Seeing Signs in Nature

They are everywhere. Signs. To help you along your path, to show you a glimmer of which way to go. They are a constant in my life, I am always spotting them, although not always listening to them, even when I should. Usually my signs come in the forms of birds, insects, or other animals, however they have come to me in a dream, or a song. The Blue Jay, has a very strong connection to my mother, who passed in 2009, and has planted its roots very near, to my home and my heart. Whenever I am in need of guidance, and sometimes even tough love, the blue jay never fails me with making its presence known. Now, that doesn't always mean that I will see it or even hear it. Sometimes It will come as a flash in my mind, or a ceramic figurine in the store. Or even just a small blue feather directly in my path as I am walking. It is these little subtle signs, that you have to really look out for. Your guardians are always around you, and the Universe is always watching you, doing what it can to help you, to reassure you about the world around you. Helping you along the path you are on, or warning you of obstacles ahead.



Associating birds with my loved ones that have passed has just always been in my life. I was 12 when my grandfather died. We were inseperable, he was a father to me throughout my entire childhood, and I was completely heartbroken when he died. On the way to the cemetery though, the most personal thing happened to me. A road runner crossed right in front of us, as we neared the cemetery gates. This is a very small cemetery, in the middle of sandy Texas cotton fields, in case you are needing a visual. I didn't think anything of it, other than the fact that we always ran into road runners when the two of us were together. Gathering around his plot, the services started. But I couldn't help but gazing off, through the headstones, not too far away, and there it was. The road runner. He stayed through all of the service, assuring me that he will always be there for me, no matter what. For several months after that, I would always see it, around my house, along the roads as we drove. Eventually it's presence became fewer and fewer, as I healed from his passing. Today, I only see him when he is really needed. When I am in need of being reminded of the powers that are at play around me.

I was 18 when my grandmother passed, and just truly coming into my way as a Pagan. She had been so very, very sick for many years, and it was extremely hard to see my sweet, gentle grandmother suffering. The day she left us, she had gone into the hospital. My parents had gone up there, but told me to stay home until they called for me. I sat at home, pacing the floor, waiting for a phone call I didn't want. After a few hours, I went outside in the shaded space of my backyard. I closed my eyes, and asked the Powers that Be to ease my grandmother's pain and suffering. To help her to cross over and find peace. All was quiet for a bit as I cried and prayed. Then, directly above me, I heard it. A woodpecker. I watched him so intently, he knew I was there, yet he wasn't afraid of me. It wasn't long after, my parents pulled up to tell me the news, but I already knew. The woodpecker had told me. And I felt at peace. I knew she had crossed over gently, and without pain.

I never know when a sign will come, or how it will show itself to me. But when I am in need, and can focus my mind on finding an answer, I am never failed by the Goddess, as long as I keep my heart and mind open to see what I am supposed to.

Our totem animals often reveal themselves too, on a very common basis. I have several, however my primary totem animal is the rabbit. A solid white rabbit visited me in my dreams for several nights in a row. I had quite a lot of hardships going on in my life during that time, but once I realized the rabbit was there to help me, I began to research him. Learn through him. Eventually my life began to run smooth again, and I can honestly say that I have the wisdom of the rabbit to thank.

The absolute best book I have found, on the topic of totem animals and learning to trust the signs in nature is:

Animal Speak, by Ted Andrews

 

 

 

Click this link, to purchase your own copy of Animal Speak!

 

Take time out of your day, every day, to listen to the rhythms of nature. Learn to speak to the Goddess on a very personal level, and in time, you will learn to see her responses. She is everywhere, listening to you, always.

Namaste

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Moon Child; Learning to Follow the Path of the Moon



Supermoon, June 2013

 



Our Moon. Wonderful and glorious. A sacred symbol of life, death, and rebirth, and associated with the Triple Goddess. Mysterious and perfect in all its beauty. Everything I do on a daily basis, is in tune with the Moon. With its waxing and waning, pushing and pulling, everything flows the way it is supposed to when you follow the course of the moon. From spellworkings, to childbirth, our Moon influences it all. Even our monthly cycles get into a pattern with the waxing or waning of the moon. That is why it is called a 'cycle', and is around 28 days apart(just like our moon cycles). When we begin to flow with these cycles, instead of against, a peace will instantly wash around you. You will begin to learn when to act on certain things, and when to back down, and patiently wait things out. Or when to release, all the things and people that hold you back, or that no longer serve you.

My youngest son was born during a Full Moon lunar Eclipse, and it was the most magical experience I have ever been through. Contractions started about 30 minutes after the eclipse started, and he was born about 30 minutes after sunrise(six hours total), when the moon had completed its pass through the skies, and its pull subsided. It was intense and amazing all at the same time, to look out my window and have our Moon, the beautiful Diana herself, as a birthing coach. An experience I will never forget, and one I love to share. No other moment can compare, to the connection I felt that night to my path, and to the Goddess.

The best book I have found, to keep up with the daily change in moon phases, is Llewellyn's Witches Notebook. I always refer to this book before doing a spell! It also has great info on the Sabbats, as well as recipes and more!



Click here to purchase the Llewellyn Witches Datebook for 2014!

 



Waxing- When the moon is growing in size, the phase before the Full Moon. This is the time for growth, and for spellworkings associated with gaining things. More money, increased hours at work, new love. A time for action and change. All these things have a better chance at fruition when the moon is waxing. Your period and p.m.s. will usually be stronger, and more emotional when it comes during this phase, as it is working against the flow.
Waning- When the moon is getting smaller in size, the phase between the Full Moon and the New Moon. This is the time for releasing. Let go of people or things that hold you back, or no longer serve you. During this phase is the perfect time to smudge your home, and release negativity. Your period and p.m.s. will usually be more mild, when it comes during this phase, as it is going with the flow, and is a form of release.
Full Moon- This is a time for completion of things that may have been started during the New Moon. A time for guidance from the Goddess, and reflection. Always "wash" your crystals and magical tools during this phase. Bask under the glow of a Full Moon when you are working spells regarding fertility. Full Moon phases are usually the most potent, therefore spells of great importance can be done for all 3 days of a Full Moon phase. The day before, the day of, and the day after a Full Moon. High strength spellworkings, such as Drawing down the Moon, and the Charge of the Goddess are always done on Full Moon nights.
New Moon- This is a time for new beginnings. Set goals and realize dreams during the New Moon. During this phase, our moon is absent from the sky, reminding us of faith in the things that cannot always be seen. It is a time of darkness, allowing us a time to look within ourselves.

Void of Course- A time when the moon is in a gap from one constellation to the next. Our moon is always traveling through the sky, passing through constellations as it goes. However, as it is moving, there will always be a small gap between signs. Sometimes these gaps only last a few hours. Other times, they can last nearly a full day or longer. When our moon is 'V/C', it is usually best to basically do the same. Wait to cast spells, because usually they rarely come to fruition, or may in fact backfire on you! Hold off on final transactions and contracts, and avoid confrontation or making any rash life changes. Giving yourself a timeout and being patient during a V/C moon will save you big time, in the end!

Moon in Astrological Signs- In order to properly enhance a specific spell, wait for the moon to land in the proper astrological sign. Specific signs assist for many specific goals, so many times, although it can be hard to be patient, it is well worth the wait, when dealing with something of great importance to you. For example, If you are working spells involving money or real estate, wait for the moon to enter Taurus. For freedom, friendship, or to break bad habits you could use the extra strength from an Aquarius moon. Each sign carries different strengths, so study them closely, and make them work for you and not against you.

By simply paying just a little more attention to the gravitational pull from our very own moon, we can shift our lives to live in a more cycled lifestyle, the way Mother Nature intended for us. Stop going against the current, and learn to follow your instincts. Love yourselves, and love one another.

Namaste

"The moon is always female"-Denise Levertov

 

The Charge of the Goddess

By, Doreen Valiente



Whenever ye have need of any thing, once in the month, and better it be when the moon is full, then shall ye assemble in some secret place and adore the spirit of She, who is Queen of all witches. There shall ye assemble, ye who are fain to learn all sorcery, yet have not won its deepest secrets; to these will She teach things that are yet unknown. And ye shall be free from slavery; and as a sign that ye be really free, ye shall be naked in your rites; and ye shall dance, sing, feast, make music and love, all in Her praise. For Hers is the ecstasy of the spirit, and Hers also is joy on earth; for Her law is love unto all beings. Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let naught stop you or turn you aside. For Hers is the secret door which opens upon the land of youth and Hers is the cup of wine of life, and the cauldron of Cerridwen, which is the Holy Grail of immortality. She is the gracious goddess, who gives the gift of joy unto the heart of man. Upon earth, She gave the knowledge of the spirit eternal; and beyond death, She gives peace and freedom, and reunion with those who have gone before. Nor does She demand sacrifice, for behold, She is the mother of all living, and Her love is poured out upon the earth.

She who is the beauty of the green earth, and the white moon among the stars, and the mystery of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man, calls unto thy soul. Arise, and come unto Her. For She is the soul of nature, who gives life to the universe. from Her all things proceed, and unto Her all things must return; and before Her face, beloved of gods and men, let thine innermost divine self be enfolded in the rapture of the infinite. Let Her worship be within the heart that rejoiceth; for behold, all acts of love and pleasure are Her rituals. And therefore let there be beauty and strength, power and compassion, honor and humility, mirth and reverence within you. And thou who thinkest to seek Her, know thy seeking and yearning shall avail thee not unless thou knowest the mystery; that if that which thou seekest thou findest not within thee, then thou wilt never find it without thee. For behold, She has been with thee from the beginning; and She is that which is attained at the end of desire.

 



How To Be A Goddess; The Art of Manifestation

To be a woman, for me, is a right of passage. It is a connection to the Sacred Feminine, to Mother Nature herself, and is something that every woman should embrace, and learn to connect to. Whether you are a young adult new to The Path, or a wise Crone with seasoned experience, we are all connected. To each other, and to the great world and universe around us. The energy that resonates within our very selves, is the same energy that exists in everything that has ever been created. Even the smallest idea in your mind, is a burst of energy that gets put out into the universe. And it is for that very reason that even the dozens of mundane thoughts that you think in any given day, can, in turn, manifest into your life without you even realizing it.

But what does it mean, to be a Goddess? First, let’s look at what a Goddess is. She is powerful, and wise. She is beautiful, nurturing, all-knowing. The Goddess represents that inner strength that each of us holds within us.  She is that beacon of light when you are lost in the darkness. She IS creation itself. Her symbolism is known in every culture, every religion, all over the world, from the beginning of time. The Sacred Feminine has always been, and always will be. And when you can learn to embrace that power within yourself, you will truly know the power of the Goddess, and will be able to see all that she has to offer and teach you.

 

Begin each day by making statements of I AM. I am strong. I am beautiful. I am powerful. I am a perfect manifestation of the Universe. I am respected and honored. I am a creator. Simply saying these statements isn’t enough though; you must feel them in your heart to be true. You must force that energy, out into the world.

That which you choose to manifest into this world, has no choice but to be.

That is the key to manifestation, whether it is positive or negative. Whether it is intentional or sub-conscious, your thoughts and emotions are all connected with everything around you. For example, say you have been ill recently, and maybe it took a little longer to bounce back than usual. Did you say or think things like, “I am so tired of being sick!” or, “Why am I sick all the time?!” What you were really putting out into the Universe was “I am sick.” I am tired.” Now, of course you didn’t say those things on purpose, nobody in their right mind enjoys being sick for weeks on end. But your energy and your emotions were stating otherwise. When you are tired and cranky, and just plain don’t feel good, of course you will react this way. We have all said these very exact statements at one time or another. But the key, is to catch yourself when you have said or even just thought these statements, and change them. Coming down with an illness isn’t always a bad thing. Our bodies are made to fight off things which can cause us harm, and are made to tell us when we have done too much, and need rest. To experience fatigue and fever means that your body is working hard to fight and kill whatever is attacking it. So, next time a cold or virus has you feeling down, listen to your body (and your Doctor!). Rest and relax as much as possible, and let the foods you eat, and medicines you may have to take do their job, to nourish and replenish you. Remind yourself that you will feel well again soon, and allow your mind and body to simply stop. Tell yourself that you will be well again once your body has done its job, and then, once you are feeling yourself again, make sure to thank the Powers that Be for allowing you rest and healing.

 

Negative sub-conscious manifestation happens every day. “I hate my job!” “Why am I always struggling with money?” “I guess I will just never find Mr. Right.” Being angry, and in the heat of the moment is the worst time for things like that to slip out, and sneak up into our minds. They are really bad habits that are hard to break. But, as they say, practice makes perfect. Begin slowly, one at a time. Catch yourself when you say these things, and replace them with positive affirmations. “I will make the best of my job, until the right one comes my way.”  “I am wealthy, and everything is being provided for me.” “I love myself, and am open for love in my life.”

Manifestation is being able to see yourself, in the near future, having already accomplished your goal. Looking for a new job? Visualize yourself already working where you wish to be, wearing the proper attire for that job, smiling and loving your career. Experiencing financial burdens? Visualize yourself, extremely content, all your financial needs being met, and having all the things that you need and want in your possession. Now, that doesn’t mean to visualize yourself in a 10 bedroom mansion, lounging by your salt water pool. Keep yourself in check, and close to reality. The Universe knows what you need to provide for you. The Art of Manifestation simply enhances what the Powers that Be are already trying to do for you.

 

 

We all have the power of The Goddess within us, and the power to manifest all of our hopes and dreams into reality. Search within your heart for that fire inside you. Search the deepest depths of yourself, and find what truly drives you. Run with that flame burning bright, and don’t ever be afraid to let your inner Goddess shine.