Witches 'N Wizards

Witch: enchantress: a female sorcerer or magician a follower of a polytheistic nature religion of modern witchcraft whose central deity is a mother goddess; claims origins in pre-Christian pagan religions of western Europe. a neopagan, follower of the nature-based religion popularized in 1954 by Gerald Gardner. a female dedicated to both the service of her chosen deity and humankind. practitioner of a modern tradition of witchcraft called Wicca, based on the old earth religions of Europe. The term comes from an Old English word meaning “to bend or shape” or “to have wisdom.

Wizard: sorcerer: one who practices magic or sorcery. possessing or using or characteristic of or appropriate to supernatural powers; “charming incantations”; “magic signs that protect. someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field. a male dedicated to both the service of his chosen deity and humankind. a follower of a polytheistic nature religion of modern witchcraft whose central deity is a mother goddess; claims origins in pre-Christian pagan religions of western Europe.

Textex

“If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you get there?”

Within this trite and simple aphorism lies hidden a very powerful secret. It’s a secret responsible for every big fortune, each major success and all revolutionary discoveries and inventions. And here’s the secret – behind every dream that turns into reality, there is a clear, focused vision.

What exactly is creative visualization?

A little understood law of success is that to attract anything into your life, you must first believe in it with absolute conviction – to the point that you can see, feel and imagine already living in that changed, new reality. Yes, even today – when your actual circumstances and surroundings might be a far cry from your dream!

Most of us are not capable of abstract imagination and vivid dreaming. It is far easier to believe firmly in something we can touch, see or smell, rather than trust in a ‘reality’ that exists only in our minds.

Because creative visualization is such an integral part of achieving your goals and dreams in life, constructing a vision board to give definition to your plans is a critical step along your path to success.

What do you put on a vision board?

Anything related to your dreams and goals fit in your vision board. The idea is to create a collage with representative reminders of each component of your plans for the future.

If you dream of living in a mansion, driving a sports car, with a lifestyle that’s the envy of your peers and friends, then your vision board will reflect that goal. You may have pictures of your favorite car, photos of your dream home, and samples of the fabric on your lounge or the leather of your car seat.

Or you might take a different angle and have your vision board focus on the ultimate benefits of your possessions – a lifestyle of the rich and famous. So you might have photographs showing a vacation in the Bahamas or Monte Carlo or the Swiss Alps. Or you may collect magazine clippings of luxury items like Rolex watches, Mont Blanc pens and Yves St.Laurent gowns.

But why take all this trouble? Do vision boards really work?

Best-selling author of the ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ series, Mark Victor Hansen, is fond of telling the story about how he and Jack Canfield would tear off covers of TIME magazine, cut out the face of the person on it, and replace it with a photograph of themselves.

He attributes creating that vision board for helping achieve his massive success as an author, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

How does it work? First, there’s the creative visualization that’s involved in crafting your vision board. As you construct your vision board, you let your imagination run wild. You allow yourself to dream, placing no hurdles or limitations on the flights of fancy and fantasy your mind goes on.

That very act of imagining vast possibilities acts on your sub-conscious as a powerful motivator. Having seen, in your mind, what you want, it becomes a natural extension for the logical part of your brain to come up with practical solutions to problems that are keeping you from living that dream in reality.

Secondly, by placing your vision board where you can constantly see it and come into contact with it, you are reinforcing this cerebral stimulation. Your sub-conscious mind can no longer just ignore the ambitious dreams you are focusing your attention upon and constantly drawing attention to.

By repeatedly bringing yourself face to face with your future potential, you are challenging your mind to stretch, expand and reach out to attain that potential. And in a nutshell, that is the biggest advantage and benefit of having a vision board.

Hey, it’s easy, quick and cheap to create your own vision board – so why not just try it and see if it works for you? The results just might surprise you!

Samhain represents, among other things, the end of the harvest season. If you haven’t picked it by Samhain, you probably won’t be eating it! The gardens have died off by now, and where we once saw lush green plants, there is nothing left but dry and dead stalks. The perennials have shut down for the season too, going dormant so that they may return to us in the spring. Animals are brought in from the fields for the winter — and if you’ve ever had a spider come wandering into your living room one chilly October night, you know that even the insects are trying to find a place to stay warm.

Here’s How:

1. If we had lived a few hundreds of years ago, we would not only have brought our cows and sheep in from the pastures. Most likely we’d slaughter a few of them, as well as some pigs and goats, smoking the meat so it would last through the cold months. Our grain that we picked back at Lughnasadh has been baked into bread, and all of our herbs have been gathered, and hang from the rafters in the kitchen. The harvest is over, and now it’s time to settle in for winter with the coziness of a warm fireplace, heavy blankets, and big pots of comfort food on the stovetop.

2. If you want to celebrate Samhain as the time of harvest’s end, you can do so as a single ritual, or as the first of three days of ceremony. If you don’t have a permanent altar in place, set up a table to leave in place for the three days prior to Samhain. This will act as a your family’s temporary altar for the Sabbat. Decorate the altar with symbols of late fall, such as:

• Skulls, skeletons, grave rubbings, ghosts
• Harvest food such as pumpkins, squash, root vegetables
• Nuts and berries, dark breads
• Dried leaves and acorns
• A cornucopia filled with an abundance of fruit and veggies
• Mulled cider, wine, or mead

3. To begin your ceremony, prepare a meal for the family — and this is something that everyone can get involved in. Put emphasis on fruits and vegetables, and wild game meat if available. Also make sure you have a loaf of a dark bread like rye or pumpernickel and a cup of apple cider or wine. Set the dinner table with candles and a fall centerpiece, and put all the food on the table at once. Consider the dinner table a sacred space.

4. Gather everyone around the table, and say:
Tonight is the first of three nights,
on which we celebrate Samhain.
It is the end of the harvest, the last days of summer,
and the cold nights wait on the other side for us.
The bounty of our labor, the abundance of the harvest,
the success of the hunt, all lies before us.
We thank the earth for all it has given us this season,
and yet we look forward to winter,
a time of sacred darkness.

5. Take the cup of cider or wine, and lead everyone outside. Make this a ceremonial and formal occasion. If you have a vegetable garden, great! Go there now — otherwise, just find a nice grassy spot in your yard. Each person in the family takes the cup in turn and sprinkles a little bit of cider onto the earth, saying:

Summer is gone, winter is coming.
We have planted and
we have watched the garden grow,
we have weeded,
and we have gathered the harvest.
Now it is at its end.

6. If you have any late-fall plants still waiting to be picked, gather them up now. Collect a bundle of dead plants and use them to make a straw man or woman. If you follow a more masculine path, he may be your King of Winter, and rule your home until spring returns. If you follow the Goddess in her many forms, make a female figure to represent the Goddess as hag or crone in winter.

Once that is done, go back inside and bring your King of Winter into your home with much pomp and circumstance. Place him on your table and prop him up with a plate of his own, and when you sit down to eat, serve him first.

7. Begin your meal with the breaking of the dark bread, and make sure you toss a few crumbs outside for the birds afterwards. Keep the King of Winter in a place of honor all season long — you can put him back outside in your garden on a pole to watch over next spring’s seedlings, and eventually burn him at your Beltane celebration.

When you are finished with your meal, put the leftovers out in the garden. Wrap up the evening by playing games, such as bobbing for apples or telling spooky stories before a bonfire.

What You Need:

* A table to use as your Samhain altar
* Decorations that represent the late autumn season
* A meal with lots of veggies, fruit, and bread
* A cup of wine or cider

Samhain Crafts for Kids and Grown-Ups

BLACK MAGIC

Use crayons to draw a Samhain picture. Choose bright colors and apply crayons heavily. Wash over with black paint. The wax drawing will show through.

SPOOKY SKELETONS

Pencil a skeleton on black paper. Glue white straws or q-tips to sketch. Add background. Instead of straws, you could use white packing peanuts.

SPIDERIFIC

Draw a web on paper. Glue yarn to web. Cut out spider body and legs. Staple folded legs under body. Paste cotton on body. Attach to web.

GHOSTLY GOBLINS

Arrange string to make ghostly figure on flat surface. Place orange construction paper over string. Hold paper firmly and rub black crayon, held sideways, over it. Design will appear.

TO MAKE A CANDLE LIGHT PATH UP YOUR DRIVEWAY ON SAMHAIN

You’ll need:
small candles
tin cans (soup cans)
can opener (one you use to open wine)

First you need to clean out an old soup can. Open one end of the can. Flip it upside down so that the bottom of the can is facing the ground.

Next, poke holes in the can with the can opener. 2 triangles spaced out for the eyes, 4 triangles close together for the mouth in the middle of the can.

Next, put the open side on the ground on top of the lighted candle.

Last, you will see it glow at night!

**NOTE***
There may be fire hazards with this so please be careful!!!

FOOTPRINT GHOSTS

1 sheet of black construction paper
glow in the dark star stickers or white crayon
white tempra paint
a pair of feet
1 fat child’s paintbrush

Paint the bottom of a child’s feet with white tempra paint (do not get it to thick or it will not be defined between the toes.) The heel is the head of the ghost and the toes are the bottom. Have the child step onto the black construction paper
with their toes spread apart. Let dry. When dry, stick on glow in the dark star stickers or draw stars using a white crayon. The child can add fences, haunted houses, etc. Also, put wiggle eyes on the ghost or draw them on. Becky and Jennifer both sent in this neat art idea! Thanks!!

**Use washable paint for easier cleaning!

Gak

Mixture One:
1/4 c. white glue
1/4 c. water
food coloring

Mixture Two:
1/8 c. water
1/2 tsp. borax

Mix mixture 1 in one bowl, and mixture 2 in another. Make sure both are well-mixed. Add mixture 1 into mixture 2. Reach in and pull out your GAK! Knead for 1-2 minutes until formed. Store in a plastic ziplock bag.

Easy, Easy Samhain Bag

Needed:
1 small bottle fabric paint – black or dark green
2 felt squares
Glue gun
Glue gun sticks
Pair scissors

Place the 2 felt squares together and with the glue gun, glue the edges together leaving one edge opened, and press down on the 2 fabrics. Wait a few minutes for the glue to cool.

Fold the felts together and with a pair of scissors, cut a slit, long enough for the child to put hand through to hold like a shopping bag.

Let the child decorate the candy bag with Samhain or harvest day decorations. This is good for all kinds of holidays, especially for birthday party make-your-own bags!

“Sun Signs” or “Your Stars”, popular in magazines and newspapers since the 1930’s are a basic form of Astrology that only uses the position of the Sun in your Birth Chart (Horoscope) to glimpse your character and coming events. Hence this is known as “Sun Sign” Astrology.  The list below are the attributes associated with the individual based on their date of birth.

Aries – March 21 – April 20

Aries  THE RAM is the sign of the pioneer, and warrior leader. As the first sign of the Zodiac Arians cannot help putting themselves first, though they are very affectionate and generous towards their loved ones. They have warm and enthusiastic natures and can be extremely demonstrative!
Gregarious, sociable and extrovert, Arians are great people to have around as they are usually the life and soul of any party, thanks to their enthusiastic natures. Sometimes however the Arian face becomes creased with worry and disapproval when he or she is crossed in love.
The Aries personality is fiery and warm, passionate and self-expressive with an urge to act NOW! This is NOT a patient sign, everything is done on impulse, and with great urgency.
Aries is a courageous leader, likely to take risks and will usually feel: “I know best”. Aries rarely hangs around to check out the details. However give Aries a good cause for which to fight, a problem to solve, or something to pioneer, and this enterprising personality comes into its own.

Forceful, pioneering, adventurous, enterprising, courageous, direct, energetic, freedom loving, self assertive.

Taurus – April 21 – May 21

Taurus THE BULL is the sign of the builder, and the earth we stand on
Taureans are extremely faithful, with a strong need for security and a settled routine. Although they are very earthy, they can also be highly romantic and sensitive when it comes to love.

Taurus has a patient, grounded and reliable personality. People know where they are with a Taurean, unless they go too far! The Taurean is also warm and sensual, with an appreciation of the fine things in life. Taurus is motivated by a need for security, this sign is good for business matters and can be trusted to carry things through with absolute care. As an earth sign Taurus values the environment and will do everything possible to preserve it, even if that only extends to their immediate surroundings.

Practical, reliable, patient, persistent, solid, determined, industrious, strong willed, sensuous, affectionate, warm hearted, trustworthy.

Gemini – May 22 – June 21

Gemini THE TWINS is the sign of the storyteller, the communicator. Geminis are widely known for their dual personalities and ability to change mood from moment to moment. Although they hate to be tied down, they make lively, entertaining and romantic partners, even if they can be rather fickle if bored or unhappy.
Natural communicators, Geminis do not suffer fools gladly; so once they are attracted to people, they have to ensure that they are not dull or mundane. They will no doubt spend ages chatting to them about every subject under the sun, just to keep feeding that ever active and inquisitive mind.
Bright, witty, adaptable and quick to react. Very little troubles a Gemini or stops the relentless talking for long! Geminis can argue their way into or out of any situation. Having an active curiosity, Gemini is excellent at gathering all kinds of information and gossip. They excel at regurgitating this information in a constant stream, but not necessarily in a logical or understandable order! Geminis are capable of tackling almost anything, so long as they do not become bored. The difficulty lies in what subject to concentrate on today, Gemini is always engaged in two subjects or jobs at once.

Versatile, adaptable, intellectual, witty, charming, logical, energetic, spontaneous, lively, chatty, amusing, youthful, up-to-date.

Cancer – June 22 – July 22

Cancer THE CRAB is the sign of the protector, the parent. Emotions are a very important part in the life of a Cancerian. Although naturally defensive and very afraid of being hurt, they put their hearts and soul in to relationships and are faithful, loving and loyal partners.

At best Cancerians are sensitive, kind and sympathetic, with an absolute urge to nurture and protect people around them. This is most apparent with home and family. So lies the soft side of Cancer, but there is a hard side too, they can be very enterprising, shrewd, and self-assured.
When all is in tune Cancerians are intuitive, imaginative and resourceful, knowing instinctively when to reach others and when to withdraw into their protective shell.

Kind, sensitive, sympathetic, imaginative, maternal/paternal, solicitous, protective, cautious, patriotic, tenacious, shrewd, thrifty, resourceful, a good homemaker.

Leo – July 23 -August 21

Leo THE LION is the sign of the ruler, the king.  Leo is expansive, generous and caring. They revel in love affairs and all things romantic. Leo is passionate, demonstrative and likes nothing better than being spoiled by those they love. Happiness knows no bounds for the Leo in love!

“Sunny side up” they are very much attuned to the life giving properties of our Sun itself. The typical Leo is flamboyant and generous with tremendous charm and a magnanimous spirit. The fixed quality of this sign does help to restrain a large dose of over-exuberance. Leos are loyal, self assured, hard working, and great organizers (only if they can be boss!)

Creative, generous, enthusiastic, organized (if bothered), broad minded, expansive, dramatic.

Virgo – August 22 – September 23

Virgo THE VIRGIN is the sign of the critic, the technician. Virgo, you may be shy, introverted, and self-conscious on the surface, but when love comes your way, you relax and blossom! Virgos find it hard to express love, they have a thoughtful approach and always look before they leap.

The Virgo character is marked by a sharp intellect which is typically used to analyze the natural order. Virgos are methodical, oh so precise, and are attracted to only that knowledge that can be applied usefully. They will happily share this information with anyone, it confirms their own usefulness in the world, and brings them eagerly out of there shells. Virgo pursues very how standards born out of realism and a tight grip on their environment, rather than any chase of high ideals.
Caution is a Virgo trait which if used positively will give them a fine sense of discrimination between practical ideas and those to be left in the sky. Virgos will usually develop this skill to improve themselves and their surroundings as they place great pride in tangible achievements.

Discriminating, fastidious, analytical, meticulous, modest, precise.

Libra – September 24 – October 23

Libra THE SCALES is the sign of the diplomat and the ditherer. Falling in love comes naturally to Librans, whose reason for living centres upon happy and enduring relationships. A life without love is just not worth contemplating, Libra can not function without someone special, for they long for emotional security. Problems arise when the reality does not match the ideal, and a complete inability to make a binding decision about relationships, (or anything else for that matter).

Libra is easy going, charming and pleasant, all relationships are important to Libra, this sign simply can not do without other people, and makes an excellent party host. Libra is a sign that values peace at all costs, and is very fair minded. People like being around Librans, for in the event of a dispute they will seek a compromise. A word of caution on this compromise though, for things may not be what they seem, Librans can if they wish charm the birds from the trees!

Charming, easy going, romantic, diplomatic, idealistic, refined, in love with love.

Scorpio – October 24 – November 22

Scorpio THE SCORPION is the sign of the investigator. The intensity and passion generated by Scorpio makes them an unforgettable partner in love. They take there love affairs very seriously, which can lead to much jealousy. They are also very secretive which can make it hard for them to confront romantic problems.

Scorpios often get a bad press! They have very intense personalities with hidden depths, though they have great compassion being able to reach out to troubled people.

Being deeply emotional themselves, Scorpios understand and accept the feelings that other signs cannot handle. Scorpio is not afraid in the dark, this sign often makes an ideal therapist. Many doctors and surgeons are Scorpios. They have incredible personal magnetism and often make loyal, devoted, friends and lovers.

Powerful feelings and emotions, committed, loyal, imaginative, discerning, subtle, persistent, determined.

Sagittarius – November 23 – December 22

Sagittarius THE ARCHER is the sign of the gypsy. Sagittarians prefer to be footloose and fancy free, however should they become involved in a relationship they make it as enjoyable and as much fun as possible. Normally Sagittarius is very gregarious, but they will be glad to find the time for that special relationship, when they are ready!

They are very warm and caring, and though their light hearted affections may seem too casual for some, for the right person that could be just right.
Sagittarius is optimistic, outgoing and the most adaptable of the fire signs. They interact spontaneously with life as they continue a lifelong quest for meaning. This sign needs a great deal of freedom, but is equally willing to offer freedom to others. Having an open minded and intellectual curiosity means that Sagittarius is willing to learn about other people in an effort to understand them, while being trusting and open. In fact Sagittarians say what they mean with complete and devastating frankness!

Jovial, optimistic, versatile, open-minded, philosophical, sincere, frank, visionary.

Capricorn – December 23 – January 20

Capricorn THE GOAT is the sign of the achiever. If Capricorns manage to conquer their natural reserve and shyness they can make terrific partners. Although they are cautious and introverted, they can be very faithful once in a relationship. They really need a partner who will support them emotionally, while giving them a much needed boost in confidence.

One of Capricorns best assets is its sense of humour, this is often needed in their efforts to impose some kind of order on the world around them, (though not necessarily an order to everyone else’s liking). Although the humour is dry, it does at least involve contact with others, something that the self contained Capricorn does not excel at. What capricorn is very good at are those tasks that other signs, (except the other earth signs), find rather tedious. Capricorn is prudent, reliable and disciplined.

Reliable, determined, ambitious, careful, prudent, disciplined, hard working, persevering.

Aquarius – January 21 – February 19

Aquarius THE WATER BEARER is the sign of the thinker. Aquarians are extremely independent, they just will not be tied down for long. Their firm views and opinions can change to stubbornness if they are pushed into a corner. Nevertheless they are very faithful and supportive in the right relationship. Even though they may get thoroughly involved within a relationship aquarians need to preserve their privacy and independence.

Aquarians are usually lively, inventive and oh so original! Sailing in the opposite direction to the crowd comes naturally to aquarius, in fact this does not worry them, as they are always out of step with the world because they think ahead of their time and revel in anything different. As aquarius thinks today. so the world will think tomorrow. Aquarius is the most happily eccentric sign in the zodiac. Although it can be very difficult to get close to an aquarian, this fixed sign is loyal and faithful.

Should you ask an aquarian for help, you will immediately get it, and all promises will be kept (at some point in the future). However please note that a helpful aquarian is very averse to being deliberately used. Aquarius is adept at taking information from several channels and processing all the numbers to see the big picture, and they do this while you think they are ignoring you! Sometimes this information is seemingly detected on their own private radar.

Humanitarian, friendly, independent, quirky, willing, progressive, an original thinker, inventive, creative, loyal, idealistic yet rational.

Pisces – February 20- March 20

Pisces THE FISH is the sign of the dreamer. The most idealistic, romantic and poetic sign, Pisceans are only too happy to lose themselves in their relationships. Being loved is vital to their well-being. They are very caring, and make compassionate and reflective partners.

Piscean sensitivity is so finely tuned that it reacts like blotting paper to the atmosphere. When nursing the sick, for instance, Pisceans are apt to reflect a patient’s own symptoms themselves. Indeed, Pisceans often have problems defining the boundaries between fact and fiction in general.

Pisces is empathetic and compassionate, and cannot bear to see another living being in pain. Indeed, Pisceans feel very deeply about other people as they do not have a strong sense of separation and individuality.

Pisces is an intuitive sign which can receive great inspiration. Pisceans are thus the natural mediums and mystics of the zodiac who can communicate their inner vision through either the arts or the sciences, or caring professions. Pisces can also be a sign of selfless or self-sacrificing devotion, and is capable of truly unconditional love for others.

Artistic, kind, sympathetic, intuitive, visionary, sensitive, adaptable, receptive.

Cats have long been affiliated with the occult.  We see them as bad omens, like a black cat crossing one’s path, but they are also considered lucky.  Turns out the cat was domesticated long before man’s best friend.  Cats also show up on almost every continent.  The following is a list of cats and wild cats throughout mythology.