Snail - totem

In a meditation this morning snail came to me...not a totem I was expecting to see so here is some information about snail and the magical energies that surround it:

Snail - Patience

Keywords:

Patience. Water energy. Rain energy. Celebrating the Winter. Spirals. Protection. Letting go of deadlines. Letting life pass you by. Sensuality. Celebrating texture and minutiae.

Lessons and Challenges:

Snail is often overlooked as a valuable guide (our loss, really), but has many important lessons to teach. Snail teaches us to cultivate patience in both our expectations of ourselves, others and life in general. There is a lot of emphasis on doing things fast these days, no wonder poor snail has been left behind as a powerful guide and teacher.

The concept of patience frustrates many people who just want to get it done 'now.' However, patience is a necessary ability. Knowing how to endure waiting and delay with calmness, without annoyance, is a skill that needs to be gently trained and developed. Snail energy is a champion of patience. It patiently waits for the rains to fall, sealing itself up safely in the meantime. It knows that its own journeying will take time, and snail energy is okay with that.

It's important to let go of fixed or unrealistic deadlines, and if necessary, let life pass you by. It is not possible to do all the things you want to do in a single lifetime, that doesn't mean don't have any goals at all, but it does mean that it's okay to slow down and appreciate the smaller moments and the parts of your life that aren't 'goals,' but nourish you all the same. When you let go of unrealistic expectation, you learn how to accept the present as it is, and find joy in that.

Take time to appreciate texture and minutiae. Literally start focusing on the smaller things. It might be learning to appreciate the smaller fauna and flora around the place, learning how to immerse yourself in touching different textures and learning how they feel. Life isn't always about the big events, but instead, the smaller moments where you notice a great sleeping position, a new way of preparing dinner, a tendril of life shooting out of some local soil.

Along with celebrating texture, snail teaches one how to appreciate sensuality. Snail is a tactile creature, its single 'foot' fully embraces every surface that it touches with the added benefit of mucous, making sure that it is as connected as possible to what it is attached to. It is worth reconnecting with touch and sensuality. See how touch can be pleasurable, how even sensations that you might associate with being unclean (like running your hands through dirt) can actually be a positive experience if you begin to change your perspectives about it.

Actively bring water energy into your life at this time. Consider having more baths or showers (remember to be water conscious), alternatively, take the time to stand outside in the rain. Water, when utilised in conjunction with snail energy, is a deeply nourishing and enriching force. It enlivens the spirit and heightens the body's ability to function. For those with SAD, snail can be a useful metaphysical counter to some of the emotional symptoms of the disorder, as snail finds joy and growth in rain and Winter.

There is an element of self-protection when snail comes into your life. Snail is - let's face it - a vulnerable animal. It tastes great to a lot of different creatures. It moves slow (bonus), it's not usually poisonous, etc. So snail has a few methods of protection, one is the development of a shell to protect its inner organs. It has also developed a love of the darker, quieter places in life. And it will hide, as necessary, when the environment around it is not working to its favour. Snail teaches you how to protect yourself as necessary.

Snail teaches the sacredness of the spiral. It incorporates the spiral clearly into its own shell, and in turn possesses a metaphysical connection to pagan spiritualities in particular. The spiral has been used in megalithic and pagan art in the past to represent the sun, death, life and rebirth, cycles and progression, among others.

Communion:

Like all animal helpers, this animal will only appear when right and appropriate, and cannot be forced to visit you, commune with you, or share messages with you. Snail can be an easy energy to push aside even when its constantly trying to get your attention. Learning how to listen to snail's messages is a skill that comes with learning how to listen to yourself and your body.

Snail is easily approached in visualisation, and also in journeying. Meeting snail in places of water and rain work to your advantage, as snail won't come forward in dryer times and environments. Remember that snail is a gentle guide, and requires conscious, dedicated work. It is easy to lose a connection with snail, because it disappears from time to time, and because it doesn't have an imposing energy (unless, of course, you have it as a shadow totem).


source - wildspeak.com

Setting Up An Altar

We are very proud to have a guest blogger today,

one of our very lovely students from the Kitchen Witch School:-

Setting Up An Altar
By Autumn Moonchilde

Setting up an altar is really quite easy, and can be a fun, creative process. You can set up a huge, elaborate altar, or a very tiny one in the corner of a shelf, it's all up to you. The are no firm rules as to how it should be done. Follow your heart and create something that has meaning to you, and serves your needs. Here are a few traditional items that are usually used in Wicca and Paganism.

First, find a space that suits your purpose. You can use a shelf, a table, the fireplace mantle or anywhere you deem appropriate. I prefer to set my altars up on something made of wood, as wood is natural, but that's a personal choice.

Now it's time to decide what you want to place on your altar. If possible, cover your space with an altar cloth. It can be anything that you feel a connection with, but I would advise using something that you won't mind getting wax on in case you use candles.

It's typical to use symbols that represent the four Elements aligned in the proper cardinal direction. Consider using a bowl of dirt or a crystal in the North aspect of your altar to represent Earth. Incense is perfect in the East for Air, candles in the South for Fire (don't forget matches or a lighter) and a bowl of water or a pretty seashell representing Water in the West. You can even use pictures of the Elements if you like.

Magical tools are also commonly used on altars. If you are doing a ritual, you will want to display all of the tools you will need. This may include an athame, a wand, a cauldron, a pentacle and/or a Book of Shadows, for instance. If you have enough room, perhaps add some cakes and wine for an offering. You can also decorate your altar with statues or images of your favorite deity, or if you are celebrating a Sabbat, use season appropriate items, such as pumpkins for Samhain and holly for Yule.

But what if you have limited space and can't set up a large altar? What are the essentials? The answer is whatever you feel comfortable with. I, for example, am the only Pagan in my household, and I am not publicly "out of the broom closet" with most people. I have a room in my house, out of the public view, where I keep an altar and all of my Pagan tools. However, I wanted a kitchen altar. I didn't have much space and I wanted to keep it discreet, so my options were kind of limited. With nothing more than a votive candle, a rose quartz crystal, and some bay leaves, I made a tiny altar on my kitchen windowsill. It's small and discreet, and it serves its purpose beautifully.

So, the choices are yours. Be creative and have fun with it. Listen to your intuition and make your altar a reflection of your beliefs and your personality. There is no right and wrong, as long as it comes from the heart.

Blessed Be!

Autumn

Willow Tree

There are lots of varieties of willow; White, Goat, Crack, Grey and Sallow are all indigenous to the UK.  Druids especially valued the Goat Willow for this ability to transform from silver to gold, a kind of natural alchemy that they called “sunshine fire”. The Weeping Willow is not native however it was imported from China in the 18^th century.

The Willow is a common sight growing beside rivers, ponds and lakes and above underground water sources; they carry with them an amazing watery energy which gives them the name of the Moon Tree.

The willow is sacred to the triple Goddess, especially Cailleach the old Crone aspect; she represents the dark side and wisdom. The Willow in the Tree alphabet stands for the female and lunar rhythms of life. Water and tidal movements of the sea are governed by the pull of the moon. The moon in its monthly rhythms is female, contrasting with the male sun's daily and yearly turnings.

As well as favouring watery places the Willow growth is somewhat prolific.  If you were to cut a branch and plant it into the ground, wit would easily root and grow into a new tree. For this reason, the willow is strongly linked to new growth, regeneration and inspiration.

Willow was used in the annual purification ritual of "beating the bounds" (defining the parish boundary) and the birch twigs of a witch's broom were traditionally bound with willow thongs. It is also sacred to the moon with willow wands being favoured for lunar magic and ritual. It is also thought that placing willow under one's pillow, especially around the full moon, helps promote night visions. The willow is sacred to poets and bards as a tree of inspiration. 

Medicinal Uses

Willow bark contains salicin, or Salicylic acid, used to make aspirin. 

Infusions from the bark have long been used as a remedy for chills, rheumatism, and fevers. 

Willow sap applied to the skin can remedy acne and a strong decoction of boiling the bark and leaves in water can be rubbed into the scalp for dandruff.

A tea or incense of willow bark can be used to help connect with the divine feminine energy within each of us as willow is a strongly feminine tree. 

Ogham Name : Saille

Letter- S
Month 15^th April – 12^th May

Color- Bright Colors
Animals- Hare, cat, hawk
Planet: The Moon
Gemstone: Moonstone
Flower: Primrose
Diety: Morgan le Fay, The Morrigan , Cailleach

Way of the Witch Workshop

 

Way of the Witch Workshop

Sunday 7th July 2013
10.00am to 4.00pm


... At: Chi Coffee, 146 London Road, North End, Portsmouth, UK.

 
A Workshop to cover the basics of:


What is a witch?
Energy work
Shielding & Grounding
Deity
Wheel of the Year
Elements
Magic (spells & tools)

£35 per person (places are limited)
Price includes lunch, beverage & cake

You will also take home with you a detailed booklet and a bag of witchy goodies

Students of the Kitchen Witch School of Natural Witchery are entitled to a reduced rate of £30


Lead by Tansy (Rachel), Raven (Lesley) and Sunchylde (Tracey)

Email: kitchenwitchhearth@yahoo.com


Payment in full or a deposit is required before the event to confirm your place.

Payment can be made via the Coven website, link below:

http://kitchenwitchhearth.wix.com/coven#!wayofthewitch/c1dfn

 

Facebook event page:

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/239512182854398/

Alder Tree

The 18^th March marks the beginning of the Celtic tree month of the Alder and the forth letter in tree alphabet.

Alders flourish in moisture,  they can be found on river banks, wet lands and flood plains.  These places were where our ancestors would have sought habitation.  Because of the trees resistance to rot it was often used to make trackways and roads.   Alder was used in piles for lake dwellings, for water-mill wheels, house foundations, canal locks, milk pails and pipes.The Rialto at Venice is founded on alder piles, and so are numerous medieval cathedrals.

Alder’s burning qualities have always been prized among metal workers and smiths as it makes excellent charcoal for the forge and potter’s oven.   Fresh cut Alder wood turns red as blood, giving the appearance the tree is bleeding. The bark gives a red dye, the twigs a brown dye. The cones make a black dye and the inner bark of the root dies yellow.

It is a tree sacred to Phoroneus, inventor of fire, and to Astarte and Her son, the Fire God. In ancient Greece Cronos was symbolized by an alder tree. In Norse legends March was known as the ‘lengthening month of the waking alder’. In Irish legend the first human male was created from alder, and the first female from rowan. Alder is bound up in the legends of the Rollright stones in Oxfordshire where the King Stone, which stands alone, was once reputedly associated with a grove of alder trees. Alder was anciently renowned as the best wood to use for whistles and pipes. Such was the reputed harmony of the music played on alder pipes that the topmost branch of the alder tree became known as the ‘oracular singing head’ of Bran. The purple colour of alder’s leaf-buds is especially associated with Bran, and is called ‘royal purple’.  Bran also carried a branch of alder with him during the 'Battle of the Trees' saga, an old Celtic legend.

Medicinal Uses

Alder bark is prepared for medicinal use by carefully scraping off the dead outer bark and using the green, living tissue underneath. Alder bark can be simmered in water to make a wash for very deep wounds. The leaves and bark are simmered into a bitter tea for tonsillitis and fever.

The Penobscot Indians used Alder bark tea to stop cramps and vomiting and in a Seven Herbs formula that was taken before a sweat lodge ceremony. The seven herbs were; Alder bark, Witch hazel twigs, Fir twigs, Cedar branches, Sweet-flag, Prince’s-pine, Lambkill, and Brake. The Mohegan used Speckled Alder twigs in decoctions for sprains, bruises, headache, and backache. The inner bark of Alder is used in poultices to stop swelling. The fresh juice stops itching. 

Alder leaves were once gathered while they were still damp with dew and used to cover the floors of a house plagued by fleas or other insects. Adhering to the leaves the insects died. Alder pollen is much-loved by bees. Grouse eat the leaves, buds and seeds, beaver and rabbit chew the bark.

Correspondences

Ogham - Fearn

Letter- F

Month 18^th March – 14^th April

Color- Crimson
Animals- Red fox, ram, stallion, gull
Planet: Mars
Gemstone: Ruby
Flower: Broom
Diety: Bran or Arthur

Sources

J M Paterson, A Tree in Your Pocket

Robert Graves, White Goddess

Tree Medicine, magic and lore, Ellen Evert Hopman