Incorporating Spirituality Into Wicca

Hello, again! I feel like I haven't written a thing since I had a sinus infection.  I've also been having a tough time bouncing back emotional-wise, but I seem to be better now.

Today, I decided to talk to you guys about spirituality, and how some things I have experienced within it have been incorporated into my Path.  This is going to be interesting when I explain some of the beliefs I follow.  Some stem from other Pagan religions, such as Buddhism, some have been pulled from Wicca, of course.... And I even found that even a Wiccan can follow some teachings from the contradictory religion, Christianity and it's Holy Book, the Bible.  This is what I believe makes me eclectic: Taking bits and pieces from other religions and placing some of them into my life and Wicca.

I believe in karma, which is different from the Threefold Path.  Karma says that whatever you do will affect you for better or worse.  The Threefold Path states that the energy you give something (positive, negative, passionate, anger) will return to you in Threefold.  That is the difference, and it's a rookie mistake. Anyways, I absolutely believe in the law of Karma.  I also love to meditate, which is usually a part of Wicca anyways, but it is also Buddhist.  It really does calm me down, but I also am creative with these meditation sessions.  I have tried meditative painting before, or painting in general.  It helps me talk to the God and Goddess.  It also pleases Apollo because he is a God of the Arts.  I love doing yoga, but haven't done it in quite a while.  I like to believe that it is a physiological meditation.  I am attempting to work with chakras, but I have no idea where to start.  (I will research this later.)

I am Native American, therefore Paganism is in my blood.  My great-grandmother believed in nothing but herbal remedies and believed in having a totem animal.  I am not sure what our totem animal was, but I think it may have been a wolf.  Regardless, I believe in the same thing.  I feel more connected to felines, particularly black domestic cats.  I also am looking into certain herbs and what they may help with.  I have come across a video that has informed me on how to treat illnesses, which will come in handy.

Now, for the most controversial part that I have been DYING to get to: the Bible.  You're probably like, "Dawn, how do you live by the Bible when it speaks against Paganism?"  I follow certain verses that I would like to share with you. Let me type them.

John 15: 12-13
This is my command, that you love one another, so that I have loved you. Greater love has no man than the one that lays down his life for his friends.

Romans 12:15-21 (Modified for Wicca)
Rejoice with those who are rejoicing, and cry with those who cry.  Have the same concern for everyone.  Don't be full of pride, but accept humble duties.... If someone has done you wrong don't repay them with a wrong. Try to do what is considered to be good.  Do everything that is possible on your part to live at peace with everybody.  Never take revenge (for that is the God and Goddess's part).  If your enemies are hunger, let them eat.  If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.  This will make them filled with shame.  (Do not let negative energies take over you.  Instead, let positive energies flow from your heart.)

1 Corinthians 13:13
These 3 things remain: hope, faith, and love.  The greatest of these is love.

These are just a few of the verses that I apply to my faith.  Just read these and think... Most of these involve love, right? And I quote the Wiccan Rede:

Abide by the Wiccan Rede, ye must

In perfect love and perfect trust...

See the connection? That's something that Wicca and Christianity have in common.  There's a lot of common aspects between these 2, but in general, no one really knows it. (I'll save this for yet another post.)

This is why I'm Eclectic.  I believe in all of these things and apply them to Wicca.  

Many blessings and have a great esbat,

Dawn )O(

My Story

Within 24 hours, I come at you with a 3rd blog entry. I have been blogging a whole lot lately, so please bear with me.  

Anyways, I was thinking about where my path had stemmed from and when it actually started. I guess you could say that I didn't really notice it until my freshman year in high school (I'm a senior in high school now, so...) . 

It all started when I was 7. I was entertained with the idea of magick. Something about it had drawn me in. I read books that had had magick within them, and I used to create my own world with elements and faeries. I was completely lost in it as a child would be.

When I was in 8th grade, I started to see a huge change. I was into things like intuition, the laws of karma, and all of those types of things. I absolutely believed in self-control and if something needed to be said, I wasn't one to hold back. It seemed as though when I got mad, something was controlling me to say mature things. I thanked it each and every time. I believe it was the God and Goddess controlling me, and I didn't know it yet.

By my freshman year in high school, I had a unique friend. She wasn't exactly into church, and she introduced me to types of divination. She read my numerology (which was a 2) and said that I was bound to be a leader and do great things. I laughed at her when she said that, but now I'm starting to see what she means...

She also used a Ouija Board while I was on the phone with her. You could hear and feel the spirit she was talking to. I never really believed in such things until then. She also read my palms and taught me a little about palmistry. She had tarot cards, too, but her mother had threw them away, claiming that they "belonged to and served the devil." 

Also in my freshman year, we had this huge research project due about a Greek God or Goddess of our choosing. As much as I wanted to choose Apollo, the God of music and light, many people had chose him. Instead, I chose Artemis, Goddess of the hunt. I found that she was independent and the twin of Apollo. I had so much respect for mythology after this, and I literally obsessed over this project. I lived, breathed, and ate the project until I had to present. I had to edit my 10 minute speech because I had acquired so much information about Artemis. 

In my sophomore year, I found myself going back to church, but as soon as I did that, I began looking up spells and became a Christo-Witch. That contradicted everything in my opinion. I just couldn't make up my mind.... Until my junior year.

I actually met a pagan through a music program that unites our school district. He was goth and Pagan, so I thought he was quite unapproachable. I was wrong. He was one of the most awesome people I've met in my life. I found that surprising, not because I had heard that goths were so distant and cold, but how a Pagan, something that I was taught was wrong, was amazing and confident in what he believed in. He also developed a small crush on me, and I was pretty much liking him, too. I thought that if I got some more religious tolerance under my belt, I could actually date him and make this work. Unfortunately, we didn't end up dating, but, about a week later, Wicca became my obsession. 

I researched it night and day, tried a new moon ritual, tried keeping a Book of Shadows, and researching Gods and Goddesses to work with. In about 2 weeks, I had known most of the basics, and did a dedication ritual to the God and Goddess. It was about a week or 2 after Imbolic. I took notes, tried to memorize things, and now I have the days of the week correspondences memorized. I also have some colors that I mostly use memorized. 

I fully couldn't grasp the idea of a Goddess until I reasoned with it in a Christian way. "Ok, so God... The Christian God, has a masculine and feminine side. The feminine side would be the Goddess, right?"

Long story short, it's been about a year since I actually got into Wicca. In my opinion, it was only a matter of time before I got into a great religion. And now, I'm starting to learn from a mentor so that I can continue on my path, form my own coven, and become an effective leader.

Well, that's my story, but it's still not written to its fullest.

Wishing you many blessings,
Dawn )O(

Wicca 101: Rituals and Circles

Hello, this is Dawn, and this is my 2nd post of the night. In this entry, I promised that I'd explain what it means to cast a circle, why should you cast a circle, and most importantly, how to cast a circle.

Since tonight is an esbat, or full moon, this means that Wiccans will hold a ritual. Most Wiccans will cast a circle, conduct their rituals inside of this circle, then close it. This is so all negative energies are kept out and pure energies are kept in.

Before we get to casting a circle, let me state things that prefer to do before conducting a ritual. Sometimes, I like to clean the place that I am going to have the ritual. Seeing as I've been a little more bold, I clean the table in the living room. Depending on my mood, I may also clean my body. To me, it symbolizes that the Maiden (new moon) is reborn or that whatever is living will have to deteriorate and start anew (Full moon).  Then, I cast my circle. Here's where you, once again, do what you feel is correct.

I label what is in front of me north, what's on my right east, what's on my left west, and what's behind me south. I call the elements. North can be whatever your heart desires, but I label that Earth. Water is west. East is air. And South is fire.  With what I have in my possession, I am able to have representations of everything: a cup of water, a candle that will be lit when I call fire, a pine cone for earth, and incense for air. I then light the incense.  Once again, do whatever feels right.

Calling the elements can be as simple as, "air, I welcome you into my circle," or it can rhyme and all of that jazz. Normally, I would say, "Air, may you guide me in the right direction. I welcome you into my circle." Move onto the next element. I go counterclockwise. 

"Earth, I ask you to ground me..."
"Water, allow me to relax in your body..."
"Fire, warm me in your flame..."

Great. You have called all of the elements. Now, it is time to welcome the deities. So, call them and politely welcome them to your circle. Don't demand them. Welcome them. Then you do your spiritual work.

Cake and ale is not actual cake and ginger ale. It's a sweet treat that you take one bite of and take one sip of in honor of the God and Goddess. I usually grab tea and something to bite, then uncast the circle. Uncasting the circle is like casting the circle in reverse and bidding the deities and elements farewell (going from the one you recently called to the first one called). You politely say that they can leave the circle. Remember, you are in sight of the God and Goddess, and you should completely act like it.

After closing the circle, and if there's tea and what-have-you left over, then you can finish your cake and ale after the circle is gone. At least that's what I do...

I hope that this helped you guys who are new and wanting to cast your circles and have rituals. These are the basic esbat rituals...

Much love, 
Dawn )O(

Wicca 101: Spells

Hello, again! It's me, Dawn, and I'd thought that since tonight is an esbat (more commonly known as a full or new moon) that I would talk to you about the subject most people would love to know most about: Magick. Many people know this as spellcasting.

To tell you the truth, most don't need the physical casting of a spell, but most consider this common.  What I just found out moments ago is that prayer can be considered a spell. Depending on who your mentor is, this can vary, so you don't really take what I'm saying at face value.  Once again, what you think matters when being Wiccan.  

There are different methods in casting spells. I usually cast a circle to keep positive energies in and negative energies out. (I will explain this in a post following this, so do not worry!) If you do not want to cast a circle, then it is fine. Some decide to get their spells online, while others write theirs.  Once again, it is up to you.  However, it is more powerful if you write your own.  There are many kinds of spells that you could conduct, and that depends on what you want to achieve.  

When conducting a spell for love (as an example), you can use correspondences to strengthen this spell.  The color red is for passionate love, and you would most likely cast it on Friday.  As a note for any love spells, you must be careful. If you follow the Wiccan's Rede, you do not want to tamper with one's free will. If it is more of a general spell to find love, and it is not aimed towards anyone, I would say that that is better.  Still, you would want to be very careful.

There are so many things that I could tell you guys about spells, but this will have to do, seeing as though Wicca 101 is covering certain topics briefly. In the future, I may post about different spells I have used and how they work. 

Wishing you many blessings,
Dawn )O(