Neroli

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Neroli essential oil exudes an entrancing citrus aroma with slightly spicy, bittersweet undertones. The oil is rendered from the white blossoms of the bitter orange or Seville orange tree. It takes one ton of hand-picked flowers to make a scant quart of oil, so it is quite valuable and expensive in the essential oil trade and can provide for a luxurious incense experience.

Neroli oil can relieve diarrhea and comfort women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome. By stimulating cell turnover, it can prevent scarring and stretch marks on the skin. With consistent use, it can reduce the appearance of broken capillaries and varicose veins. Neroli has historically been used to dissipate acute anxiety and calm grief or hysteria when used in incense. Neroli compliments spice oils like nutmeg and clove bud and is particularly compatible with myrrh incense.

Neroli

Type: Essential Oil

Energy: N/A

Gender: N/A

Planet: Sun

Elements: Fire

Powers: Purification, Joy and Sex

Self-purification: Inhale while you visualize the scent burning away negative thought patterns, harmful habits and other misuses of your energy and mind.

Joy: Simply sniff the scent to lift up your spirits and temporarily settle emotions.

Sex: Inhale while you visualize your physical, emotional, spiritual, mental and psychic connection with the person you will be intimate with. Not an aphrodisiac, but calms the conscious mind and smoothes the path to mutual satisfaction.

Neroli essential oil is obtained from the flowers of the Seville orange trees. This essential is obtained by water distilling the orange blossoms since they are very fragile and, hence, cannot undergo the steam distillation process. The aroma of neroli essential oil has a lot of resemblance to bergamot. Neroli essential oil possesses a invigorating and typical, zesty fragrance with a sweet and flowery tinge. The flowers are usually collected manually during the period between late April and early May. Going by history, the late 17th century Duchess of Bracciano and Princess of Nerola in Italy, Anne Marie Orsini was the first to introduce the quintessence of the bitter orange tree as a fragrance to perfume her gloves and her bath. It is believed that ever since, the term neroli was used to denote this essence.

It may be mentioned that the neroli essential oil is considered to be among the most valuable and pricey natural oils available in the market. While this natural oil is obtained from the aromatic white flowers of the Seville orange trees, it is one of the most expensive natural oils since several tons of flowers of this species is required to obtain just one pound of the essential oil. This essential oil possesses numerous aromatic properties and, in aromatherapy, it is used to treat as well as prevent several medical conditions. While neroli essential oil has a relaxing and soothing impact on the nervous system, its use also facilitates alleviating conditions, such as depression and fretfulness that are associated with mental stress or tension.

Neroli essential oil is rejuvenating in every sense and, hence, it is a beneficial element in several skin care products, particularly those that are meant for treating dry skin and associated problems, such as acne, dermatitis and inflamed skin conditions. In addition, neroli essential oil is also a wonderful remedy for mature skin (skin of the elderly people), stretch marks and scars. It is known to tone up the complexion of the skin as well as soften wrinkles. Neroli essential oil also has industrial use and is often used in the manufacture of colognes, perfumes, and toilet waters. Like in the instance of most other essential oils, using a little amount of neroli essential oil will sustain for a prolonged period. This natural oil obtained from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree is not only versatile in use and utility, but also blends easily with almost all other essential oils.

As aforementioned, neroli essential oil is obtained from the flowers of the bitter orange tree and is considered to be very pricey natural oil. The blossoms of the bitter orange tree are petite, whitish and highly scented. It also needs to be mentioned again that neroli essential oil is not obtained through steam distillation, but by a method known as solvent distillation using water. This is primarily owing to the fact that the blossoms of the bitter orange trees are very fragile and cannot endure steam distillation.

The essential oil extracted from the blossoms of the bitter orange trees possesses several therapeutic properties and, hence, is used to treat a number of conditions or physical and mental disorders. This natural oil possesses sedative as well as stimulant properties that are beneficial for the nervous system. It can be used to treat most of the problems related to stress and tension having an emotional origin. In addition, neroli essential oil is widely used to treat conditions, such as heart palpitations, diminish nervous anxiety and cure insomnia or sleeplessness. Deep inhaling of the aroma of neroli essential oil as well as massaging a few drops of this natural oil blended with jojoba oil on the solar plexus helps to soothe and comfort the body and the mind. The same effect is experienced when one uses this as a natural perfume or diffuses the oil in little quantities. In fact, in aromatherapy, neroli essential oil is believed to be among the most vital aromatics while treating depression and nervousness caused by tension and anxiety.

Neroli essential oil is also considered to be one of the most beneficial oil for women, especially for the skin care of elderly women. For treating mature skin, this natural oil needs to be blended with rose Otto and clary sage oils for utmost benefits. The oil’s relaxing characteristics are passed on to the cells, which are rejuvenated. In addition, use of neroli essential oil is also useful for people having sensitive skin. Most importantly, the essential oil extracted from the blossoms of the bitter orange trees has been proved to be beneficial for the female reproductive system, especially for providing relief from menstrual cramps. When using this oil for this particular therapeutic purpose, add neroli essential oil to your bath or bring down its concentration to around 10 per cent by adding it to apricot kernel oil and massage the blended oil on the abdomen. This will help to provide relief from menstrual cramps immediately.

The essential oil obtained from the flowers of the bitter orange trees possesses anti-parasitic, anti-bacterial and anti-spasmodic properties. These properties of this natural oil help it to treat intestinal problems. In order to cure intestinal disorder with neroli essential oil drop a few drops of the oil in your bath or dilute it and massage the oil on the abdomen. In addition, massaging diluted neroli essential oil on the abdomen is very useful in treating stomach problems caused by stress and mental tension.

Neroli essential oil has varied use in aromatherapy. It has been reported that the fragrance of this essential oil is effective in successfully treating conditions, such as shock and nervous depression. Use of this natural oil also helps in relaxing the body and the mind and alleviates certain conditions that may appear to be critical. Neroli essential oil is known to provide relief from several hopeless situations related to mental disorders. In aromatherapy, the essential oil extracted from the blossoms of the bitter orange trees may be used in burners and diffusers to increase the atmosphere in a room. Its use in this manner helps to bring in an air of peace and comfort.

As has been discussed earlier, neroli essential oil possesses several therapeutic properties and is, therefore, used to treat different conditions. Below is a brief account of the condition specific utilities or benefits of this natural oil that may benefit you. Just go through the list and you may find it suitable for treating some medical condition you might be enduring.

In case you are suffering from depression and nothing seems to be working to alleviate this pathetic condition, it is advisable that you try using neroli essential oil. Used in aromatherapy, this essential oil not only helps to cure depression, but also results in a happy feeling and uplifts your mood. This attribute of neroli essential oil makes its use widespread in aromatherapy.

In the instance of getting a wound or a cut and the physician not being readily available for administering an anti-tetanus injection, you may apply neroli essential oil, of course in a diluted condition, on your wounds or cut. The anti-septic and anti-bacterial properties of neroli essential oil will help to shield your wounds from becoming infected and tetanus. It has been proved that the oil obtained by solvent distillation of the blooms of the bitter orange trees is effective in healing as well as protecting wounds from getting infectious. Once you have applied this oil on your wound or cut, you can afford to visit your doctor at your leisure.

Owing to its anti-bacterial properties, neroli essential oil is very effective in eliminating bacteria – it is also known to be bactericidal. Bacteria are responsible for certain ailments and conditions, such as typhoid, cholera, food poisoning and some specific skin disorder and using this essential oil helps to cure all such diseases and conditions.

Another important characteristic of neroli essential oil is that during cold climates, its usage helps to keep one warm and does not allow him/ her to catch a cold or suffer from cough. It facilitates the body to fight against these conditions caused by infections. In addition, the oil also possesses some expectorant properties that helps in checking production of excessive mucus by the body and ensures that you breathe freely and have a sound sleep even during the winter months.

Neroli essential oil possesses the characteristics to heal wounds by forming scars on them (cicatrisant property). It has been established that this particular feature of neroli essential oil works much more effectively compared to any other anti-mark lotion or cream. In effect, neroli essential oil forms an important ingredient of several herbal anti-mark lotions or creams. Using neroli essential oil or lotions and creams containing this oil facilitates in erasing spots, blemishes and after-marks caused by boils, acne, chickenpox and other similar conditions.

Use of neroli essential oil encourages growth of new cells as well as helps to maintain the health of the existing cells in the body. In other words, using this oil on a regular basis helps one to grow bigger, more powerful and healthier.

The antiseptic property of neroli essential oil not only helps to disinfect the body, but also makes the surroundings germ free. When taken internally, the essential oil obtained from the blossoms of the bitter orange tree helps to heal various types of contagions – including those of the kidneys, colon, prostate and the urinary tracts. In addition, this oil is also effective in curing skin infections and also protects the body from all new contagions.

The aroma of neroli oil helps to shoo away all types of foul body odour. While you may chose to use this oil as a body perfume, it can also be used as room fresheners or vaporizers to clean the atmosphere of all foul odours. Doing this not only helps to make the room scented, but also sterilizes the place.

The anti-spasmodic property of neroli essential oil is effective in treating spasms and providing relief from coughs, cramps and aches due to spasms. It also helps to cure spasmodic cholera and relax the muscles alleviating pain.

At the same time, neroli essential oil obtained from the bitter orange trees is also stomachic and beneficial for all types of stomach disorders. Use of neroli essential oil encourages digestion as well as enhances appetite.

Neroli essential oil also possesses sedative properties which help it to alleviate mental disorders, such as distress, nervous anxiety, depression and anger. Using this natural oil on a regular basis helps to relax the body as well as the mind.

Many herbalists often recommend neroli essential oil to treat colitis (inflammation of the colon), neuralgia (acute spasmodic pain caused by damage to or failure of a nerve), fat-cracks and diarrhea. Moreover, use of neroli essential oil also helps in losing unwanted weight.

As mentioned earlier, neroli essential oil is highly beneficial for the skin. Topical application of this natural oil on the surface of the skin makes the skin smooth, protects it from all types of infections and helps to make it appear fresh and healthy adding glamour. Use of neroli essential oil facilitates in sustaining the appropriate amount of moisture in the skin and also balances the oils present in the skin.

The essential oil extracted from the blossoms of the bitter orange trees is responsible for maintaining the overall health of an individual. Its use ensures that the correct rate of metabolism and proper blood circulation are maintained by the body. In addition, neroli essential oil also helps to strengthen the immune system helping us to fight against various ailments.

General properties

antispasmodic

antitoxic

aphrodisiac

sedative

slightly hypnotic

tranquilizing

uplifting

Blends well with

Blends well with any essential oil but especially with citrus oils such as lemon and sweet orange

chamomile

clary sage

frankincense

geranium

patchouli

rose

sandalwood

ylang ylang

General uses

aging skin

anorexia

anxiety

broken capillaries

bulimia

childbirth

colitis

depression

diarrhea

fatigue

fear

flatulence

frigidity

grief

high blood pressure

hysteria and panic

impotence

indigestion

insomnia

nervous dyspepsia

nervous tension

oversensitivity

palpitations

rejuvenation

shock

Precaution

Neroli essential oil obtained from the aromatic flowers of the Seville orange or the bitter orange trees should never be used by patients undergoing chemotherapy for treating any type of cancer.

Planet: Sun

Elements: Fire

Powers: Purification, Joy and Sex

Self-purification: Inhale while you visualize the scent burning away negative thought patterns, harmful habits and other misuses of your energy and mind.

Joy: Simply sniff the scent to lift up your spirits and temporarily settle emotions.

Sex: Inhale while you visualize your physical, emotional, spiritual, mental and psychic connection with the person you will be intimate with. Not an aphrodisiac, but calms the conscious mind and smoothes the path to mutual satisfaction.

Gray

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Correspondences and Associations

🪦POWER ANIMAL: Wolf

🪦ELEMENT: Water

🪦DIRECTION: West

🪦PLANET: Moon

🪦DAY: Monday

🪦NUMBER: 6 and 1

🪦MAGICAL TOOL: Seashells, Scales, Chalice

🪦PLANTS/HERBS: Clove, Hyssop, Oak Moss, St. John’s Wort, Rosemary, Yew, Cumin, Birch, Blackthorn, Feverfew

🪦FEATHER: peace, neutrality, other realms

🪦STONES: Moonstone, Black Pearl, Abalone, Opals, Clear Quartz, Onyx, Malachite

🪦TAROT: The Hanged Man, the four Threes

Personality Color Gray

While you may not exhibit all the traits of a personality color gray as listed here, if this is your favorite color you will find yourself somewhere in the description. You may also find you exhibit some of the negative traits, particularly when you are stressed.

If Your Favorite Color is Gray

If this is your favorite color, you are neutral about life, often to the point of being indifferent.

If you love gray, you are trying to protect yourself from the chaotic outside world, even to the point of isolating yourself from others, leaving you with the feeling that you don’t really fit in or belong anywhere.

As a personality color gray, it is important for you to maintain the status quo – you prefer a safe, secure and balanced existence and never desire much excitement. You will usually compromise in order to keep the balance and stability you so desperately seek.

You are practical and calm, do not like to attract attention and are simply seeking a contented life.

With gray as your favorite color, you are the middle of the road type, cool, conserved, composed and reliable. You tend to conform just to keep the peace.

Being a personality color gray, you are attracted to this neutral, non-emotional color as it controls and contains your energy – you just don’t show excitement or enthusiasm about anything much in your life.

You are a hard worker who just gets on with the job that has to be done – you tend to be committed and loyal to your work whatever it may be.

You often add a splash of color to your grey look, to show that you aren’t all that dull.

You tend to be indecisive, lacking confidence – a fence-sitter who finds it difficult to make choices in most situations in your life.

When operating from a negative perspective of a personality color gray you will be restrained in your actions, often putting a pessimistic slant on things.

You like to be in control of your emotions and avoid experiencing emotional pain by shutting off from your emotions.

You may be feeling stressed and over burdened, and looking for a rest, a break from the stresses of your everyday life – gray will protect you.

You tend to make fair and balanced judgments, and may be a good critic, because of your emotional detachment.

You prefer to not get involved – you are quite independent and may be quite individual in your attitude, although you lack imagination and creativity – this may give you a narrow outlook and may prevent you being open to new ideas and opportunities – the opportunities are there, you just have to embrace them.

With a personality color gray you may be a self-sufficient, unemotional dedicated worker in your business life and a lonely indecisive person in your private life.

The Deepest Need of a Personality Color Gray

Your Deepest Need is to create balance in all areas of your life, to be respected for who you are and to find your place in the world with a deep feeling of belonging.

If you dislike gray:

You dislike neutrality, would rather be right or wrong, but never indifferent.

You are confident with your opinions and find decision making easy.

Routine bores you – you need a richer more fulfilling life.

You need more stimulation of the senses that color brings.

You may be the type of person who pursues one interest after another in your pursuit of happiness.

Grey can also be associated with loss or depression and can also influence the mind and body by triggering unsettling emotions. Because grey is a mix of both black and white, the meaning of the color can shift – darker shades closer to black can be more cryptic, while lighter shades closer to white can be more enlightening. Darker shades such as charcoal grey evokes similar strength of black, but lacks the negativity associated with the color black while light greys carry some of the same qualities of the color white. Grey is also considered both a male and female color. Light greys are considered feminine, while dark greys are considered masculine.

Grey can be used in workings to carry the energy of dignity and respect. You can use the grey color energy of stones to get through a difficult time or instill strength and endurance in spell work. Use in magic to achieve balance, for attuning to the spirit realm, or to realize peace and patience. Consider using grey candles to represent ancestors when doing ancestor work. Grey is an excellent color to use in workings to conceal or attain invisibility (as in being unnoticed), and in dream magic.

Grey in the Occult

The color grey can also be seen throughout themes in the occult from demonolatry to different magickal practices to pagan mythology. Below are a few examples of this:

Leviathan

The creation demon Leviathan is associated with the color grey. He represents the flow of life, dealing with emotions, the passing of fear, judgment, detecting lies, and faith. Leviathan judges whether baneful work is warranted.

Void Magic

Void magick is about going above and beyond forms of defined beliefs and belief systems and is a step beyond chaos magick. Void magick is about working with the undefinable. Some imagine void as dark, while some envision it as transparent power. Using what’s known as “void enchantment”correspondences helps to visualize and direct thought to tap into the void and direct that energy. Grey candles are often used for this purpose.

Grey matter is also tapped into to create a “personal magickal reality”. This reality is often morphing and changing, requiring a constant programming and absorbing of grey matter to allow this subconscious “truth” to come through perceived reality.

The Graeae Sisters of Greek Mythology

The Graeae were three sisters – daughters of the sea deities Phorcys and Ceto. The were known as the “Grey Ones” and were usually depicted as three old women. They were believed to have been born grey, and they shared one eye and one tooth between them.

The Graeae were keepers of a secret – the location of the caves of the Gorgons, their sisters. They are most known from the story of Perseus and his pursuit of the Gorgon Medusa. Perseus was able to force the location of Medusa out of them by taking their eye.

Gray in Void Magic

Void magick is about going above and beyond forms of defined beliefs and belief systems and is a step beyond chaos magick. Void magick is about working with the undefinable. Some imagine void as dark, while some envision it as transparent power. Using what’s known as “void enchantment”correspondences helps to visualize and direct thought to tap into the void and direct that energy. Grey candles are often used for this purpose.

Grey matter is also tapped into to create a “personal magickal reality”. This reality is often morphing and changing, requiring a constant programming and absorbing of grey matter to allow this subconscious “truth” to come through perceived reality.

A Grey Aura

For those that can see auras, you will sometimes come across someone with a grey aura. This can mean that the person is beginning to become aware of any gifts and abilities they were born with. It also can indicate depression or grief. A grey aura is also indicative that the person deals with dark thoughts and vague intentions – in essence there is a presence of a dark side of his/her personality.

Large amounts of grey can mean this person is very secretive. Dark grey can indicate a fear building up. It can also mean there’s a possible health problem and imbalance – especially if grey clusters are seen in specific parts of the body. Dirty grey overlay can indicate blocked energies and guardedness.

Personality Color Gray

While you may not exhibit all the traits of a personality color gray as listed here, if this is your favorite color you will find yourself somewhere in the description. You may also find you exhibit some of the negative traits, particularly when you are stressed.

If Your Favorite Color is Gray

If this is your favorite color, you are neutral about life, often to the point of being indifferent.

If you love gray, you are trying to protect yourself from the chaotic outside world, even to the point of isolating yourself from others, leaving you with the feeling that you don’t really fit in or belong anywhere.

As a personality color gray, it is important for you to maintain the status quo – you prefer a safe, secure and balanced existence and never desire much excitement. You will usually compromise in order to keep the balance and stability you so desperately seek.

You are practical and calm, do not like to attract attention and are simply seeking a contented life.

With gray as your favorite color, you are the middle of the road type, cool, conserved, composed and reliable. You tend to conform just to keep the peace.

Being a personality color gray, you are attracted to this neutral, non-emotional color as it controls and contains your energy – you just don’t show excitement or enthusiasm about anything much in your life.

You are a hard worker who just gets on with the job that has to be done – you tend to be committed and loyal to your work whatever it may be.

You often add a splash of color to your grey look, to show that you aren’t all that dull.

You tend to be indecisive, lacking confidence – a fence-sitter who finds it difficult to make choices in most situations in your life.

When operating from a negative perspective of a personality color gray you will be restrained in your actions, often putting a pessimistic slant on things.

You like to be in control of your emotions and avoid experiencing emotional pain by shutting off from your emotions.

You may be feeling stressed and over burdened, and looking for a rest, a break from the stresses of your everyday life – gray will protect you.

You tend to make fair and balanced judgments, and may be a good critic, because of your emotional detachment.

You prefer to not get involved – you are quite independent and may be quite individual in your attitude, although you lack imagination and creativity – this may give you a narrow outlook and may prevent you being open to new ideas and opportunities – the opportunities are there, you just have to embrace them.

With a personality color gray you may be a self-sufficient, unemotional dedicated worker in your business life and a lonely indecisive person in your private life.

To find out more about the meaning of the color gray, click here.

The Deepest Need of a Personality Color Gray

Your Deepest Need is to create balance in all areas of your life, to be respected for who you are and to find your place in the world with a deep feeling of belonging.

If you dislike gray:

You dislike neutrality, would rather be right or wrong, but never indifferent.

You are confident with your opinions and find decision making easy.

Routine bores you – you need a richer more fulfilling life.

You need more stimulation of the senses that color brings.

You may be the type of person who pursues one interest after another in your pursuit of happiness.

Witches have not received good publicity

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Witches always end up to be the bad guys in television shows, movies, and books. But witchcraft is not evil. It is a religion and way of life. It is the craft with only the utmost respect for Mother Nature. They may possess supernatural abilities and can perform rituals that are out of the ordinary but they are not what the society pictures them to be. If you are one of those that believe in the witches’ religion and craft then there are ways you can do to start your path in becoming a witch.

First thing of course is to do a lot of research.

Everything at first is about the fundamentals and less of the practical applications. This is to equip your mind of the basics and what to expect when you become successful in becoming a witch. This is also a good way to think of what you want over and over again.

After reading everything you can about witches and witchcraft, you should be able to embrace it. Witches love and respect Mother Nature. That includes everything and everyone living in it. You should be able to be in sync with the environment because it will be your guide throughout your journey in becoming a witch.

Next would be finding a place that you feel belong with.

Like an artisan in his workshop, this place will be your haven- the one place where you can do all your rituals freely and without disturbance. You should also make sure that the place you will choose feels right. It will serve as your best friend so make sure that it flows with you.

Make your own Book of Shadows. This book is like the personal journal of witches. This is where they write their experiences and the knowledge they have acquired over the years. Your very own Book of Shadows will be filled with spells and rituals that you can use as reference and will be with you forever.

Live the witches’ life by experiencing magic and practicing spells. This defines witches. Witches can do spells and rituals that can help lift away pain, can protect from harm, etc. You do not need to be frustrated when you cannot do complicated spells at first because it is not possible. Always start with the basics because this will build the foundation of your becoming a witch.

Becoming a witch is a choice. It may have been a family legacy in the ancient history but because of circumstances, the legacy has stopped and so nowadays, the practice of witchcraft is a result of great respect for Mother Nature. And so if you really want to become a witch make sure that your ideals and principles are intact because this craft is not to be taken lightly. This is a way of life for some, a religion even. And so be 100% sure when you start taking your path in learning witchcraft because from this day on everything should be done wholeheartedly.

Wicca

When witchcraft is practised as a religion, it is called by the Old English term for witch, Wicca. This term is used to counter all the negative stereotypes that society has given witchcraft. Wicca is primarily a religion that worships nature, and sees all creation as sacred. In fact, all Wiccan holy days follow the cycles of nature and the changes in the seasons. Wicca also worships both a male and female deity, a female Goddess and a male God, who had together created the world and everything in it.

Black and White Witchcraft

Witchcraft is neither black nor white. Witchcraft is a path that respects Mother Nature and She is neither completely positive or completely negative, this is the same for witches.

Witchcraft Spells WICCA

Spells are used by Wiccans, and are a series of rituals and prayers that are conducted in witchcraft to ask for divine help in a certain aspect of life. All spells must adhere to the Wiccan Rede, the witchcraft code of conduct, meaning that any spells used to manipulate, dominate or control another person is forbidden. In witchcraft, spells may also be changed or adapted to suit a Wiccan’s personality or specific wishes in casting the spell. In this site there are a range of free spells to practise at home.

Witchcraft Book – The Book of Shadows

A good Book of Shadows will serve as a witch craft reference guide a place where you keep tables and correspondences, spells and rituals that you’d like to try, divinatory meanings and many other things of that nature.

The Wiccan Rules (Rede)

The Wiccan Rede is the rule of conduct that all witches must follow while practising witchcraft. It rules that a witch may engage in any action, as long as it is carefully considered, and their actions harm nobody, including themselves. Witchcraft is ruled by the Threefold Law, which is the belief that any action taken by any witch that affects another person, will come back to the witch threefold, whether it be harm or good.

Beginner Witchcraft, Paganism, Spellcraft and Magic

To some, these words have no place outside of fairytales and films; they’re figments of overactive imaginations that don’t belong in the “real world”. Yet to those who believe in them; witches, they’re symbols of pride and a sacred heritage that spans thousands of years.

Who or what are witches? Is there such a thing as magic?

Almond (Prunus dulcis)

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Wisdom, money, fruitfulness, and prosperity. Invokes the healing energy of the deities. Provides magickal help for overcoming dependencies & addiction. Associated with Candlemas and Beltane. Carry, wear, or use as incense to attract abundance.

Masculine.

Planet….Mercury.

Element….Air.

Deities: Attis, Mercury, Thoth, Hermes

Money, Prosperity, Wisdom. Use oil, wash, or incense to anoint magical wands or ritual candlesticks. (Almond wood makes excellent wands, especially for use in love magic). Excellent herbs for handfastings or other rituals of union. Also good for overcoming alcohol dependency. Almonds, leaves, and wood may be used in money magic. Placing almonds in your pocket will lead you to treasures.

Magical and Spiritual Considerations

Almond is a plant of masculine energy (as most nuts are) and is associated with the planet Mercury and the air element.

Almonds can be used in fertility charms worn by women to encourage the male seed to quicken within. Consider also using almond oil as an erotic massage oil for the same purpose.

Almonds and leaves can also be used in charms to draw money or luck. They should be carried in your pocket, purse or wallet (where ever you keep your money) or put in your piggy bank.

Almond flowers can be used in hand fasting rituals and love spells to encourage a lasting and loving union and also in adoption rituals.

Almond wood, flowers, nuts and leaves can also be used in rituals for overcoming addiction. Especially alcoholism.

Almond oil is an excellent carrier oil for skin care products and excellent for culinary uses as well.

AMBER

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

The color amber is a pure chroma color, located on the color wheel midway between the colors of gold and orange. The color name is derived from the material also known as amber, which is commonly found in a range of yellow-orange-brown-red colors; likewise, as a color amber can refer to a range of yellow-orange colors.

Amber is noted in metaphysics to give a soothing, light energy that is both calming and energizing at the same time. … Amber is associated with the solar plexus chakra and sometimes the sacral chakra.

Pertains to the reproductive organs and emotional feelings. It is a color of good health, vitality and excitement. In a positive light, amber energy is productive, creative, sociable and courageous.

Keywords: Light, warmth, Solar ( Sun) energies, Clarification, Healing

Element: Earth

Chakra: Solar Plexus, 3rd

Amber is ancient, organic material, such as the sap of pine trees, that is fossilized. The ancient Greek word for Amber is Elektron meaning Sun, and, besides its usual golden color, Amber is known to produce an electric charge when rubbed.

Amber can vary in color from yellow or gold to brown and even red and can be opaque or milky to clear. It is not uncommon for Amber to contain bits of plant, or even animal matter and be as old as 120 million years!

Amber was well known and used for jewelry in Ancient Egypt, Crete and it native Baltic regions.

In Greek mythology, upon hearing of His death, the tears of the sisters of Helios, and ancient Sun god, were tuirned to amber.

Amber creates a very familiar and friendly sense of warmth, well being and energy to its wearer. Probably because it is derived of organic life, much like our own.

Because of these gentle warming energies, and it sense of strength and reassurance, Amber is highly recommended for anyone who is sick or injured, or anyone convalescing after a long illness. It activates the life force and allows one to see one’s path to recovery with a more sunny outlook.

Amber facilitates an interior warm and sunny climate for those who cannot move to a physical one and is great for elderly retirees, or anyone seeking longevity.

Use Amber to help manifest wealth, money and prosperity. Tsavorite, Yellow Sapphire and Moldavite also pair well with Amber for this purpose. In fact, Moldavite and Amber together help spur positive inner transformation that is a prerequisite to manifestations of any sort.

Amber and Jet together, a traditional pairing, provide purification, robust health and protection form negativity. Amber does this by acting as a purifier, acting on the physical, energetic and emotional levels transforming stagnant, old and muddy energies into clear and usable energies. Use it to clear your Aura, Balance Chakras and clear any environment of negative energies, while promoting and boosting beneficial ones.

Amber is considered to be a stone of great value to psychics and all those who practice the ancient arts, magick, or healing as it acts as a key to ancient knowledge, and can stimulate the remembrance of one’s lineage and the genetic experience passed down from one’s ancestors. Thus, it can also be used to clear negative family patterns, in past life regressions and meditations, and for clearing Karmic debris. Use it for Lower World shamanic journeys to facilitate travel and for its protective energies.

Unlike crystals that were birthed deep within the Earth’s crust, Amber is solidified Sunlight. Because of this, it serves as an excellent source of Light Energy for healers or any who use this magnificent energy.

Use it to connect with ET’s, inter-dimensional Beings as well as Nature Devas, crop circle makers, and the ancient Egyptian deity Ra, as well as all deities of the Sun, including the Christ consciousness.

Those who suffer from depression due to lack of Sunlight in Winter ( SAD ) and anyone who needs a boost, metabolically for weight loss, or any manner of sluggishness in the body or its systems will enjoy Amber.

BLACK

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Planet: Saturn

Chakra : Base

Black is one of the most powerful colors.

Use black for binding, reversing spells, repelling negativity. Black can be used for concealing, transformation, causing confusion, giving onesel endurance and patience. Black can be used in the stead of all other colors.

THE COLOR BLACK AROUND THE WORLD

Africa; Age and wisdom

Australian Aborigines; ceremonial color commonly used in their artworks

Western cultures; power, control, intimidation, funerals, death, mourning, rebellion

Eastern; wealth, health and prosperity

China; color for young boys

India; evil, negativity, darkness

lack of appeal

anger and apathy

used to ward off evil

Japan; color of mystery and the night may be associated with feminine energy – either evil and a threat or provocative and alluring

Magical Uses for black;

Knowledge of hidden things, divination, self control, beginning, creation and rebirth, absorbing energies, patience, binding, stability, neutralizing forces, protection, death, manifestation, understanding your limits, overcoming obsticals, challenges, tests, sacrifice, separation, justice, wills, debts, discoveries, elders and truth. Burning black candles with any other color dissolves negative energies. Protection, banishing, binding, and repelling. Also used for healing serious illnesses.

Use in combination with white to represent balance, opposites or union of opposing forces.

The base chakra controls our grounding to the earth and is associated with survival instincts and self-preservation. It relates also to the physical body, individuality, stability and security.

Base Chakra stones and crystals are mostly red and black and include, Anyolite, Black Kyanite, Black Onyx, Black Sapphire, Black Star, Black Tourmaline, Bloodstone, Brecciated Jasper, Dalmation Jasper, Jet, Fire Agate, Hematite, Larvikite, Magnetite, Mookaite, Obsidian, Rutilated Quartz, Tanzanite.

The color black relates to the hidden, the secretive and the unknown, and as a result it creates an air of mystery. It keeps things bottled up inside, hidden from the world.

In color psychology this color gives protection from external emotional stress.

It creates a barrier between itself and the outside world, providing comfort while protecting its emotions and feelings, and hiding its vulnerabilities, insecurities and lack of self confidence.

Black is the absorption of all color and the absence of light.

Black hides, while white brings to light.

What black covers, white uncovers.

We all use black at various times to hide from the world around us in one way or another. Some of us use it to hide our weight; others among us use it to hide our feelings, our fears or our insecurities.

In color psychology, black means power and control, hanging on to information and things rather than giving out to others.

Black is intimidating, unfriendly and unapproachable because of the power it exudes.

It can prevent two-way communication because of its intimidation. The salesman wearing all black will make a lot of sales, but no friends! It radiates authority, but creates fear in the process.

Black implies self-control and discipline, independence and a strong will, and giving an impression of authority and power.

Black absorbs negative energy. It is useful to carry something black with you to protect you from harm and negativity when traveling or when going about your usual daily activities outside your home.

People who like black may be conventional, conservative and serious, or they may think of themselves as being sophisticated or very dignified.

The color black is often seen as a color of sophistication, as in ‘the little black dress’, or ‘the black tie event’.

Affluent and success orientated women often choose black as it can give an impression of elegance, sophistication and confidence.

Black is often associated with sexiness and seduction, as in the temptress in sexy black lingerie creating an air of mystery and intrigue. It can also imply submission to another (including a sexual partner), similar to the priest wearing black robes in submission to God.

Black is the end, but the end always implies a new beginning. When the light appears, black becomes white, the color of new beginnings.

Teenagers often have a psychological need to wear black during the stage of transition from the innocence of childhood to the sophistication of adulthood. It signifies the ending of one part of their life and the beginning of another, allowing them to hide from the world while they discover their own unique identity. It is important they go through this stage but a worry when it continues on into adult years if they continue to wear black to the exclusion of other colors.

Too much black can cause depression and mood swings and create a negative environment. Combined with white only, it can create an argumentative atmosphere.

It is best to use some color with black to lighten and brighten its energy.

If your favorite color is black, it will reflect in your personality! Personality color black will give you more information on this.

Positive and Negative Traits of the Color Black

Positive keywords include protection and comfort, strong, contained, formal, sophisticated, seductive, mysterious, endings & beginnings.

Negative keywords include aloof, depressing and pessimistic, secretive and withholding, conservative and serious, power & control, sadness and negativity.

The Color Black Represents

Mystery: Black is the unknown. It is secretive, keeping a lot buried inside, unwilling to show its real feelings.

Power and Control: Black is power and control of the self and others. It creates fear and intimidation.

Effects of the Color Black

Formal, dignified and sophisticated: As in the little black dress and the formal dinner suit.

Aloof: Black sets itself aside from others with its heavy and intense energy. It keeps others at arm’s length.

Depressing: Black can close us to the positive aspects of life, forcing us to look at our disappointments and the black or negative aspects of our life. It can create a fear of the future.

Pessimistic: Too much black encourages us to look at the negative side of life.

Personality Color. -. Black

Personality Color Black

While you may not exhibit all the character traits of a personality color black as listed here, if this is your favorite color you will find yourself somewhere in the description. You may also find you exhibit some of the negative traits, particularly when you are stressed.

If Your Favorite Color is Black

Prestige and power are important to you.

You are independent, strong-willed and determined and like to be in control of yourself and situations.

As a lover of black you may be conservative and conventional – black is restricting and contained.

With black as your personality color, you may be too serious for your own good – bring some colour into your life to lighten you up – life should be fun.

You may appear intimidating to even your closest colleagues and friends, with an authoritarian, demanding and dictatorial attitude.

As a personality color black, you are non-emotional and give the appearance of a dignified and sophisticated person who is in total control – this is often a front as you may feel quite insecure in the company of sophisticated and cultured VIP’s and upper class people.

You like to keep people at a distance, guarding your emotions and creating an impenetrable barrier between yourself and others.

With a personality color black, you may be looking for protection from any negativity that surrounds you.

You may wish to create an aura of mystery and intrigue, as in the sexy black negligee.

You may be going through a stage of self-denial, not allowing pleasure and joy into your life.

You hold things inside and are not good at sharing yourself with others, possibly out of fear.

You are methodical in your work, making sure everything is completed as required, down to the last detail.

It may be a color of comfort to you, allowing you to retreat and hide from the real world.

You may be a teenager or young adult hiding behind black while searching for your own identity or your own true colors.

You may be rebelling against society or your family.

You may have lost sight of your direction in life and are going through a very negative phase.

You may be suppressing your own desires and aspirations.

You may be retreating behind black during a difficult time in your life such as a serious illness or a period of grief – black protects, allowing for a deep inner healing without interference from others.

If you dislike black:

You are a light-hearted and easy going person – not so serious, conservative and formal.

You may feel that it is a depressing color, especially if you have a happy, extroverted and optimistic outlook on life.

You are not into power and control – you have a gentle disposition and black is too intimidating for you.

You are practical and down-to-earth and don’t wish to be seen as overly sophisticated.

You may have a fear of the dark from your childhood that you can’t shift.

You may have been dominated and intimidated during your early years and black brings back those feelings.

Tips for getting rid of curses

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

A curse is a nasty business to be under. While it’s nice to think about the karmic implications of throwing a curse on someone, it can still seriously ruin your day. So, here are some suggestions for getting rid of the nasty things once and for all.

Disbelieve – Refuse to believe that the curse exists.

Magic is primarily a discipline of the mind, and more specifically of will. If you disbelieve in a thing hard enough, especially something magickal, you can generally destroy it outright, or weaken it sufficiently that one of the other tactics gets rid of it, in the case of especially strong curses.

Try to bolster your disbelief. Find reasons that the curse is nothing to worry about. For example, most magickal practitioners who have been at it for long enough to get good don’t put curses on people. People are generally quite good at messing themselves up without any magickal help. It’s very likely that the person who laid the curse on you in the first place is just trying to scare you, and maybe look cool

Purify – Burn out that curse!

If you’re given to visualization, imagine a bright white light at the core of your being. Slowly expand that bright light throughout all of your body, head to toe, out to a distance of about 6 to 12 inches past your skin. As you’re doing this, imagine the light burning (but I wouldn’t recommend imagining this as a painful process, unless you really like that sort of thing) out every trace of negative energy in you, until there is none left.

If you’re not given to visualization, use whatever works for you. The important thing here is to imagine some sort of purification that goes through your entire body, and about 6 to 12 inches past your skin. That takes care of the aura region as well.

Absorption – Suck that curse right out.

Use a candle for this, if you like. Candles are quite good for this sort of thing, as they already have a somewhat mystical air about them, and they provide an easy focus item. Imagine (and imagine hard) that as the candle burns, it sucks out all the negative energy from your body and takes it into itself. As the candle burns down, the negative energy is dissipated.

I recommend a black candle, as black is a very absorbing color for me. However, if you don’t care to use a black one, use whatever color or combination of colors that has the most absorbing connotations for you. Also, if you’re very nature-oriented, try to use beeswax candles rather than paraffin. Beeswax is much closer to nature.

Ritual – Lots of people make for stronger magic.

Sometimes, there’s a curse that you just can’t seem to shake. Maybe you really pissed somebody off, or maybe you just stepped somewhere you shouldn’t. Whatever the case, you just can’t manage to get the curse whipped on your own. So get with your ritual group (if you have one), or see if you can guest with an existing ritual group (if you can find one), and dedicate a significant amount of time to breaking the curse.

Note that if you do guest, make sure you explain your problem to the group before the ritual begins. Knowledge is a good thing. Talk about it beforehand, to find out just how everybody wants to get rid of the curse. Make sure everybody has the same idea before you begin. Things could get messy otherwise. So long as everyone stays focused on the task at hand, things will go splendidly.

Ask for help – Call in the big guns.

If you’ve tried everything you can think of to get rid of this curse, and you still can’t shake it, take some time and talk to your Deity or Deities of choice. Explain the situation, and ask very nicely for help in lifting the curse. With any luck, your deity will smile upon you and give you the helping hand you need. If not, it might mean that there’s something you haven’t tried yet. Don’t be afraid to do research, and to pick the brains of older and wiser heads.

With any luck, one of the easier avenues will do the trick. Maybe a combination of tactics. Hey, it seems to work for AIDS, so why not curses? If you’re still having problems, it might not be a curse laid upon you per se; rather a series of obstacles placed in your path for you to overcome, often by a Deity or Deities. This sort of thing tends to lead to personal growth, which a lot of gods these days are keen on. Or it might simply be something you’ve done catching up with you.

The Magical Correspondences of Sage

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Gender: Masculine

Element: Air

Planetary Association: Jupiter

Element: Earth

Several different planets are connected magickally with this herb by different sources. For instance, some, including Culpeper (and those who follow him, such as Cunningham), consider this a Jupiter herb, and it is often a substitute for the very Jovian frankincense in terms of purification. Also, its leaves contain tin, the planetary metal for Jupiter. Christopher Penczak includes it in his list of Moon herbs, perhaps because of the light bluish “bloom” this magick herb has when dried; this bloom occurs on many Moon plants. However, I will go with those in magickal practice who see this as an Earth Elemental herb, because of its smell, and because this makes more sense with its Wiccan association with Samhain and with the Crone. Elemental Earth herbs resonate with the body, caves, chasms, silence, graves, fields, and the Hermit’s Path. This feels real Crone and Samhain to me.

This Earth herb in particular is good for slaying the ego. Emotionally, sage helps build strength and courage, and as an Earth herb, is an important aid in grounding oneself. Sage is great for cleansing an area of all that is negative or left over. It is perfectly okay to smudge with this sage instead of white sage. In fact, if you are working in some path that derives from West European magick, it makes more sense to smudge with this sage. Some also recommend sage for protection from negative magick. It can also be helpful in burying or hiding aspects about oneself, as in making a glamour, in the reverse – digging up aspects, and so exploring the psyche or finding lost objects. According to Ficino, a certain bird is generated from the putrefaction of sage and which draws its life from the life of the world. This sounds not so much like as myth as an alchemical metaphor. You make a decent sage incense by grinding it 2:1 with white sandalwood.

Main magical uses: cleansing, healing, longevity, money, passion, prosperity, psychic development, psychic protection, purification, wisdom Other magickal uses: business, clairvoyance, consecration, divination, domestic harmony, energy, happiness, inspiration, keeping secrets, knowledge, love, Mabon, meditation, peace, retention, Samhain, tranquility, weddings, Yule Lore: The kind of sage found in the kitchen was brought to the New World by colonists, and was especially popular among Germans. It should not be confused with sagebrush.

Sage has long been burned to purify and cleanse a space. The ancients burned dried sprigs of sage in temples and during religious rituals. The Greeks and Romans wrote that the smoke imparted wisdom and mental acuity. In the tenth century, Arab physicians said that sage brought about immortality, or at the very least, a long and healthy life. In England, seventeenth-century servants of the royal family scattered a blend of sage and lavender on the floors at court to help disguise the aroma of day to day life.

In magic, carry sage leaves in your wallet or purse to promote financial gain. Burn leaves to increase wisdom or gain guidance from your spirit guide (be warned – burning sage does smell similar to marijuana, so keep that in mind if you think the neighbors might be inquisitive). Make a wish and write it on a sage leaf, and then hide it beneath your pillow – if you dream about your wish over the next three nights, your wish will come true.

In addition to its medicinal and magical uses, sage makes a great addition to your kitchen pantry. Use it to season fish or chicken dishes, or toss fresh leaves into a green salad.

The name Salvia derives from the Latin ‘salveo’, which means ‘to heal’. Indeed this herb is highly regarded for its healing qualities. An ancient proverb states, “Why should a man die who has sage in his garden?”. The ancient Greeks used it to treat consumption, ulcers and snake bites.

The Ancient Romans considered sage to be a sacred herb and followed an elaborate ceremony when harvesting it. A sage gatherer would use a special knife (not made of iron as it reacts with the sage), have to have clean clothes and clean feet and a sacrifice of food would have to be made before he could begin. The Romans would use it for toothpaste; they also believed it to be good for the brain, senses and memory.

Sage is a hardy perennial of the mint family. Purplish flower spikes appear in the summer. Many species become shrubby and woody. Some are variegated, providing additional interest in the garden. Sage has a wonderful scent and a long history of uses.

History and Folklore

The name Salvia derives from the Latin word Salveo, “to heal” or “to save” (more like, to salve, as in, apply a salve).

It has long been used in healing. An old proverb says “why should a man die who has sage in his garden?”. It was used in the Middle Ages to treat fevers, liver disease and epilepsy. In England, the tea drunk as a healthful tonic. It was also believed to strengthen the memory. An old English custom states that eating Sage every day in May will grant immortality. It was also said that a woman who ate sage cooked in wine would never be able to conceive and its fresh leaves were said to cure warts.

It is said that where sage grows well in the garden, the wife rules and that sage will flourish or not depending on the success of the business of the household.

During the Middle Ages, sage was used to mask the taste of rancid meat. Perhaps its antibacterial action also protected people from dying of rancid meat…

The Romans regarded sage quite highly and much sacrifice and ceremony was associated with its harvest. They believed it stimulated the brain and memory and used it to clean their teeth.

The Dutch in the 17th century traded Sage for tea with the Chinese.

Propagation

This lovely perennial enjoys sun and well-drained soil. Keep fertilizer to a minimum. Most varieties are winter hardy. Sow seeds up to two weeks before the last danger of frost. Plants grown from cuttings do better than those grown from seed.

Russian sage ads an airy cloud of purple to the garden.

Common sage (garden sage, culinary sage) gets woody and bushy and is really neat-looking. Give it its own corner of the garden because it will take over.

White sage grows only in warm, arid regions. It requires low humidity and a great deal of sun and will not survive a winter frost so it must be grown indoors in northern regions, though it is not fond of pots. This herb has been over-collected in the wild, so if you use it and you can grow it; do.

Harvesting & Storage

Harvest sage lightly for the first year to allow the plant to get established. Then large bunches can be harvested and hung to dry. The flavor is better if you freeze sage rather than dry it, though it does retain its flavor well when dried. Store dried in a sealed glass container in a cool, dark area.

Prune garden sage after it flowers and then don’t harvest anymore until spring so the plant has a month or two to recover and survive the frost.

Magical Attributes

Sage is masculine in nature and associated the the element of air and the planet Jupiter.

Sage is sacred to the Greek Zeus and Roman Jupiter. It is also a symbol of the Virgin Mary.

White sage Salvia apiana is sacred in many Shamanic and Native American belief systems and is used in smudging, and other, ceremonies to purify the body. Smudge sticks made of white sage are often found in New Age shops and kits are heavily marketed to modern magical practitioners. Unfortunately, white sage is difficult to grow in captivity and is largely wild-crafted, which threatens native populations and since it’s really not part of European-based traditions, we really don’t need it. Our European spiritual ancestors burned a lot of different herbs in their practices, but white sage was not among them. If you feel the need to use sage, garden sage is a suitable substitute1. Indeed, most Salvia species can be burned by the non-indigenous witch and we can leave white sage to those to whom it is truly sacred. If you must have it, try to grow it yourself.

Sage is used in magical workings for immortality, longevity, wisdom, protection and the granting of wishes.

Sage is also believed to help alleviate sorrow of the death of a loved one.

To make a wish, write your wish on a sage leaf and sleep with it under your pillow for three days and then bury it.

Add sage to mojo bags to promote wisdom and to overcome grief.

Burn sage at funeral and remembrance ceremonies to help relieve the grief of the mourners.

Household Use

Sage makes a nice rinse for dark hair.

Sage’s attractive leaves hold their shape and fragrance well when dried and are an attractive addition to dried arrangements and potpourri.

Store dried sage in the same place as you store your potatoes to help them keep longer.

Healing Attributes

Sage tea has antiseptic qualities and makes a good gargle for sore throats.

Sage may boost insulin action, and therefore, a daily cup of tea may be helpful for those with diabetes. Use one or two teaspoons of dried sage leaves to one cup of boiling water.

Culinary Use

Only Salvia officianalis is suitable for culinary use

Sage aids in the digestion of fatty foods and is therefore good for seasoning meats, especially pork. It’s also famously useful for stuffing poultry. It is also awesome in various bean and pork dishes, like split pea soup and vegetarian bean dishes.

Sage blossoms are good in salads or floated on top of soups.

Pineapple sage is good in fruit drinks, salads and with ham.

Common sage blends well with the flavors of balsamic vinegar, basil, bay-laurel, black pepper, cream cheese, garlic, lavender, lemon, mushrooms, onions, oregano, rosemary, thyme and red wine.

Additional Notes

Most sage grows like crazy but the most commonly used sage in spiritual practice, white sage, grows only in the American Southwest and is being over-collected in the wild. In my experience, garden sage works just as well and grows quite easily just about anywhere.

Sex and Culture

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

In Sex and Culture (1934), Unwin studied 80 primitive tribes and 6 known civilizations through 5,000 years of history and found a positive correlation between the cultural achievement of a people and the sexual restraint they observe. “Sex and Culture is a work of the highest importance,” Aldous Huxley wrote:

Unwin’s conclusions, which are based upon an enormous wealth of carefully sifted evidence, may be summed up as follows. All human societies are in one or another of six cultural conditions: zoistic, manistic, deistic, rationalistic, expansive, productive. Of these societies the zoistic displays the least amount of mental and social energy, the productive the most. Investigation shows that the societies exhibiting the least amount of energy are those where pre-nuptial continence is not imposed and where the opportunities for sexual indulgence after marriage are greatest. The cultural condition of a society rises in exact proportion as it imposes pre-nuptial and post-nuptial restraints upon sexual opportunity.

According to Unwin, after a nation becomes prosperous it becomes increasingly liberal with regard to sexual morality and as a result loses its cohesion, its impetus and its purpose. The effect, says the author, is irrevocable:

The whole of human history does not contain a single instance of a group becoming civilized unless it has been absolutely monogamous, nor is there any example of a group retaining its culture after it has adopted less rigorous customs.

an innocent, care-free pagan race

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

“Look back a little and see what has happened. Nineteen hundred years ago you were an innocent, care-free pagan race. You worshipped countless Gods and Goddesses, the spirits of the air, of the running streams and of the woodland. You took unblushing pride in the glory of your naked bodies. You carved images of your gods and of the tantalizing human figure. You delighted in the combats of the field, the arena and the battle-ground. War and slavery were fixed institutions in your systems. Disporting yourselves on the hillsides and in the valleys of the great outdoors, you took to speculating on the wonder and mystery of life and laid the foundations of natural science and philosophy. Yours was a noble, sensual culture, unirked by the prickings of the social conscience or by any sentimental questionings about human equality. Who knows what great and glorious destiny might have been yours if we had left you alone.

But we did not leave you alone. We took you in hand and pulled down the beautiful and generous structure you had reared, and changed the whole course of your history. We conquered you as no empire of yours ever subjugated Africa or Asia.

We made you the willing and unconscious bearers of our mission to the whole world, to the barbarous races of the world, to the countless unborn generations. Without fully understanding what we were doing to you, you became the agents at large of our racial tradition, carrying our gospel to unexplored ends of the earth.

Jewish artisans and Jewish fishermen are your teachers and your saints, with countless statues carved in their image and innumerable cathedrals raised to their memories. A Jewish maiden is your ideal of motherhood and womanhood. A Jewish rebel-prophet is the central figure in your religious worship. We have pulled down your idols, cast aside your racial inheritance, and substituted for them our God and our traditions. No conquest in history can even remotely compare with this clean sweep of our conquest over you.”

Abcán

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

In Irish mythology, Abcán (modern spelling: Abhcán) was the dwarf poet and musician of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the early Celtic divinities of Ireland. He was said to have a bronze boat with a tin sail.[1]

In the story of the death of the goddess Ruad, Abcán is the dwarf that ferries her from the Otherworld to this one so that she can seduce the human, Aed Srónmár. The sounds of mermaids singing, or in some versions, music from a fairy mound cause her to leap into the water and drown.[2]

In another story, Abcán is captured by the hero, Cúchulainn. He frees himself by playing lullabies so irresistible that the warrior goes to sleep.[3]

Abcán has much in common with, and may be another name for, the dwarf musician Fer Í.

Baduhenna

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Baduhenna is a Frisian Goddess of war. Sadly nothing much is known about her but she has been described by Tacitus. Badwa is the proto-Germanic word for battle. Interestingly enough, there is also a Celtic battle Goddess known as Badb, she appears in the form of a crow on battlefields to guide fallen warriors. So you can compare Baduhenna with some sort of Valkyrie. Henna means leader/protector,her name means either protecter of battles, leader of battles or the driven into battle.

Tacitus described the following:

“Soon afterwards it was ascertained from deserters that nine hundred Romans had been cut to pieces in a wood called Baduhenna, after prolonging the fight to the next day, and that another body of four hundred, which had taken possession of the house of one Cruptorix, once a soldier in our pay, fearing betrayal, had perished by mutual slaughter.

The Frisian name thus became famous in Germany, and Tiberius kept our losses a secret, not wishing to entrust any one with the war.”

When Tacitus’ work was rediscovered in the 16th century, people started looking for the location of the grove in the Netherlands. At first it was thought that the location of the grove lies in modern day Frisia near the place Beetgum (baduheim), named after the Goddess. No archeological findings have been found there however that links the place with the grove.

In the 1980’s archeologists discovered a destroyed Roman fort near Velsen. The fort was destroyed in 28AD which is the exact same year when the battle of Baduhenna took place. This fort was most likely Castellum Flevum and so the Baduhenna grove must be nearby.

Skeletons, coins, pottery and weapons have been found at Velsen which fit the time era of the Frisian uprising in 28AD. The most probable location of the grove is Velserbroek, 3km away from the discovered Roman fort. We know that there was a place of sacrifice in Velserbroek.

Both velserbroek and Velsen are located in Kennemerland, The Netherlands. Kennemerland was once part of Frisia, now it lies south of West-Frisia. Daggers, spearheads, horse gear and parts of shields have been found as offer gifts. This looks like fitting objects to give to a battle Goddess. Both places have also been inhabited by people since 3500BC so an existing place of nature worship could have developed into Baduhenna’s grove during the iron age.

It is quite sad to see how this Goddess has been almost completely forgotten amongst the Dutch/Frisians and of course other Germanic people. Hopefully with the rise of modern heathenism, we can restore her worship again. Velserbroek is certainly a place worth visiting.

The Principle of Vibration

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

This principle teaches us that all is in motion, nothing is at rest. Everything moves; everything vibrates with its own rate of vibration. Everything is in a constant state of movement and change. Objects, plants, and animals have an energy signature that is often perceived as an aura. Interestingly, when we change our energy or mental state, the world around us changes to match the new vibration.

Now, there are two parts to the principle of vibration. First, there is the law of attraction, often called LOA for short. The LOA shows us that “like attracts like.” It proves that what you think—either good or bad—you will attract to yourself. After all, the first principle’s lesson was “thought creates”! This is a simple explanation of thoughtforms (and thoughtforms will be discussed in more detail shortly).

Part two of the principle of vibration is the law of change. Witches embrace change, and change is to be expected as normal. Honestly, when we work our magick, are we not working for positive change? It is also important to

remember that when we change our conscious behavior or attitude to a more positive one, then the world around us changes as well.

The Principle of Correspondence

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

This principle teaches us that “As above, so below. As within, so without.” We do exist on all planes—the astral/spiritual, energetic, and physical—so this principle is a lesson in perspective. When most authors try to explain this “lesson

of perspective,” often you will read a riff about holograms, which, I confess, makes me lose whatever is left of my mind.

Holograms? Please.

You’ll have to look within to learn more.

This was when I connected with a line from The Charge of the Goddess: “If that which you seek you find not within yourself, you will never find it without,” which is just another way of saying “As within, so without.” It is all about how

you perceive it. I had to find that answer by looking within before I could find it without—a “light bulb” moment.

The Seven Hermetic Principles

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Here are the seven classic Hermetic principles. I kept them as straightforward as possible.

The Principle of Mentalism

This is the first principle. It states that “all is mind”—that everything exists in the mind of the God/dess, or the divine consciousness. In her book Power of the Witch, Laurie Cabot writes of the first principle that “all creation is composed by

the Divine Mind.” In other words, the Goddess literally thought us into being. To comprehend this principle, you need to realize that we are filled with unlimited potential. Everything that is apparent to our physical, material senses

is spirit, and everything on the physical and the mental plane is in a process of evolution—which means that we, as Witches, are constantly evolving too. So open up your mind and let the knowledge in. The physical, or mundane, world

works by the laws of nature. However, the true nature of power and matter takes a back seat to the mastery of the mind. If your mind is leading the way, then you too can create anything with the power of your mind (to be continued…)

Hermes Trismegistus and the Hermetic Principles

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Truth be told, a lot of magick is founded on philosophy. Case in point: the Hermetic principles. The Hermetic principles are a set of philosophical beliefs based upon the ancient writings of Hermes Trismegistus. According to folklore, these principles or laws were originally inscribed upon emerald tablets and were discovered by Alexander the Great when he opened Hermes Trismegistus’s tomb. After the tablets were translated, they were supposedly hidden again;

however, the wisdom obtained from the tablets was carefully protected and handed down over the ages. For example, one of the more well-known lines on the tablets may look familiar to today’s magickal practitioners: “As above, so

below. As within, so without.” The legend of the tablets became the cornerstone for Hermetic sciences and philosophy. These ancient principles laid the foundation for alchemy and ceremonial magick.

Some attribute this philosophy to the actual writings of the god Hermes and others say it was the Egyptian god Thoth. There are some schools of thought that believe it was both gods—that Hermes was and is a god of magick and knowledge, and thus is known by many different cultures and by many different names. There is also another popular theory that says Hermes Trismegistus was a divine teacher/alchemist/master magician of sorts. Or that “he,” the author of the principles, was really a trio of anonymous initiates…confused yet?

Well, for starters, try breaking down the meaning of Hermes Trismegistus’s name. Hermetic means “sealed” or, some say, “secret knowledge,” while Trismegistus means “thrice great” and refers to the three branches of wisdom that Hermes Trismegistus possessed.?

LUCK BRINGER

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Any of the following items you can acquire from occult supply shops.

You will need:

1. Bottle of perfume, new, not used before.

2. Some Devil’s Shoestring.

3. Some Jerusalem Root.

4. Some Adam and Eve Root.

After acquiring all items above, put 2,3 and 4 in the perfume.

Make sure to cut them in small enough pieces before attempting this ☺️. Once every day, for nine consecutive days, hold bottle in your left hand and make your wishes. Then shake the bottle and set it down.

After the 9th day start putting some of that perfume on yourself (just like you’ll use it as normal perfume). Not in a long time you should notice, that your luck changed greatly and troubles left your life. Progress will come steadily and you’ll find yourself happier than ever.

A Solitary Sunrise Ritual for Success and Prosperity

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Timing: Work this solitary ritual on a Sunday at sunrise.

Supplies: a yellow or gold votive candle

a straight pin or boline (for inscribing the candle)

a votive candle holder

a plain, small plate or saucer

magnetic golden sand

matches or a lighter

the Sun and Strength cards from your tarot deck

fresh solar flowers such as sunflowers, yellow carnations, marigolds, and

fresh oak leaves

a vase filled with fresh water

crystals such as tiger’s-eye, citrine, and yellow jasper

a small towel

a safe, flat surface

Directions: This spell has specific timing and instructions to help raise your personal magickal energy. Set up your work area so you face the east and the rising sun about a half-hour before sunrise. Outdoors is best, but in a pinch use an eastern-facing window indoors. As the sun breaks the horizon, raise your arms to it and drink in the light.

There is magick to be tapped into at the birth of a new day. Soak up some solar energy for a few minutes and get ready to direct this energy into your spellwork.

When you feel you are ready, place the votive candle holder in the center of the small plate. Pour a thin circle of golden magnetic sand on the saucer, around the outside of the candleholder. Wipe your hands clean of the sand.

Arrange the rest of the spell’s components on your altar in a way you find pleasing. Keep the tarot cards and the flowers well away from the candle.

Next, inscribe and empower your candle with the pin or your boline with the astrological symbol of the sun: . Center yourself and shift your mood to a positive and upbeat one. Empower the spell candle by holding the inscribed candle in your hands and up so the rising sun shines upon it, then repeating the candle empowerment verse:

”As I hold this prosperity candle in my hands

I empower it to send magick across the land.

Now burn with purpose, your flame strong, bright, and true

I will be successful in all that I do.”

Set the inscribed and empowered candle in its holder and then light the candle. Repeat the following ritual verse with intention and purpose.

”At first light on the sun’s own day, this sunrise spell begins

As the light grows, my candles burn and magick starts to spin.

Flowers and stones of the sun, lend your powers now to me

Blending together toward my goals in strength and harmony.

Golden magnetic sand attracts success to all I say and do

Tarot cards will aid my focus and make my magick strong and true.

Now combine and ripple out, create change for all the world to see

This golden light blesses me now with success, wealth, and energy.”

Allow the candle to burn in a safe place until it goes out on its own. Once the candle is spent, you may return the tarot cards to the deck. Pocket the stones for a few days to keep that solar energy going. The flowers you may keep in a place of prominence until they begin to fade, then return them

neatly to nature by putting them in with your yard waste to be recycled or adding them to your compost pile.

PROSPERITY SPELLS

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Purpose and Focus: Be clear with your intention. What is the purpose of the ritual? Are you focused? Did you take a moment to ground and center and to put aside all negativity? Do not focus on fears or wants. Focus on abundance happiness, positive change, and prosperity. Now ask yourself if your intention is pure. Are you sincere?

The phrase “know thyself” was inscribed on an ancient temple at Delphi. That phrase is an elegant way of reminding you to be balanced and ethical. This is important. You need to be focused and have yourself in a calm, centered state. This is a requirement for altered consciousness. It is easy to

forget in the heat of the moment or in the rush to work a quick spell, but do your best to be calm and centered. Take a moment and clear your mind. Find your focus.

Intention and Will: Know your exact intention. Visualize! If you are going to will positive change into your life, then you must have the determination to succeed plus the strength to live your life as a successful, prosperous, and generous person. Focusing your will is a test of your personal strength and of

your goal to bring positive change into your world. Thought creates. If you have a positive intention and have focused your will, then directing the energy of the spell will be smooth and effortless.

Raising Personal Vibrations: This flows right after the previous two. Happy, upbeat energetic vibrations build powerful, effective prosperity-attracting thoughtforms. Whatever you are feeling emotionally at the time of the spell

will affect the outcome of the magick. Think about the hard lesson I rel-earned in the introduction. Recall the principle of vibration. Build those positive thoughtforms well and get ready to release them out into the world to effect a positive change.

Sacred Space: Spells and rituals cause a change in consciousness, as they take place outside of ordinary life. Wherever you choose to work your witchery and prosperity magick, make it a sacred space. Set up an attractive and

inspiring work surface. By this I mean a clean, happy, pleasant environment, whether you cast in your home or out on your porch, deck, or in the garden. Sacred space is defined as an area that is natural, clean, beautiful, and

inspiring.

Supplies: Most rituals employ complementary colored candles, oils, herbs, crystals, and other props. Your supplies should correspond and be harmonious with your intention. Just as was discussed earlier with the principles of

correspondence and vibration, the supplies should be in tune with each other, having the same sort of energy and vibration, for best results.

Timing: It is often remarked that timing is everything, and that is certainly the case with magick. When it comes to magickal timing for your prosperity spells, I am breaking it down into two main categories: the waxing or waning

moon and the most favorable days of the week.

Waxing Moon: The waxing moon pulls prosperity in. When the moon is waxing (increasing) in the sky, it’s going from new moon to full moon phase. This is the best time for spells that call for increase, expansion, new opportunities, and financial growth.

Waning Moon: The waning moon banishes poverty. When the moon is waning (decreasing) in the sky, it’s going from full moon to new moon phase. This is the perfect time for magick that decreases debt, diminishes worry, and removes obstacles to your success. Work with the tides of the

moon, not against them. Consider the Hermetic principle of rhythm.

Specific Days of the Week: Sometimes we do not have the option of waiting for the correct moon phase. We do, however, have the opportunity to work with astrological energies and daily correspondences. The most opportune

days of the week for abundance and prosperity magick are Sunday (the sun’s day for success and wealth) and Thursday (Jupiter’s day for prosperity and abundance). Consider the principle of correspondence.

Plant Magick, The key to understanding the Old Ways

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Plants are an integral key to understanding the Old Ways. Our ancestors attached symbolism to different plant part such as flowers or leaves because of what their shape resembled, or even what the nature of the environment in which they grew suggested often something of their physical nature indicated magickal power such as the sunflower always turning to face the sun, or the moon flower only opening its petals at night.

Here they symbolize many abstract principles and therefore

we find them included in the mythology of ancient Gods and

Goddesses. Other reasons for including plants as occult symbols are related to what we now term their pharmaceutical or chemical natures.

Occult symbolism appears in the act of the seed pushing its

way up through the soil. The plant grows from a seed, flower

produces seed, and dies; so too is the life of a man or woman.

The beauty of the flower is fleeting in its time; just as youth

itself soon departs and the life of the plant lives in accord with the seasons of Nature. Plants that did not die in the Winter were believed by our ancestors to have particularly strong magickal powers. For this reason, evergreen trees were themselves worshiped as deities in the ancient times of our ancestors.