body an awareness of the goals of the Druid: Love and Wisdom. As with any meditation technique or spiritual practice, the more you work with it, the more benefit you will receive. To begin with, you may be concerned with following the sequence of the exercise correctly, but once you are familiar with this you will be able to relax into it and can take more time with each phase. You can then – if you choose – build on the basic practice, by – for example – performing the meditation facing each of the cardinal directions in turn, or by using the sequence to refresh your body and energy field during prolonged sessions of meditation or contemplation.

To see this exercise being done go to You Tube : Deep Peace of the Trees Meditation.