[Pagan Blog Project] J is for Jill-of-All-Trades

Or maybe that should be Jill-of-All-Crafts.  I often feel scattered and distracted in my Craft work.  I have so many interests in so many paths and so many subjects, I can’t seem to focus on any single one.  This is not to say that I’m a master at any of them.  I can’t seem to settle down enough for that!  Part of the problem might be that I’m still somewhat new to the Craft.  Is three years enough to not be a newbie anymore?  Part of it is that I don’t spend as much time on it as I’d like.  Although that one might actually be because I’m too intimidated by all the subjects!

In what am I interested, Craftwise, you ask?  Name it.  Just off the top of my head:  Candle and knot and moon and water and elemental and gemstone magick.  Elixirs, herbs and powders.  Wicca and Gypsy and Aztec and Shamanistic paths.  Celtic and Gardnerian and what seems like a hundred other Wiccan paths.  Tarot and scrying (fire and water) and pendulum divination.  Aromatherapy and chakras and astral projection.  Meditation and ritual and spellcrafting.  Cottage and Kitchen and Green and  Dark Witchery. And of course each topic has a zillion small parts, most of which I find interesting!

I need to sit down and work out a priorities list, like I’ve done for my life overall.  Force myself to focus on one thing at a time.  These things are not always necessary for me in the Craft—often I can just feel what’s right FOR ME.  I get a tingly, uplifting, energetic feeling when I encounter such things—when I read a spell that I know will work for me, or when I find conflicting information on a witchy topic.  But it only seems to happen for small, specific things, not broad categories.

Anyone else out there have too many Craft interests?

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[Pagan Blog Project] I is for Information

Books, articles, gatherings, and of course the internet.  There is no shortage of places to find information on any aspect of paganism, any path, just about anything.  It’s great.  It’s wonderful.  I wouldn’t be a witch otherwise.

But should there be caution and concern, as well?  Certainly one should be cautious about any information given to them by others, especially on the anonymous internet.  Take everything with a proverbial grain of salt and try to find at least three opinions/sources for it before trying it for yourself.  But that’s not what I mean.

Should we be cautious about putting the information out there in the first place?  Should we be so publicly open about our beliefs?  So willing to let anyone know what our decidedly un-mainstream religion is?

Given this blog, it’s easy to see what my feelings are on the topic.  As I mentioned above, I would never have found my own path without this openness.  I believe firmly in freedom of religion.  And certainly my English Major/Librarian roots scream out for freedom of speech.

But there are those of us who feel that a more guarded attitude is necessary.  The main argument I’ve heard is that the tide WILL turn, the Burning Times might happen again, and tolerance is relative.  These people feel we should stay firmly in the broom closet, keeping our ways and identities secret and only allowing those initiated to access them.

How do you feel about this issue?  I realize that simply being here, reading this probably means you’re at least partly out.  But what are your thoughts on the other side of the argument?

How far have you stepped from the closet?

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[Pagan Blog Project] H is for Home Cleansing

Since we just moved into a new house (I need to change the picture on this blog), I thought sharing the house cleansing I plan to do would be appropriate.  It’s a fairly simple process, and it should have been done before we moved in here, but after will work, too. 

Start by cleaning EVERYTHING (floors, walls, counters, windows, etc.) with some form of lavender in order to purify and to attract positive energies.  It can be simple lavender water, it can be powdered lavender, whatever you prefer will work.  Move widdershins as you do this, and perform this chant:

Negative energy be gone from here

Only positive and good come near.

Now that you have cleaned the house, the next step is to sweep negative energy away.  Weather permitting, open all your doors and windows.  After you do so, take your besom, thoroughly “sweep” out every room, even the closets, even the garage!  Again, move widdershins.  While you do so, continue to repeat the chant. 

Close the doors and windows.  Light a sage bundle (VERY lightly, you don’t want problems with smoke inhalation!).  Once again, moving widdershins and repeating the chant, walk through the house, stopping at every door, every window, and in every room to describe a pentagram with your sage.  Repeat the above chant if you feel it is necessary.  This last step will finish the cleansing and protect against the return of negative energy.

After you have finished, do whatever you can to keep negative energy away and encourage positive energy to fill the space.  Burn rosemary incense, laugh a lot, perform a House Blessing—anything you feel will keep the balance in the positive.

The house should now feel light and airy.