I tend not to post when I have nothing good to say. People don't want to listen to me complaining all day long. Therefore, I tend to be quiet sometimes. Take last month for example. There has been a lot of strife in my family. There is one member who has decided all of his problems are caused by others. But, most often he believes they are caused by me. I do feel bad for him; his mother died several years ago and I am his stepmother. According to him I stole his father away from him and changed his father into someone unrecognizable. The rest of the family can recognize his father, just not him. It is also important to know that my stepson has three young children, while I have two youngsters of my own.
I expect that everyone is asking what this has to do with natural cleaning or being a Christian Witch. I am actually not sure, but I did need that background out there for this post because this post is all about a strange happening this morning. I have not practiced yoga in some time and when I awoke this morning decided I was going to take a half hour for this activity. After a while of planks and warriors, down dogs and trees I settled in for meditation as I always do. Perhaps I picked a bad song for my meditation but is was a bit upbeat.
Normally when I am in this state I attempt to be still and quiet, acknowledge whatever thought comes to mind and allow it to exit my mind. This was not happening today as a thought fought through. With this music as a soundtrack I was transported to a mystical world.
First I had bricks of white energy that I was building with. I thought I was building a building but it turned out to be stairs. After I climbed the stairs I came to a woods. I ran along a path in the woods in traditional witches garb including the hat (it felt that the hat was very very important here). It was as though the sky was green and there was mist along the ground.
I got to a sunny yet misty clearing and became very powerful. Several times I collected energy and released it seeing it flow in and out of me as a large blue stream and surround me as a blue ball. When I collected it I was able to collect it so that the ball of energy around me was completely internalized and when it was released it was an explosive stream of energy from my head, hands, and heart directed at the sky.
I ran some more and repeated this scene in the clearing until suddenly there was at least one young girl, a protege, with me. I thought at first it was my daughter but then I realized it was not. She and I hugged and I showed her how to handle the energy of the woods we were in. Then, she was my daughter, and she and I laughed and sang and danced. I started imparting secrets of the forest to my daughter. She ran down the lane smiling and giggling.
Out of nowhere then was a dark presence, flying, bigger than a bird, smaller than a dragon. It was very very dark. It kept trying to shut out the light. Every time it would try to come down toward me I would propel light and energy at it from the woods. This happened three times before it seemed to subside and I came back to reality, seeing my third eye.
When I finally opened my eyes I had this strong feeling I need to do a spell for family harmony. It is supposed to have incense in it. I don't know what kind it is but I can smell it. I know that I already own the incense but due to a failure to mark the bags I really don't know what it is. It has a slight sandalwood resonance with much lighter flowery scents. I feel like I am being guided here but I really have no idea what this could mean.
I am off to see what I can learn about harmony spells and how to do them without changing someone's free will. Hopefully it will come to me what this all means but until then, I put it out for the world...
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Mosquitos Everywhere
Back to the real topic of this blog: natural cleaning, remedies, and Christian Witchy living. Enough with the failure and not being good enough because we all are.
I have a few friends who I believe may need this post. One in particular, whom shall remain nameless, has apparently fallen in love with skyclad rituals. As I would not recommend using many chemicals along all those sensitive areas (male or female) I figured it was a prime time to share the chemical-less mosquito repellent:
In a 16oz bottle combine:
15 drops lavender oil
4 tbsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup lemon juice
Fill the bottle with water. Shake before applying.
A few homemade mosquito traps strategically placed may also help. I found a good one on The Survivalist Blog.
Ingredients:
1 cup of water
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 gram yeast
1 2-liter bottle
Directions:
1. Cut the plastic bottle in half.
2. Mix brown sugar with hot water. Let cool. When cold pour in the bottom half of the bottle.
3. Add the yeast to the brown sugar mixture. There is no need to mix it. This is just used to create carbon dioxide, which attracts mosquitos.
4. Place the funnel part upside down into the other half of the bottle, taping them together if desired. This allows the mosquitos to fly in but not back out.
5. Wrap the bottle with something black, leaving the top uncovered, and place it outside in an area away from where you plan to be.
I hope that these few ideas help to keep the bug population around your special place down and they leave you alone. Enjoying outdoors is what summer is about!
I have a few friends who I believe may need this post. One in particular, whom shall remain nameless, has apparently fallen in love with skyclad rituals. As I would not recommend using many chemicals along all those sensitive areas (male or female) I figured it was a prime time to share the chemical-less mosquito repellent:
In a 16oz bottle combine:
15 drops lavender oil
4 tbsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup lemon juice
Fill the bottle with water. Shake before applying.
A few homemade mosquito traps strategically placed may also help. I found a good one on The Survivalist Blog.
Ingredients:
1 cup of water
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1 gram yeast
1 2-liter bottle
Directions:
1. Cut the plastic bottle in half.
2. Mix brown sugar with hot water. Let cool. When cold pour in the bottom half of the bottle.
3. Add the yeast to the brown sugar mixture. There is no need to mix it. This is just used to create carbon dioxide, which attracts mosquitos.
4. Place the funnel part upside down into the other half of the bottle, taping them together if desired. This allows the mosquitos to fly in but not back out.
5. Wrap the bottle with something black, leaving the top uncovered, and place it outside in an area away from where you plan to be.
I hope that these few ideas help to keep the bug population around your special place down and they leave you alone. Enjoying outdoors is what summer is about!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Is failure a failure?
I have been thinking about this question a lot the past few days. I know it doesn't really fit in with the topic of the blog but I feel as though I am being pushed to write it by that unknown entity. So here is hoping that someone out there may need to read this. Plus it follows up on my last post nicely.
We have a situation in my family right now where my step son is failing at a task. He is failing miserably. If it were school, he would have an F-. I tried to help but wasn't in a position to do much. My husband tried to help but no longer can. I am the enforcer of the fact that we no longer can; therefore, I have become a Disney character - the evil step mom. We tried, but helping was not teaching.
Over the weekend I had a conversation with my in-laws and they tried to tell me how it would be different if it was my own child because you never want to see your child fail. I thought about it for a minute and then had to tell them, no, I would have the same attitude, maybe worse with my own children. Of course I don't want to see them fail. I don't want to see anyone fail. But, failure is a part of life. I think we have forgotten that. Failure will happen. My children will stay up too late and not study and get an F. Should I go into school and complain to the teacher? No. I need to use the failure to teach my children how to make better decisions.
Remember, failure will happen. The question is what will you do when it does? Will you blame others, cry about it in your beer, and wait for someone else to pick up the pieces? Or will you pick yourself up, examine what you did (or didn't do), examine your priorities, and set up a plan for success? In the small failures that I expect from my children I really hope I can teach them to do the latter. No one is going to succeed at everything they ever try. Failure is a tool for teaching. It is not the end but the beginning.
What do I do about the fact that my step son will no longer speak to me or his father? Nothing. What can I do? I cannot control him. I would love to talk to him but this is a failure of his emotions. Either he will accept the fact that we can no longer help or he won't. As I have said to my own children many times, "My job is not to be liked. My job is to raise responsible members of society." They may not like my teaching method but it is what it is. Take the failure and learn from it. Decide what is important and do it. But don't blame others. Only you can do what you set out to do.
Plan, prioritize, and find how to succeed and take responsibility!
We have a situation in my family right now where my step son is failing at a task. He is failing miserably. If it were school, he would have an F-. I tried to help but wasn't in a position to do much. My husband tried to help but no longer can. I am the enforcer of the fact that we no longer can; therefore, I have become a Disney character - the evil step mom. We tried, but helping was not teaching.
Over the weekend I had a conversation with my in-laws and they tried to tell me how it would be different if it was my own child because you never want to see your child fail. I thought about it for a minute and then had to tell them, no, I would have the same attitude, maybe worse with my own children. Of course I don't want to see them fail. I don't want to see anyone fail. But, failure is a part of life. I think we have forgotten that. Failure will happen. My children will stay up too late and not study and get an F. Should I go into school and complain to the teacher? No. I need to use the failure to teach my children how to make better decisions.
Remember, failure will happen. The question is what will you do when it does? Will you blame others, cry about it in your beer, and wait for someone else to pick up the pieces? Or will you pick yourself up, examine what you did (or didn't do), examine your priorities, and set up a plan for success? In the small failures that I expect from my children I really hope I can teach them to do the latter. No one is going to succeed at everything they ever try. Failure is a tool for teaching. It is not the end but the beginning.
What do I do about the fact that my step son will no longer speak to me or his father? Nothing. What can I do? I cannot control him. I would love to talk to him but this is a failure of his emotions. Either he will accept the fact that we can no longer help or he won't. As I have said to my own children many times, "My job is not to be liked. My job is to raise responsible members of society." They may not like my teaching method but it is what it is. Take the failure and learn from it. Decide what is important and do it. But don't blame others. Only you can do what you set out to do.
Plan, prioritize, and find how to succeed and take responsibility!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Inadequacies
I am even finding the beginning of this post inadequate. This is my third attempt to write my first paragraph. There, I did it!
Often as I go through my day to day life I run into many places where I think, I should be doing better. Like right now I should be on my way to work but I am here writing instead. It is probably good I was not on my way to work because an unexpected downpour came into being and I was able to frantically close all the windows in the house before it rained in. That, by itself, is the message. While we may think that we should be doing one thing, there is a reason we are not. I choose today to believe that I stayed home for a reason. Not only is that reason to share this with whoever happens to be reading this blog but to also close the windows so it did not rain in.
I have friends who post beautiful pictures on Facebook of altars and artwork that they have done; of wonderful scenery and places they have found. My work seems to pail in comparison. At least most of the time. I am working on a book for myself. And it is turing out beautiful. But, I won't share most of it. I did share the cover page and got some very positive response for it. However, I don't want to be a show off, I don't want to burden my friends with having to respond about how nice they think it is. Instead I focus on the negative of how my altar is not as beautiful, I could never make something as artistic as them.
In this season of growing, I think it is my attitude that needs to grow. Instead of looking at my own work as inadequate, I should look to theirs for inspiration. Instead of trying to banish the negativity caused by others, I should focus on banishing the negativity caused by myself. I have learned a lot in the past few years. The purpose of this blog is to share it. Therefore, the only piece of true knowledge I give you today is this: you can only change yourself. Promote what you want to see and who you want to be. Do not let another's success feel like your failure. We are here to help and support each other along our path, whatever that path may be.
Next time I post it will be more fun. No more feeling like I can't do this. I can write this blog and share what is in my head and heart. What has you feeling inadequate and what can you do to change the situation for yourself?
Friday, May 24, 2013
I Must Be Crazy
One might ask the simple question of, "Why must you be crazy?"
You see, it is 5AM. This would not be too bad had I not been awake since 2AM. Personally, I like being fast asleep at 2AM. And, try as I might, there was no sleep. Therefore, I started working at 4AM.
I can see the question going through your minds, "What does this have to do with this blog?"
I'm not sure, except the fact that I think the reason I cannot sleep is it has been one of those weeks; months really which is why I haven't posted. No one here wants to read my negativity.
I have had to be in a myriad of places and a little bundle of energy. I have had so much stress that it was unbearable at times and I just cracked and felt the tears freely flow. And now; now it is over. With the exception of a fun-filled weekend this week's adventures have concluded and many other adventures are wrapping up as well. I am wiped out but that excess energy is still flowing.
"Again," you ask. "What has that to do with this blog?"
Simple. I have used more magic this week than I have in the past several months. And the more I use it the more it is coming to me. I am horrible at visualization. I am a Taurus, an earth symbol. I have little use for flighty things I can only see in my head. I don't want to see it in my head, I want to touch it. Yet today, in the midst of all the sadness and insanity, I found myself looking at a beautiful picture. It is a beautiful magical clearing in the woods. A circle that even just in a picture you can feel the positive energy flowing through the space.
The foreground of the picture is shadows, where you can tell there are great trees lining the place. It is simply dirt with some grass growing. On the right foreground nothing but that same. The right background shows the trees. It is the left of the picture that intrigues me. In the middle of the background is on large tree with two branches that form an archway off the the left. The branches are for some reason bare, given all the other leaves on the trees. The left foreground has a beautiful maple branch with its leaves, so soft and inviting. After taking all this in, that is when you see it. Under the archway. There are trees back there but the grass grows a bit taller. Then you realize, this is where the light is coming from. This is the place that has been put on this earth for some reason. This circle of calmness and serenity gives way. Although there is no indication you would need to, I could feel the leaves of a maple brush against my face as I followed this light. Like Merida in Brave, following the Wisps, I saw myself peering, creeping, wondering, what is in the light? What could be just beyond this archway? This inviting, loving archway. And why the dichotomy? You see, the light is outside this wonderful, powerful circle. Why isn't the light in the circle, in the shadows where the rituals take place? I saw myself slowly push through the trees into another clearing, this one so perfect and so bright, all I could do was feel the warmth and calmness wash over me. I felt the Mother putting Her arms around me and reminding me She is always with me, no matter what the sorrow.
How did I, this earth bound, analytical Taurus, have such a wonderful and amazing experience? I don't know. Either I am crazy or it was what those above knew I needed at that moment.
Only now am I understanding. I have never been to the place in the picture, so for all I know it is a barren dirt road beyond those trees. But not in my mind. I believe that it is an even more beautiful and powerful clearing. And that was one of my lessons for today. That is faith and Wicca. For a time, we have bodies. We are in this place where there is light and should be more light for the ritual. But where we are going in the end is where the light is. The more we follow that light, the closer we are to knowing the love and goodness offered by the Divine. And in all the sorrows is the warmth and light of our heavenly Family.
You see, it is 5AM. This would not be too bad had I not been awake since 2AM. Personally, I like being fast asleep at 2AM. And, try as I might, there was no sleep. Therefore, I started working at 4AM.
I can see the question going through your minds, "What does this have to do with this blog?"
I'm not sure, except the fact that I think the reason I cannot sleep is it has been one of those weeks; months really which is why I haven't posted. No one here wants to read my negativity.
I have had to be in a myriad of places and a little bundle of energy. I have had so much stress that it was unbearable at times and I just cracked and felt the tears freely flow. And now; now it is over. With the exception of a fun-filled weekend this week's adventures have concluded and many other adventures are wrapping up as well. I am wiped out but that excess energy is still flowing.
"Again," you ask. "What has that to do with this blog?"
Simple. I have used more magic this week than I have in the past several months. And the more I use it the more it is coming to me. I am horrible at visualization. I am a Taurus, an earth symbol. I have little use for flighty things I can only see in my head. I don't want to see it in my head, I want to touch it. Yet today, in the midst of all the sadness and insanity, I found myself looking at a beautiful picture. It is a beautiful magical clearing in the woods. A circle that even just in a picture you can feel the positive energy flowing through the space.
The foreground of the picture is shadows, where you can tell there are great trees lining the place. It is simply dirt with some grass growing. On the right foreground nothing but that same. The right background shows the trees. It is the left of the picture that intrigues me. In the middle of the background is on large tree with two branches that form an archway off the the left. The branches are for some reason bare, given all the other leaves on the trees. The left foreground has a beautiful maple branch with its leaves, so soft and inviting. After taking all this in, that is when you see it. Under the archway. There are trees back there but the grass grows a bit taller. Then you realize, this is where the light is coming from. This is the place that has been put on this earth for some reason. This circle of calmness and serenity gives way. Although there is no indication you would need to, I could feel the leaves of a maple brush against my face as I followed this light. Like Merida in Brave, following the Wisps, I saw myself peering, creeping, wondering, what is in the light? What could be just beyond this archway? This inviting, loving archway. And why the dichotomy? You see, the light is outside this wonderful, powerful circle. Why isn't the light in the circle, in the shadows where the rituals take place? I saw myself slowly push through the trees into another clearing, this one so perfect and so bright, all I could do was feel the warmth and calmness wash over me. I felt the Mother putting Her arms around me and reminding me She is always with me, no matter what the sorrow.
How did I, this earth bound, analytical Taurus, have such a wonderful and amazing experience? I don't know. Either I am crazy or it was what those above knew I needed at that moment.
Only now am I understanding. I have never been to the place in the picture, so for all I know it is a barren dirt road beyond those trees. But not in my mind. I believe that it is an even more beautiful and powerful clearing. And that was one of my lessons for today. That is faith and Wicca. For a time, we have bodies. We are in this place where there is light and should be more light for the ritual. But where we are going in the end is where the light is. The more we follow that light, the closer we are to knowing the love and goodness offered by the Divine. And in all the sorrows is the warmth and light of our heavenly Family.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
A Christian Wiccan Creed
Often when I go to church we will recite the Apostles' Creed. I have no issue with this at all. For more information on the Apostles' Creed I recommend Wikipedia's page on the Apolstles' Creed. It walks you through several different versions. It strikes me that in order to make this 100% true to myself there is very little modification that would need made. Without further ado here is my version of the Christian Wiccan's Creed:
These are all the guidance you need. If you ponder them for a while you will see how absolutely compatible and similar they are. This along with the Canticle of the Sun, from What is the Difference? Part 2 sum up the path I call Christian Wicca. Yes, there is a lot more that I do and a lot to learn. But at the heart, this is the belief.
- I believe in God, the Father almighty,
- creator of heaven and earth.
- I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
- who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
- born of the Virgin Mary,
- suffered under Pontius Pilate,
- was crucified, died, and was buried;
- he descended into hell.
- On the third day he rose again;
- he ascended into heaven,
- he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
- and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
- I believe in the Holy Spirit, Mother of knowledge and earth,
- the holy catholic Church,
- the communion of saints,
- the forgiveness of sins,
- the resurrection of the body,
- and the life everlasting. Amen.
Friday, April 26, 2013
A Spring Fresh Home!
Last week on Facebook I came across a recipe for homemade Febreeze. I was intrigued because I have always liked Febreeze but as I get more cautious about the number of chemicals around the house, and the expense, and toll they are taking on the environment I started wondering about this. The recipe that I saw was this:
1/8 cup fabric softener (like Downy April Fresh)
2 tablespoons Baking Soda
24 oz hot tap water
Combine all the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake to combine. Make sure to shake before using it.
This sounds great. Fabric softener has a wonderful smell and the baking soda will certainly absorb odors which is what you want from Febreeze. But, we are back to using chemicals to make this air freshener.
Of course, if all we are looking for is fabric softener then why won't my homemade fabric softener work? My homemade fabric softener is:
1/2 gallon white distilled vinegar
20 drops of essential oil (I prefer lavender for sheets and citrus for everything else)
The big problem with the homemade fabric softener and the above recipe would be the baking soda/vinegar combination. While it would be fun for the kids to watch, it would not really help with the air freshener issue. Vinegar is a natural odor destroyer as well but only loses its own odor when it dries.
I also came across one other natural odor absorbing ingredient, but only for those 21 years or older. Vodka. So, here is my twist on the fabric softener Febreeze:
1/8-1/4 cup vodka (the cheap stuff works just as well as the expensive)
2 tablespoons baking soda
24 oz hot tap water
20 drops essential oil of your preference
I tend to use a lot more of the essential oils than others but I love the smell of them. Adjust them to your liking. I have come across a different recipe that calls for 100 drops of essential oil.
Just a note of caution: always spot test anything you are using on your furniture to make sure it doesn't discolor. This goes for the fabric softener air freshener as well. Remember, you never know how your upholstery will react to anything sprayed on it!
1/8 cup fabric softener (like Downy April Fresh)
2 tablespoons Baking Soda
24 oz hot tap water
Combine all the ingredients in a spray bottle and shake to combine. Make sure to shake before using it.
This sounds great. Fabric softener has a wonderful smell and the baking soda will certainly absorb odors which is what you want from Febreeze. But, we are back to using chemicals to make this air freshener.
Of course, if all we are looking for is fabric softener then why won't my homemade fabric softener work? My homemade fabric softener is:
1/2 gallon white distilled vinegar
20 drops of essential oil (I prefer lavender for sheets and citrus for everything else)
The big problem with the homemade fabric softener and the above recipe would be the baking soda/vinegar combination. While it would be fun for the kids to watch, it would not really help with the air freshener issue. Vinegar is a natural odor destroyer as well but only loses its own odor when it dries.
I also came across one other natural odor absorbing ingredient, but only for those 21 years or older. Vodka. So, here is my twist on the fabric softener Febreeze:
1/8-1/4 cup vodka (the cheap stuff works just as well as the expensive)
2 tablespoons baking soda
24 oz hot tap water
20 drops essential oil of your preference
I tend to use a lot more of the essential oils than others but I love the smell of them. Adjust them to your liking. I have come across a different recipe that calls for 100 drops of essential oil.
Just a note of caution: always spot test anything you are using on your furniture to make sure it doesn't discolor. This goes for the fabric softener air freshener as well. Remember, you never know how your upholstery will react to anything sprayed on it!
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