Spellcrafting vs Spell Casting

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

fire-4387886

This post was inspired by a video by the HearthWitch on YouTube.  I was watching this video when, somewhere near the beginning, she mentioned that a lot of people cast spells by using spells from books and following them to the letter.

This was a really new concept to me.  And… odd concept to me.   But then I started thinking about it.

L and I were taught spellcraft by our mother from a very young age, and a part of that was creating our own spells.  This was further encouraged when Z came into our lives, as she also does this kind of spellcraft.

And that got me to thinking.   Perhaps that’s why it was always called “spellcraft”.  My mother calls it spellcraft.  Z calls it spellcraft.  In our house, it was never “spell casting”, it was (and is) spellcraft.

I had always thought that the terms “spell casting” and “spellcraft” were interchangeable… but maybe they aren’t.

Maybe (and I think that for me this is more than a maybe, but realization of the truth of something) spellcrafting is crafting a spell.  Whether that is taking a pre-existing spell and crafting it into something that fits you and your needs, or making spells from scratch.

Whereas spell casting would be more of an umbrella term that includes spellcraft, but also includes ANY kind of casting spells.  Whether there is personal crafting involved in the spell or not.

I guess it’s kind of like cooking. Some people use a recipe and follow it strictly. Some use a recipe, but customize it how they wish. And others just go from scratch and make up their recipes on their own, whether that be before they get started, or on the go.

Just some musings, I guess, as I wrap my mind around this new realization.

 

Don’t Be Such a Bastard

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and focused on our internal dialogue and the language we use.   That is to say, how we talk to ourselves (whether aloud or in our heads).   It went into detail on asking why we would treat ourselves worse than how we treat others.  Are the things you say to yourself something you would ever say to another person?

In my case?  This is a hell no.  I know I’m very hard on myself, extremely judgemental of myself and very confrontational in my language to myself.  This is not how I am with others at all, and yet when it comes to myself… I’m mean as fuck.

The meditation encouraged noticing these times and, when you do, gentling your approach.   It is about being mindful of how you are treating yourself… and it’s something I definitely need to work on.

Today’s draw is (again) a double without a jumper.  In today’s draw we have the 8th card (in some decks this is the 11th card) of the Major Arcana, the Strength card which is represented here by a bee eater bird and a lion.  With the Strength card came the Seven of Pentacles, which in this deck is represented by the peacock.

Like all cards in the Major Arcana, the Strength card deals with the “bigger picture” of one’s life rather than one specific aspect of the human experience.  This card most often represents inner strength rather than outer strength, which includes courage, skills in persuasion and influence, as well as qualities of compassion.   In this deck, the strength card depicts a lion and a bee eater bird, which in the guidebook are described as….

Lion: power, protection, courage, patience, wisdom, and passion Bee Eater Bird: unity, family, tranquility, support, comfort, and balance

The Seven of Pentacles is a representation of progress, sudden leaps ahead, and the unknown in the area of finances, resources and the physical word.  It can also indicate the entrance of spirituality into a situation, and looking beyond the self.    This deck depicts the Seven of Pentacles as a Peacock, which in the guidebook holds the qualities of rebirth, confidence, victory, patience, resilience, and devotion.

Whew… that was a long one for definitions today.

My interpretation of the cards in today’s reading boils down to that I need to spend more time lifting myself up, rather than tearing myself down.  And, in doing so, I will foster more strength within myself and a calmer, more centered outlook concerning not just my family, but the world at large.

It’s a good message, as I have been struggling a bit with being a right bastard to myself lately, and I have a visit coming up with family that will do plenty of that “tearing down” for me.   I don’t need to be so harsh with myself, instead, now is a time to foster my strengths and build myself up for what is coming. (Which, of course, I’m referring to  either visiting those family members out east, or staying here and helping my mother through her surgery, depending on what she decides she wants to happen.)

Deck Used:  The Animism Tarot

 

Bauble Traps

/ Twist the Leaf / 2 Comments

Ok, so it’s not really a trap in the strictest sense, but more of a distraction. Still…

nature-3121788

If you’ve ever lived somewhere that you have a constant issue with things inexplicably disappearing and then reappearing on you, and especially shiny things, then this post might make sense.

In my family this disappearing act is believed to be most often caused by house sprites.  That is to say, by the Fae (including fairies, sprites, elves, brownies, and all the like).   The theory of a Bauble Trap is to distract them.  Although, often if you just ask for your items back and express appreciation you when they show up, it’s rare that these things become an issue in the first place.

If they do become an issue, though, or if someone just wants to set up a “just in case” then a “Bauble Trap” is the way to go.  I’m sure there are other names for this, but this is the name I know it by.

Essentially, what the Bauble Trap boils down to is a bunch of shiny stuff (bits of jewelry, etc) that you hang decoratively near a mirror.  Preferably near the front door or a window (but not in view of the door or window) and where light will shine off of the shiny baubles and the mirror’s surface.

As many of the little mischief makers are drawn to shiny bits, the combination of the shiny baubles and the mirror’s surface becomes a huge entertainment for them, and with this trap in place you may find that your other items are then left alone.

Be sure, though, as I mentioned, that you don’t put the Baubles Trap in view of your front door or window in question.  This would be seen as an invitation to outside Fae to come in and visit (or stay).  Although many of the Fae can be fun to have about, inviting more in is NOT something you want to do if you’re trying to resolve a mischief issue.

Pay Attention to Motive

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes in length and focused on the differences between concentration and mindfulness.   Concentration being a laser sharp focus on something, where as mindfulness is more of an awareness of everything in that moment.

I can’t say I really paid that much attention, in fact, I had to re-play the discussion part of it just to remember -what- the focus of the meditation was.  This is because I was having a very good meditation where my focus was turned inward and on the breath.

Sometimes, if I get really into it, the rest of the world melts away and that was the case today.  I find these times to be the most refreshing, actually, so it was really nice to be able to find that headspace for today.

Today’s draw is from the same deck as yesterday (cuz I forgot to switch them out) and came up as the Four of Cups along with a repeat of the Nine of Cups from yesterday.  Neither of these cards were jumpers, as they both came out of the deck together.

The Nine of Cups, as you will remember from yesterday, is a representation of fruition and fulfillment, culmination, and consequences in the area of emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.

The Four of Cups is a representation of stability, shelter, ease, taking time to reassess, and stagnancy in the area of emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.

I still see the Nine of Cups as a carry over from yesterday.  It clearly is stating to me “don’t get cocky” or overconfident.  The underlying message has changed, though, to the Four of Cups.

Together, these cards are speaking of making sure I’m not reacting (or acting) out of boredom (just as yesterday they were speaking of impulsivity).  Whether bored or feeling impulsive, the cards for both days come with the overlying message that says “don’t get cocky”.  Take my time.  Pay attention.  Put some thought into my decisions and actions before I actually do or say anything.

Very important.

 Deck Used: Visions of Life Tarot

 

And now for a moment of levity.

Z sent this to me today in email and it made me laugh….

 

The #gettoknowyourwitches Questions

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

hand-1598626_1920

On June 2nd, I stumbled across a new quiz on Ethony’s YouTube channel. I don’t think that this one originated with her, but she was kind enough to post the questions in the video information, and I decided to play along.

To be fair, I do not necessarily consider myself a “witch”, per se. I consider myself a Buddhist Pagan. Buddhist first like an adjective, Pagan second like a noun.

But the terminology is really semantics at its best, because I do spellcraft, which is pretty much the defining characteristic of being a “witch”. So… a witch is a witch is a witch, I suppose. Regardless of the terminology used. Right?

  1. Does your Sun Sign (Zodiac Sign) portray you correctly? If not, do your other planetary signs?
    It does! I mentioned this in a previous post…. well, two posts really. Here and Here
  2. What songs bring you the most magickal vibes?
    Songs with magical vibes… I really had to think about this one. I’d probably have to say Gayatri Mantra by Deva Premal. There’s another that one of my yoga instructors used to play in her studio, but it was a compilation disk that she’d lost the info on, and neither of us could figure out what it was.
  3. Which one of your deities/guides/ancestors is most sarcastic with you? If this doesn’t apply to you, which of your tarot/oracle decks is?
    The first part of this question doesn’t really apply to me. The second part… just recently the answer to this has become the Eight Coins Tattoo Tarot. Very tongue-in-cheek in the way it answers questions and communicates with me as a whole.
  4. Biggest witchy mess up or misinterpretation?
    I once set the front yard on fire during a ritual with my sister when we were young. I think we were probably about… twelve? It’s surprisingly difficult to put out a grass fire in daylight.
  5. Would you write a book on your craft/spirituality? Why? If you already have, what were your challenges in doing so?
    No. I think I would find the approach to feel too impersonal. I don’t mind writing about it here on the blog, or answering questions when they’re asked. But a book feels different than all of that. It’s a very detached sort of energy, I guess, would be the best way to put it. I wouldn’t want to bring that energy into my practice, even on the periphery.
  6. If someone wanted to summon you to their circle, what 5 items would they need?
    Living, growing plants. A deck of playing cards. Labradorite. Capt’n Crunch cereal. Pluto (as in the stuffed dog in my bed, not the planet).
  7. If you were a ghost, what place would you haunt?
    I’d much rather haunt a person. But, if I had to haunt a place, I’d love to haunt either an area of rainforest where hikers occasionally pass through, or a library. A library would be awesome.
  8. What is the funniest way someone has reacted to finding out you are a witch?
    I once had these “Welcome Wagon” people come to my house to welcome me into the neighborhood, then go from very relaxed to hastily evacuating the premises when they saw my pentagram.
  9. Do you have any superstitions?
    In my opinion, the line between magic and superstition is a very thin one. Because of this, I would have to say that I have many, although the only two I can think of off-hand are the salt over the shoulder thing, and the shiny baubles and mirror trap near (but not in sight of) the front door.
  10. If you could possess any fantasy magic, what would your power be?
    Teleportation. I need teleportation in my life so f’ing bad.
  11. What is something random on your altar(s)?
    I have a painted rock on my altar that I found in the parking lot at the post office. It’s aqua colored with a spiral of little white dots.
  12. If one of the youtubers you watched was a genie and they could grant you 3 wishes within their power, who would it be and what wishes? (Can’t be for more wishes)
    LOL… I’m going to pick Simon over at The Hermit’s Cave, because my wish would be to go cherry-picking through his deck collection and take home whatever I want. That’s my wish. Just one wish, that’s all I need.
  13. If you could instantly become an expert in any part of your craft/spirituality, what would it be?
    None… Nothing… My spirituality is about the journey, and that includes the learning part of things. Sure, there are things I would like to be better at, and will become better at with time, but there’s nothing I want to just suddenly become a master at.
  14. When you die, what do you think will happen to you/your soul?
    I will either linger to haunt for a time, or move on to be reincarnated.
  15. Where do you see yourself spiritually in the next 5 years?
    I don’t see my spirituality changing all that much. I suppose I’ll be a little older, a little wiser, and a little more experienced. I don’t foresee any major changes or leaps happening though.

And there we go. Done.

 

Moderation Is Not Easy

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long and focused on change and the discomfort we feel in moments of uncertainty.  This is, in fact, something that I struggle a great deal with personally, as I’m pretty sure the majority of people do.   It’s very rare that I ever run across people that relish the uncertainty of change.

That said, the meditation’s premise was not that we should be okay with uncertainty and change, so much as that as a part of life, there are things we can do to try and come to peace with it so that we are not quite so uncomfortable in the moment and can adapt more readily.

In the meditation, she likens this to “riding the waves” of change and asks, “what would it be like to loosen our grip. What if we let go of our agenda and allowed ourselves to become, bit by bit, more comfortable with uncertainty.”   The guided meditation goes on to encourage practice letting go in moments when you catch yourself resisting uncertainty and allow yourself to become more comfortable with it so that you can experience change and life with more ease.

But, in my opinion, this would be more like when you are caught in a riptide, rather than being likened to waves. You don’t fight a riptide, as that is how you drown. Instead, you are taught to relax and go with it.  Allow it to happen.   In this way, the water will release its grip sooner and you will find the surface (and air to breathe) more quickly.

Separate analogies aside, I like the premise and agree that trying to go with things rather than fight them can lower stress significantly in day to day life as well as in times of change.

Today’s draw is the Two of Wands (Freedom) and the Nine of Cups (Overconfidence). I’m going to outline the “traditional” meanings for these cards as I always do, but I’ve found that I get a LOT of intuitive interpretations from this deck, so my message doesn’t really fit with the standard meanings of the two cards.   Neither of these cards were jumpers, as they both came out of the deck together.

The Two of Wands is a representation of duality, union, partnerships, and division in the area of one’s ambitions, drive, willpower, and passions.

The Nine of Cups is a representation of fruition and fulfillment, culmination, and consequences in the area of emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition.

That said, my interpretation of today’s cards was not based upon RWS, or even the words on the cards, but rather an intuitive hit off of the images themselves.

The message of today’s draw is that I need to practice a little caution and restraint in the area of my choices.  Specifically my dietary choices.  The cards are pointing out at it is important that I don’t get cocky with the few “unhealthy” things I’ve been allowing myself lately and think it’s okay to indulge all of the time.  Indulgences are okay, but only in moderation.

Moderation is not really my strong suit, so this is a very good reminder. I have a habit of letting small allowances get out of hand, much like that saying “give an inch, take a mile”.   This is true not just in my relationship with food, but with anything I’m passionate about.  If allowed to do so, I have a feeling excess would be the theme of my existence, and I think this is a part of why I am so strict with myself on so many levels and in so many different areas of my life.