Samhain (also known as Halloween) is the most sacred time of year for witches. This time of year represents the thinnest part of the otherworldly veil between the living and the dead. It is a time for honoring ancestors and for grounding. Originally this Gaelic festival was used as a harvest time to mark the passage into the darkest part of the year and would also mark the new year.
What many do not know is that our modern Halloween is combination of Samhain and All Soul's Day. Currently Halloween has many traditions that came from the original festival of Samhain such as: Jack O'Lanterns: Pumpkins with carvings held candles that would ward off evil spirits that did not belong on this plane. Trick or Treating: This costume was used to mask mortals from spirits and also neighbors would go around each others homes for a contribution for their harvest feast. Divination/Mediumship: The act of connecting with the other side is nothing new, but this time of year the veil is so thin that this practice is dominant. Whether you believe in celebrating Halloween or not, take a moment to ground yourself during this time by meditating or taking walks out in nature. You'll be surprised to find what a beautiful time of year this is to let things go. ***It's important to note the only thing killed during this time were animals for harvest to endure the harsh winters. Children were not sacrificed to the devil or any other atrocities that are associated with demon raising and worship.
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Magick (with the K) shows it's distinction from the illusions we may pay to see. Magick is pure and filled with our intention and sometimes the more intention we use the more we feel the energy on our skin. There are some individuals that are kitchen witches which means they place their intentions in everything they cook. Perhaps you identify as a green witch which indulges strongly with plants and makes many potions with this medicine plants. There are also hedge witches that identify with the medicinal and spiritual practice of witchcraft. They are healers and shamans that walk alone the path of their ancestors. Crafting magick doesn't have to be this ornate ritual that takes hours of your time. It can be simple like using sage around the house, taking 5 minutes to meditate, perhaps gardening, and sometimes spending time with loved ones is a form of magick. There are so many ways to bring and live magick in your daily life and all it takes is conscious living. Clean your spiritual antennae and be enchanted by the magick all around. Some great witchy youtubers to help give you ideas and tips: www.youtube.com/user/FeatherGardenBelle www.youtube.com/user/Pyperh www.youtube.com/channel/UCgo-xta2uhayMg7Yk0XKSBw www.youtube.com/user/TheElementalWitch1 www.youtube.com/user/TheLadygravedancer Veganism is an ethical dietary and lifestyle choice that aims to be free from animal cruelty. This includes not consuming meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and honey. This ethical lifestyle also aims to not use leather goods and other products that comes from the suffering of animals. Veganism is lifestyle that requires people to be consciously aware of their choices and how they affect the planet.
Many people believe they could never stop eating meat, but meat is not what you're eating. You are eating a pig that was a mother that did not want to die or a cow that is begging for mercy that will not come. Many argue that because humans are at the top of the food chain that we have to eat animals. Ultimately you have to decide what type of "Ahisma" or non-harm life you want to lead. If you want to participate in something you will not see excuses, but challenges that need to overcome. Below you will find some great sources of inspiration to maybe think about a more compassionate life. Books: The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone Eat Vegan on $4 a Day by Ellen Jafe Jones The China Study by T. Colin Campbell, PhD The Engine 2 Diet by Rip Esselstyn How to Not Die by Michael Greger, M.D. Documentaries: Forks Over Knives Earthlings Cowspiracy Vegucated YouTube Channels: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGJq0eQZoFSwgcqgxIE9MHw/videos www.youtube.com/channel/UCs1uwp7bB1J_3r5xN2ioL_w www.youtube.com/user/veganbeautyreview www.youtube.com/user/HappyHealthyVegan Veggies have some how become the most despised food in history. However veggies have the power to heal you from the inside out. The magic of the earth in your body makes your body feel like a garden not a graveyard. How about today you take a chance and try a fun way to eat some yummy zucchini.. (which by the way has a fun name!)
Ingredients: Sliced zucchini (1/4 to 1/8 inch thin) Salt Pepper Garlic Onion Chives Cilantro Smoked Paprika Nutritional Yeast (optional) *** Honestly use whatever dry spices you like, but this is what I used for this batch * Pre heat the oven to 425 degrees * Spray a baking pan with some nonstick spray * Lay out zucchini on pan and lightly spray with olive oil * Sprinkle any dry spices you would like * Place in oven for 15 minutes, then flip over for another 15 minutes Once they have a golden look to them take them out of the oven and enjoy them!! I personally love mixing them with vegan mashed potatoes or on top of a vegan burger. September 30th brought us the Black Moon. The black moon belongs to the strong, mysterious, and divine Lilith. Lilith teaches us to embrace our shadow side and let go of what no longer serves us. This means there is a great sense of relief that washes over us, renewing us with energy to end the year strong. The idea that the decay in our lives will provide us with a beautiful foundation for our spiritual garden is a sacred promise.
Now is the time to embrace our authentic selves and trust our intuition. Burning or smoking herbal blends of mugwort, damiana, lavender, and strawberry leaf are a great way to focus on our intentions and inner magick. I recently began reading this extremely illuminating book and I feel as if I've lived this information in another life. The mystery surrounding female shamanism especially the use of menstrual blood and the closeness of women is brought to light in this book. Vicki Noble urges us to embrace our shadow sides and instead of feeling guilty, we must own that connection to the dark goddesses.
Every phase in our lives follows the cycles of the moon and this energy serves as a beacon for others. We must remember to embrace the changes and connect with those that came before us. We must remove the shackles that threaten what is ancient and bonding. We must ground and reconnect to our shadow sides for transformation to take hold. About 1.5 years ago I had a dream that was so vivid I swore it was real. The sounds of the night creatures were loud, but I had no fear. I walked a path of strength and had spirits for allies. My ancestors always with me and the universe I weaved around me. There was a fire where I danced ancients dances and from my mouth came words to where I knew the language was dead. I was a powerful shamaness.
I was fighting for the very survival of Earth and her creatures in it and I won. The dream was so real I could feel the heat of the fire that kept me warm through the night. My apparel was traditional and full of animal totems.If there was such a thing as a calling, then this dream felt like this was it. Since that dream my life has taking a very interesting turn. The subtle energy around has amplified as if the dream awakened something within me that was lost. Since that dream I have resolved to study and learn about shamanism in conjunction with my already witchy ways. It has been enlightening to trust the process and I know the path is challenging, but all warriors are made not born. I know with the support of my witchy sisters we can create and bring back real magic. Goddess Bless. Creativity comes in many forms. Sometimes we find peace when we create things with our hands and sometimes we find solace when we string words together to evoke magical imagery. Creative muses are patient. They understand that when you create something there will always be a critic wanting to steal the enchantment of what you have given life to. Anything that brings you joy can be creative and the best part is finding the inner peace that comes along with that gift you share.
Take a moment everyday to create something and allow your mind to release what it's holding on to. Allow your creative muse to take gently guide you into a state of inner peace. Creativity is not about perfection, it's about finding the beauty in the most ordinary things and giving them value. Awareness of the nature around us seems like an easy task. We open our eyes and we go outside to notice the trees and sky. We may briefly notice the temperature, but do we ever really sit and immerse ourselves in nature? Nature provides solace, it offers no judgement, and it offers sacred space. It nourishes everything including us, by giving us oxygen to breathe. Nature provides medicine and a wonderful playground for all, but do we really notice it? Do we notice the subtle embrace of this entity? Nautre is sacred ground. It has been here before humanity and will continue to thrive after us. May we all truly become aware of the beauty not just above us, but below us. May we walk barefoot and dance in the cleansing rain. Perhaps when we say we're too busy, nature will whisper to us and help us feel grounded and whole. Pictures on post taken by: Briana Kiefer
Have you ever had a desire to buy a coloring book? Maybe you wanted the piece of clothing that most people would think is "too young" for you? Perhaps your inner child wants a bit of the action in your life. When you find yourself drawn to having more fun and relaxing more, your inner child tends to be more at the forefront of our thoughts. Our inner child is thought to be our true selves that is hidden away when negative experiences attack our spirit.
When we indulge enchanting moments in our lives we become more susceptible to the magic that is all around us. The more we view the world in childlike wonder, the more we appreciate what is happening in the present; we acknowledge the gift of another day and another moment. Sure we can be silly and play Twister with paint and maybe do silly things in public places, but the main goal is to check in with our inner child with causal, "hey." |
AuthorBriana is a married mother of two. She is a published author and has a masters in educational leadership. She is a certified yoga teacher and strongly believes that anyone can do yoga. She believes yoga meets you where you are and that anything is possible once you connect with yourself and embrace your shadow side. Archives
October 2016
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