Everyday magick

The other day I was on the phone with my friend and we got on to the topic of her not practicing like she used to. I started to say the same thing before I realized that crafting and weaving spells and using magick is so common place with me that half the time I don't consider it using magick.

Let me explain, since I am of the belief that intent is the power behind magick. I view cleaning as a way to clear my house of negativity and bad energies, but its not like I spend three full hours thinking "I banish the negative". I listen to different chants and songs, dance, and sing my lungs out. All to fill my home with positive energy and love for my boys.

That's when I realized that magick can be both intentional and unintentional. Does is change the power behind it? I don't believe so. But what is your opinion?

Connections...

We make connections everyday. Between new people we meet on the street, the family and friends that surround us, and for some of us, the Gods and Goddesses that are in our lives.

I have a very deep connection to my Goddesses. I have not found a God that I connect with. My children, I try to not influence one way or the other. My eldest leans towards The Greenman. He hasn't really decided on a religious path yet. I think he may end up ecletic me, which would be my choice for him.

The baby...well he has many many years before he has to worry about studying. Although, I will be there every step of the way, supporting, guiding, and teaching.

I hope that they can find a connection with any deity like I have. Its important to me that I have spiritual children.

Have any of you felt or been so connected to a deity that you could feel their presence with you at all times?

Mystical Momma

Last night was the full moon. For many of us pagans that is a very special time of the month. And no, I'm not talking menstrual cycles either. 

Many of us cleanse our crystals and gemstones, change over altars, have full moon rituals, and ritual cleansings of our homes. Yesterday, I did all most all of those with a few new additions as well. 

Here is how my ritual went:

• I did a spiral dance to get the energy flowing
• Cast my circle
• Called out and asked for my Goddesses presences
• Hestia and I did a complete spiritual fire cleansing
• Inanna helped me with a chakra alignment
• Followed by a full cycle tarot reading with Hecate
• I shared the fiery energy that was filling me with my Spiral Sisters.
• I closed with offerings and asking for blessings for my family and all my sisters.
• I thanked the Goddesses and elements, and released them from the circle. 

Following all that, I charged and cleansed my stones/gems/crystals. 

Inanna's seedling offering

Every full moon and sometimes new moon follow a similar ritual. There are certain tweaks here and there just because each moon means something different to me. As you can see, I am quite ecletic in my belief system and have unknowingly become slightly Dianic without realizing it. It's more that my patronesses have no counterparts and I have never really felt any connection to a singular god. So until I find a patron, I will work with who I connect with.

And I just realized this is probably the witch-iest post I have written in a while. Well... enjoy and feel free to adapt my ritual to fit your own needs!

Brightest Blessings!!

        )O(

Creativity and the forces that drive us

The 5 Elements

Today I have had a fire lit under my bum! Let me tell you... I cleaned, knitted for a bit, and even painted! I have never painted in my life. So what brought on this sudden urge to paint? I have no clue. All I know is that I am very proud of the pieceS I created! 5 in total. They are all small pieces, no bigger than a snap shot. I felt so moved to do them today when I saw a frame that I simply could not resist.

Unfortunately, I could not get a pic to show the kaleidoscope of colors used in each piece. But the end result makes me smile. At first I wanted to switch the middle picture, until I realized that it was exactly where it needed to be. If you can visualize the center swirling out, it would hit each of the elemental pics right where they are located. 

So, what drove me to do something I have never done in my life before? I'm really not sure. Lately, I have been feeling like I am a funnel for different types of energy, as if they are testing me to see what I am capable of accepting and what I am not.

Current home is between my altar and workspace!

Also, I believe that part of this creative energy is coming from a few of my friends. I have some very very close sisters that are artistically creative in this way. I'm creative, but in a crafty way. I believe that they are "rubbing" off on me energetically and helping me to find parts of myself that I don't usually utilize.

Needless to say, I love finding new things to fill my time with and being able to share my talents with friends and family.  

My challenge to you is to try something that is completely new to you! So what if you fail at it. You may be brilliant. But regardless, you will never know unless you try. (Eww, way cliche.... but true none the less!)

New endeavors....

Perhaps.

A friend of mine and I had tossed around the idea of starting an apothecary type business. We both kind of fell away from it because of different reasons. Lately however, I have been revisiting the idea on almost a daily basis. 

It definitely would be internet based for both financial and personal reasons (although one day I would LOVE to own my own shop). I won't lie, I have a TON of things on my plate right now and I almost  feel like I'm too scattered to start this kind of project. Yet, at the same time, it would be nice to have something that I can do to fill the dull moments, the times I feel lonely, and also take some stress off of Daddy as well. 

I'd like some reader input on this one. What do y'all think? Should I take that leap now or wait it out just a bit?

Brightest Blessings!

      )O(

Laundry...

One of the wonders of the world because it NEVER ends!

I have tried every laundry soap under the sun. Both with and without chemicals. My and the baby's skin is very sensitive. We have to be careful what we use. I personally HATE petroleum based soaps. They make the clothes feel greasy, in my opinion.

So what is a witch momma to do? Make my own of course. Now the recipe I found was online, I just tweaked it a little bit.

All it takes is:

1 cup Borax
1 cup Arm & Hammer washing soda
1 5 ounce (shredded) bar of soap. I used Dr. Bronner's lavender scented bar soap

Mix all ingredients together and store in an air tight container. Use 1 tablespoon per load. 2 tablespoons if  the load is really dirty.

Price wise it works out to 5 cents per load vs. 21 cents for Tide. I use this soap and absoluty LOVE it!!! It smells great, works phenomenally!

Happy stain removal!!

Blessed Be
      )O(

(That is a 5 pound container and only a double recipe of laundry soap...just for reference.)

A true moment of peace.

The babe is asleep, Daddy is at a friend's, and the eldest is spending the night at his father's. Dishes are done and the house is clean. I'm sitting here next to the wonderful sounds of Carlos Santana's Black Magic Woman.

I could use this time to meditate, or better... workout. But no. I just want to take a quiet moment to myself and just enjoy the music. I think we, as a society, don't take enough time for ourselves. We jam pack our days full of activities. Not only for us, but also for our kids.

Think about it, when is the last time you sat down and did nothing. You may have to go way back.

Why is it looked down on to take some time for yourself and do nothing? I encourage it. Not just from mom to mom either. Children should have their down time too. The Eldest's is playing with his Lego. The baby sometimes NEEDS crib time in a quiet room. Daddy....well, he sleeps :).

Challenge to my readers.... take time for you, even if its only 10 minutes.

Brightest Blessings!!
        )O(

Dough Day!!

Today is going to end up being a super busy day for me, so today's post is going to short as well!

Today, The Babe and I made play dough. Well, I made it, he just sat in his high chair giggling while I got covered in flour. There are many recipes out there for making the stuff. I prefer to make it using the cooking method. I think it lasts longer and has a better consistency.

Here is the recipe I use:

1 cup of flour

1 cup of warm water

1/4 cup of salt

2 teaspoons of Cream of Tartar

1 teaspoon oil

food coloring of your choice

Mix all ingredients in a medium sauce pan. Stir over a medium heat until smooth, a ball of dough will form on your spoon and it will have kind of a clear look compared to the uncooked stuff. When all your dough is cooked, take it out of the pan and knead in preferred food coloring. I also add essential oils to match the color of my dough. This time around I used about 5 drops of lavender oil.

This recipe makes a decent sized batch. For smaller children you could even divide it into to two. Hope your children AND you, enjoy this quick and easy recipe!

Brightest Blessings!

     )O(

I Just Want to Scream.

Being a stay-at-home-momma is one the best "jobs" I have ever had! I love my children, my home, my animals and my life. But even I have those moments when something gets spilled and the dog is being a pest, and dinner is burnt, and ect. ect. and then finally I just have had enough. I have barely slept in a week. 2 hours a night really doesn't count as sleeping... that's a NAP! The babe is teething and all my parents  out there know how fun that is!

I reached a breaking point today... so I just went into the basement and screamed and screamed until my throat hurt. Know what happened next? I felt better. It didn't change anything that happened through out the day, but it gave me an outlet for all the pent up frustration that I was dealing with and did NOT want to take out on my family. 

Everyone needs an outlet. My brother writes music, my dad hangs out at the sailboat, I have too many to list, and Daddy, well, he plays video games and geeks out with the guys. The baby gets crib time if he needs a break from stimulation, and the eldest, he vegges out in his room or builds legos in the basement. 

Now before I hear any comments about how meditating will make it easier to deal with stress.... I meditate all the time, but being severely bi-polar with no sleep makes it REALLY hard to zen out. 

My whole point to this blog was to show to everyone (because I've been getting e-mails about how I seem like I have a fake family because we are always so hunky-dory happy) that we have our bad days too. I just don't put my home-life problems out on blast like a lot of people seem to do now adays. There is a time and place for things. We all fight, we all get angry, but we have all figured out ways to deal with it. 

Take the time and figure out the best way to handle your frustration and anger. It will help you, and everyone nearest and dearest to you. Don't be afraid to talk it out. 

Or in my case today.... scream your lungs out!

Blessed Be!
     )O(

By the way... felt good to actually TYPE this one out! I borrowed a friend's computer. 

Just being me.

Now, I have never been able to be the person I was growing up. I had to make everyone happy around me. I went to church on a weekly basis, smiled as I felt like I was breaking apart, and pretended the best I could to be a selfless compassionate person.

Truth is... I am none of those things. Since I have discovered who I truly am, I have never been happier in my life. Not just discovered, because I always knew who and what I was... now I just don't have to hide it. I cry when I'm hurting, I refuse to acknowledge any Christian teachings as my own beliefs, and yes, I AM a practicing witch.

Being as such, I have had this feeling for well over a year or so that I am supposed to be guiding or teaching someone. I have found that person. Now, I won't lie, in a way it terrifies me. To be responsible for someone else's spiritual care is something I take very seriously and have done at least 10 readings of all facets of divination to be sure that this is the way.

I would not be lying if I said I'm excited as well. The chance to guide someone to their own path is exciting.  If that way follows mine as well, I'd love to have someone to have with me when I do my rituals and such. Having my own coven has never been a goal of mine. I'd be lying if I said it wouldn't be kinda fun though. The only thing I miss from church is the community.

After having a "student" if it all goes well, I may open myself up to having more. We will see. If you are seriously interested though, please feel free to message me. Mommazen@live.com is the best way to reach me.

Brightest Blessings!!
           )O(

(Even my dog meditates! Lol)

Our Beltane

I wish I had pictures!! The kids and I had so much fun. Baby and I walked up and pulled the eldest out of school. We had a picnic in backyard. Followed by the story of The Battle of Summer and Winter, which was read out of the Circle Round book. I love that book!!

We also made offerings to the land and also shared some food with the faeries. Placed fresh flowers on the altar and made our wishes.

At end the day, the boys each took a milk and oat bath before snuggling up and wishing to be visited by the faeries in their dreams.

Oh, and I almost forgot the eldest also made a Green Man mask and I made braided flower hair wreaths for the baby and I.

Daddy and I celebrated Beltane in our own way ;)

We were going to have a bon fire but the boys had swim lessons and we just ran out of time.

It was the best Beltane I'd ever had thus far. I can't wait for next year!!

What's your favorite Sabbat?

Blessed Be
       )O(

Coming out day!!

I wanted to share my coming out story with everyone on National Pagan Coming Out Day. So, here goes...

It is no secret that I have studied religion since I was very young. I dabbled at being a Wiccan and witchcraft in high school. Six years ago I was blessed to meet a wonderful woman! To this day we talk regularly and are involved in the same coven.

She was the one who gave me the strength and courage to be who I really am, regardless of what family and friends thought of me. Not that I have ever been one to care much about what others think.

She has been my saving grace on many ways. I call her whenever I'm confused about a reading or need some reassurance. I sometimes doubt my casting ability, though since high school none of spells have gone awry.

The hardest part was telling family and there are still some members who choose to keep their heads in the sand about it. Which is fine with me. I'm not trying to change them.

I began my blog while pregnant in December of 2012. I love every ounce of energy I pour into this blog. It was started to show people that I am pretty much your everyday run of the mill mama!

Tomorrow.... I wish to share the amazing Beltane we had! Its too late tonight.

Brightest Blessings!
         )O(