PaganBlogProject2013-LetterB

Pagan Blog Project 2013 - Letter B for Blessings/Blessed

This week's blog prompt from the Pagan Blog Project 2013 is the letter B. We will again be going through the alphabet one week at a time. 

I have chosen 'Blessings' for my 'B' word. I indeed feel so awesomely blessed. I have been reading 'The Magic' by Rhonda Byrne as most of you know. I practice the list of 10 grateful things in my life. Each morning I write a list of 10 things I am thankful for in my life. And I must say, just as Rhonda promised-my life is changing. I am manifesting blessings in my 
life by being positive. Like attracts like as we all know. And by finding all those things to be thankful for, instead of wishing for things I do not yet have. Wonderful things are happening. Just in this past week alone a wonderful gal found me on my magick facebook profile. (http://facebook.com/wiccanmoonmagick) I don't use that profile as much as I used to. My other profile is for my passion parties business & I have a lot going on in there and space off the other profile lol I just happen to be checking it & there was a note from a woman interested in Passion Parties! Then today, a friend sent me a msg on facebook wanting to book a party!










The dictionary defines blessed as:

bless·ed

[bles-id; especially for 3, 7 blest] Show IPA

adjective

1.

consecrated; sacred; holy; sanctified: the Blessed Sacrament.

2.

worthy of adoration, reverence, or worship: the Blessed Trinity.

3.

divinely or supremely favored; fortunate: to be blessed with a strong, healthy body; blessed with an ability to find friends.

4.

blissfully happy or contented.

5.

Roman Catholic Church , beatified. 

 

I feel very fortunate to live the life I love. I am improving it everyday through the power of positive thought. Which is exactly what magick is I think. Magick is to manifest positive change through positive action. 

 

I am spectacular! I feel spectacular! 

 

Blessed Be my witchy sisters & brothers.

I am thankful you are in my life, on our planet at this time with me.

 

Suggested Reads:

The Magic by Rhonda Byrne - my daughter picked it up at kmart last year for $10.00 It's also at Amazon.

Amazing e-books by: Leonie Dawson, Rowan Pendragon

 

I have picked up both of these e-books. They are transforming! Luv these ladies!!

 

  

 

Green Witch with Sprinkles: Happy 2nd Blogaversary and a Giveaway

I have found some wonderful blogs the last couple of days. They renew my spirit & make me so happy. I am blessed to have been led to them. Here is another one. The other one I found just last night is linked in my sidebar - I've joined a project called Witchy Enough

Green Witch with Sprinkles: Happy 2nd Blogaversary and a Giveaway:   I am so excited to return to blogging full time, and to share with you, albeit a bit late, my 2nd Blog a versary! Yay! I want to ...

PaganBlogPrompt-Altar

Prompt: A is for Altar

Posted: 10 Jan 2013 09:00 AM PST

ALTARS

Let's see 'em!

Show us your altar, or at least describe it for us.

What items are always on it?
How often do you change it up?
Where do you keep it?


If you don't keep an altar, tell us why.

_________________
_________________

yes! I luv setting up my altar & changing it around to suit the seasons, sabbats...

I usually change it at a sabbat. Right now it is still set up from Yule. I will be changing it soon for Imbolc. Which I'm very excited about. I'm going to be making my own Imblc candles!

My altar is a simple night stand table that I already had. It is a table top, then it has a bookshelf middle and a drawer down below. I luv it. I change out my altar cloth sometimes. Not very often though. It usually is dressed with a black altar cloth with a pentacle in the center. It sit in the east corner of my bedroom, beside my bed. But I feel like its in the wrong area. I don't have enough room to cast a circle anymore. I have a different bed that I did before. And the bed is larger, and in a different direction. It feels like its all positioned incorrectly... *sigh*

There are no windows near my altar now. So it is facing a wall, no room for casting a circle. I do my best in my scrunched space *lol*

I luv taking photos of my altar and magickal tools. I do not have a lot of fancy tools. My altars and rituals are usually pretty simple. 

Yule Ritual Altar 2012

Samhain Ritual 2011

Mabon / Autumn 2011

Beltaine 2011
*very 1st sabbat*

Summer Solstice 2011

This is how my altar looked during the summer of
2011

Another simple altar look during the summer of 2011

Walking into the light...

Please do not share this on facebook

 

Moving forward, change, transformation, walking into the light out of the darkness. They all sound like tremendously wonderful things. I know change is coming. And I know change must take place. It has been coming and coming and coming. I avoid it. Because it is so scary. I know it must be. I know it must be done & that it will happen. And that it even is the best thing for me. But still, knowing that does not make it easy.

This huge change is in my life. It is a very  big change.  Sometimes I look forward to it. I have felt it for at least 2 to 3 years. I know it in my soul.

At first I battled with it so terribly. That divorce  is so terrible and so sinful. It tore me up inside so badly. But now after a couple of years of looking at, of really seeing what my marriage is like. And that I do not like it. This is not the life that I want. This is not the way that I want to feel. And if something doesn't feel right. How can  changing it be wrong. I am so thankful that I have found serenity in an old religion. That I have learned so much in the last 2 years about religion and spirituality.

It can not possibly be right to stay in a love-less, sex-less, uncaring relationship. How can that be right? How can it be right or healthy to stay in a situation just because it is written so. That no matter what woman must stay with her husband or suffer some sort of eternal damnation. ha! I am so glad to be free of that thinking.

I am done coming last. Not being thought of, thought about, considered.

 

 

For the first time in my life I know what I want. I want to live by myself, in peace, quiet, tranquility, harmony, positive energy. To keep living as I do now. As I have lived, is to be kept a prisoner down in a dark cold lonely dungeon. All alone. No one to hear me. No one to see me. No one to understand what I feel, to feel as I do.

 

I just have to break free for myself. I know so many people will not understand. I know my husband will not understand, and will think I'm a terribly self centered thoughtless person. And will think that I have been using him. But that's okay. He can think those things. He is entitled to his feelings. Just as I am entitled to mine, and to be happy and to live my life for myself...

 



 

Blessed Be ~ Bright Blessings )O(

 

 

 

Aphrodites Infusion Chunky Votive Heart Candle Set

In honor of upcoming valentine's day, spring, Imbolc,... I am offering a magickal set of Aphrodite's Infusion hand poured candles. Infused with victorian roses, fresh cut roses, and white shoulders type candle scents. Adorned with ambrosia sugar resin, red ribbed ribbon. One with a rose charm and the other with a dragonfly charm.
1 hour burn time for each candle.

$12.00 for the set plus 9.95 for shipping
justjulie@bresnan.net (paypal address for payment)
Then please email me at mymoonmagick@gmail.com or justjulie@bresnan.net to let me know you've sent payment. Don't forget your address so I can send these out to you right away.

(view of the top candle chunks, ambrosia sugar resin)

(close up of the charms)

CandleCrafting

I did some candle making last night for the 1st time in many many months. I've just been so depressed for such a long time. I felt like that was a little lighter yesterday. I want my life to be different, and the only way that is going to happen is by making it happen myself. I also created an herb blend to add into candles I pour with the properties of good luck, money, protection, purification, and love, and health. These candles that I will create could be used for a plethora of ritual workings, or aromatherapy.

Aphrodite's Infusion

Aphrodite's Infusion. Redish-purple colored votive candle with pink chunks
Entangled with swirls roses & white shoulder's type perfume candle scent.
Sprinkled with silver and pink glitter, topped with divine Ambrosia sugared resin.
Softly setting the mood.
1 hour burning time



closer look to see the sparkles, and Ambrosia sugared resin

 

 I am often so excited to share my creations that I don't always wait until I have them fully dressed to show them off *lol* I will post my pictures after they are all dressed & ready for purchasing. There is a set of 2 of these lovely votive candles. They are 12.00 per set plus shipping costs.

I also made 3 sets of hearts in the same color and sent.

The 1st batch, the wax was still to warm for pouring in the small of a mold. My next 2 came out much much better. SO pretty! Some with silver glitter, some with pink, and others with dark purple.

Dragon's Breath Blend

My powerful blend of dragon's blood, white copal, rosemary,
frankincense and patchouli
The scent turned out divine!! I luv it!! Earthy, hot w/ a whisper of sweet. 

 

Crafted on a Saturday under the waning crescent moon. Saturday  is ideal for working with protection & shielding. Saturdays planet is Saturn, colors: magenta & deep wine red.
Waning Moon - banishing, dispelling negativity, getting rid of bad habits, illness, any negative energies.

The Herbs used in my herb blend:
Dragon's Blood: element-fire. powers- protection, love, potency, exorcism
Copal (white): element-fire. powers-love,purification
Frankincense: element-fire. powers- protection, spirituality, exorcism
Patchouli: element-earth. powers- money, fertility, lust

PaganBlogProject-Arianrhod

Arianrhod -Pagan Blog Project Prompt. Week 1 January 4-11 2013

Arianrhod - welsh Goddess. Goddess of the silver wheel (the full moon), keeper of time, karma, and afterlife, rebirth. She is believed to ferry souls to the moonland. She rules over the moon, the sea, and the stars. She is believed to take the shape of an owl. She is known for the Goddess of beauty and fertility. Arianrhod represents spining tools such as the weaving loom. Spiders are also sometimes associated with Arianrhod, as she is a weaver, like the spider. She is the weaver of time. The turning of the wheel of the year. She represents the sky, The Stars of the Corona Borealis.

Pantheon: Celtic/Welsh

Planet: Moon

Colors: blue, purple, white, silver and gray

Herbs/Incense: Birch

Candle Colors: green and white

Animals: Owl and wolf

Elements: air & water

Stones,Gems,Crystals:

Sabbat: Yule

Plant: Ivy

I feel drawn to Arianrhod. She is the first goddess I learned about when I embraced my magickal path. Which started almost 2 years ago. I've always felt a strong connection to the moon. I feel a sadness when I cannot find it in the sky. The owl is sacred to Arianrhod. Owls keep making their way into my life for some reason. My grand kids give them to me as gifts, they find their way to me as statues from yard sales. Same with the wolf. I feel a great love and respect for the wolf. I feel very drawn to these animals. As well I do other animals as well. I even had a dream about a dragonfly just last night.

I think maybe the Goddess Arianrhod represents to me change, transformation, reincarnation in my own life. By reading about her I learn that these things are alright. I used to fear death. I thought it was an ending. But I think it is just a change is all. And change is good.

WaningMoon and Magickal Eating

Waning moon banish gloom
waning moon banish gloom
waning moon banish gloom

I have a lot of magick going on in my path. I have purchased Leonie Dawson's 2013 goddess e-workbook, as well as Rowan Pendragon's Wild Soul witches Magickal
e-datebook. I have chosen my powerful word for the year. I will keep that to myself though. As I feel it takes the power away to reveal certain things publicly. I am on a 21 day sugar detox. And have also been very sick the past few months. I don't know what is going on in my stomach. But I feel that some of it is due to my diet which has always been high in sugar & gluten. So I'm working on that as well. Which also ties in with the 21 day sugar detox. I don't have money to purchase any books right now. So, I'm referring to a free PDF from Wellness by Rose  And also reading in my Wicca in the Kitchen by Scott Cunningham. A much treasured read!

This year is dedicated to getting healthy. Breakfast is a part of that healthier me. I don't seem to have any stomach problems with eggs. And eggs are on the ok sugar detox list! YAY!! I also went another step and added sage (culinary or common sage) to my eggs. The next time I fix them I think I will also implement burning a green candle for health. I recall reading that in one of Scott's diets.

Today is off to a spectacular start!

It's Friday. I have the weekend off. I ate a healthy, natural & life sustaining breakfast. I shaved my legs with soft and silky shave cream by Passion Parties. And put on some glitter powder & feeling all sexy and divalicious! Did my hair all cute today. I am on day 6 of my 10 gratitude blessings list. I'm so proud of myself for sticking with it! This is the longest I've kept up on my gratitude practices. I do my magical rock practice each night before bed also. I've written out a schedule for my business & a yearly goals list for my passion parties by Julie also. YAY! I'm on track!! I was able to purchase 3 new purple vinyl folders and 100 clear page sleeves to put together more party catalogs. And/or hostess packets.

The Magic

I'd like to share with everyone a new addition to my life. A book called 'The Magic' by Rhonda Byrne. Also author of The Secret. Another way of having the magical life you want. Full of abundance, contentment, happiess. Through the magic of gratitude; the universal law of attraction. Since the universe understands like attracts like. When you are thankful for all in your life, and show gratitude for all we have. We invite more of the same into our life. So if we increase & draw to ourselves more of what we put out, why wouldn't I want to make it positive rather than negative.

Of course I already know all of this - being a witch anyway. I already live a magical life everyday, and incorporate magick into my business. (When I say 'my business/business' i'm referring to my Passion Parties home parties business)


I am loving this book! So much that I want to connect with others who are reading these books and practicing an attitude of gratitude.
The Magical Secret (my facebook group) - NOT an official group by the author Rhonda Byrne. To find out more about The Magic & The Secret & the gifts Rhonda Byrne offers ----> Visit The Secret.tv

The 1st practice to follow is each morning to write in an online journal/blog, local journal on your computer or a paper journal - listing 10 things you are thankful for in your life. The 2nd practice I have started each night to follow is to pick a magical rock. I have various stones, and crystals. I chose a polished amethyst of moderate size that I hold in my right hand. As instructed in The Magic, each night before bed I hold my magical rock in my hand and focus on everything that happened through my day. Finding the one that brought me the most happiness. I say thank you to the universe for that one thing.

I am now beginning in & ending my day in gratitude. Once I started doing this (and its only been 3 days) it is becoming easier to find things to be thankful for throughout the day.



 

Recycle Reuse Renew Mother Earth Projects: how to make a Calming Jar

Recycle Reuse Renew Mother Earth Projects: how to make a Calming Jar:   You will need:    Mason Jar  Craft glitter - 3 pouches (roughly 1/2 tbsp each)  Glitter Glue – 1.8 fl oz.  Hot Water  Directions  1.Boil ...

What a great idea! Looks fun, easy, inexpensive & happy!!!

Yule Ritual 2012-Smelling Like Christmas!

Making all the Christmas morning goodies tonight. Ok, just one goodie and one lunch fixin'. Candied yams at my son-in-laws request *lol* And the Clayton coffee cake!! Then at my daughter's house I'll whip up the cinnamon pull apart bread! woohoo!!

Left (Goddess area):

silver candle for my Goddess Isis, color of the moon and symbolic to the Yule season. The all Goddess, triple Goddess, creator of all and everything.
Chalice with water to represent the element of water.
One of my faery figurines to represent the fae and the element of air.
:::

 Center (both Goddess & God area):
my working candle is always at the Spirit area (top of the pentagram), my offering to the Lord and Lady (orange/clove pomander), my main altar decoration to Yule is the center area with pinecones, stones (citrine, tigers eye), herbs scattered about-sweet cinnamon stick, 2 laurel bay leaves, dried rosemary, dried juniper berries, myrrh, frankincense. My circle of pinecones is closed with a little Goddess medalion, and my bell.

:::

Right (God Area):
Sun God candle, bowl of salt & my california white sage stick that I used to 'clear my space of all negativity for my magickal work to take place'.
Cauldron with red rock that I normally use to burn charcoal with loose natural incense. But I am out of charcoal discs for incense. So I used it to burn a red candle symbolizing the Sun (called for by Scott Cunningham's Yule Ritual in Wicca for the Solitary Practicioner).

(above)

handmade autumn magic candle (smells like melting honey). I made it last autumn trying out a technique where I smear candle dye with a q-tip on the inside of a votive candle mold. Pour the wax. When I removed the candle it looked JUST like a cat! lol

The candle was orange in color, so I used it to represent the Sun/Sun God, return of the Sun! In the Egyptian pantheon the Sun God is Ra.

My herbs that I had gathered on my altar during my ritual, I later used my mortar & pestle to pulverize those herbs. Making them into a loose natural incense & sprinkled them all over my Sun candle and continued with  my ritual. Excellent wonderful aroma!!!
(juniper berries, rosemary, myrrh, frankencense, sweet cinnamon stick, bay leaf, cloves)

I had also previously sprinkled pine pure essential oil around on my altar and pinecones. That too was a wonderful aroma to have wandering through the air as I perform my ritual. It was a very long ritual too. =)

The orange (orange/clove pomander) in the back left is my gift offered to my God & Goddess Osiris & Isis; that I made on the eve of Winter Solstice.

The cinnamon stick particles are really catching fire & taking off.(on the right side)

Anyone reading through any of my rituals for the 1st time, who does not follow the same or similar path might be scared of wicca, paganism, witchcraft, magick, shamanism, or the like... I am an open minded person. I had been curious about wicca and ancient teachings for many many years, and even I had some things wrong about paganism. Just because of the symbols we are fed by society. Heck! I thought Pagans/Paganism in general was something that did not even exist anymore. I had always heard that the Christian traditions were Pagan to start with a long long time ago. Such as May Day. I grew up with May day and it is a very special and sentimental day to me.

Now take the rituals that we perform. They have nothing to do with putting evil onto someone. That is laughable to me now. The sabbat (holiday) rituals have to do with giving thanks to the earth and universe for gifts recieved.

Curious what the use of herbs and oils are all about?
Herbal Grimoire

• Juniper Berry Properties - purifies the aura, clarifies thought, and protects from negativity
• Bay Leaf Properties- is a sun herb. Yule is a celebration of the Sun returning. December 21st (Winter Solstice) is the longest day of the year. After that night every day the Sun stays up a little bit longer, gaining in strength until it is at its most powerful. (summer) http://www.alchemy-works.com/herb_bay.html
• Cinnamon Stick Properties- also linked to the Sun. It is a fire herb. Associations include protection, abundance, love, hearth, home.
• Clove Properties -  Associated with the Sun, warmth, prosperity, protection. Encourages action, and its scent encourages confidence.
• Rosemary Properties - protection, love, clearing, purifying, Place under pillow to repel nightmares, inhale as an oil to improve memory. Use at both funerals and weddings because of its is benevolent associations. Associated with the planet Mercury.
• Pinecone Properties - Male, associated with the planet Mars. Elements: air & fire. Prosperity, birth, fertility.
• Frankincense (resin) Properties - Associated with fire and the Sun. Good for centering yourself for meditation, chakra cleansing (the third eye), purification of negative energy. Relaxing
• Myrrh Properties - purification, martial protection, healing of heart, spirit, or body. 

Stones and Gems I used ~ 

• Citrine Stone - citrine is a grounding stone. yellow in color. Relieves anxiety, depression,  promotes positive energy. Yellow is symbolic to creativity, the element of air, intelligence. Boosts self esteem. Aids digestive problems.
• Tiger's Eye - Associated with Ra the Sun God of the Egyptian pantheon. Encourages bravery.Elements: Earth, Fire. Grounding, helps energy flow freely through the body. Prosperity, reduces cravings & addictive behaviors.

Passion Parties 19th Annual Convention 2013

I've been looking online here there and everywhere at glitter high heels, cocktail dresses, gowns, earrings... Trying to find free & the best inexpensive deals for all my things I will need for convention. And figure out how to fit it all into 1 small carry on suitcase. I guess my husband thinks I'll be wearing shorts or something... It's all so extremely exciting! My very 1st convention.

Passion Parties Annual Convention is held in Las Vegas, Nevada every year. This year's theme for convention is 'Bringing Passion to Life'.
My sister Jenny & I will be there together this year. I've heard her talk about it over the years & can not wait to experience it myself. She is an executive director in the company and runs an amazing business. She has been a consultant for 7 years. And this past year was her most amazing year to date.

Here are some pics of things I'm considering online.
Passion Parties signature colors are purple and hot pink. I want to attend convention in clothing that I'm comfortable in. I want to be able to be myself, in the styles that appeal to me. I've met a few pagans in this company in the past year. The fact that there are so many like-minded people in this company makes it all the more exciting and comfortable for me. 

I especially luv luv luv the wine colored dress! Kinda struggling between going with company colors. EVERYONE will be wearing purple. Which sorta makes me want to go with a different color. I've worn purple all of my life. I always buy purple or lavender. *lol* 

And we can't forget the oh so pretty nails! These are some designs I found online that I like. I often bid for things at www.listia.com and sometimes I can send in a pic of a design I like, to get something similar... For Passion Power in Seattle last summer I wore really cute pink cupcakes *lol* 

  

Winter Solstice Pomanders

I made orange & clove pomanders w/ my daughter & grandkids Evey & Dante on December 20th this year. fun & rekaxing!