I decided to do this entry on the much maligned and greatly overlooked familiar of witches, the Toad. The Toad has been associated with conjurers and cunning folk for centuries and is even mentioned in the Witches Hammer as a way to single out one of our kind.
So what makes the Toad so special? Certainly not the warts and ruddy brown complexion. Historically it was a certain bone that was contained within the confines of the Toad itself that when gathered in a certain way it gave the sorcerer power. Much has been written on this practice, so I won't go into it here. Suffice it to say that I have never felt the need to slaughter Mr. Toad in pursuit of said bone, but have instead utilized the amphibious witches familiar for more benign operations. They are quite amazing creatures when one actually spends time with them. They have personalities and it can bee seen why they were considered imps of the Devil. My own Toad, Mr. Hobbs, has been with me some time and lends his own magickal elements to my workings when done in my personal temple. He also has given me insight into the realms of the dead, for the Toad is a great guide down that rabbit hole.
Their long life and interesting habits lend them to the witch as a magickal companion to enhance ones workings and just lend a bit of friendship, though be it a bit warty.
That's it for now.. Until next time.....
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Traditional Witchcraft
As many of our clients and friends are aware, I was raised in a non-Wicca Traditional Witchcraft tradition. Many have asked what exactly is Traditional Witchcraft and what are it's practices? In this short post, I will list some of the practices that my family has been part of for generations and hopefully give a bit of an insight into what we actually do...
Traditional Witchcraft is not Wicca. It is based upon older practices that would be considered almost shamanic in some respects. We have a matron goddess and a patron god, but we also work with other deities and spirits. Spirits are hugely part of our work. Both ancestral and other. We do not particularly practice a great many festivals as do Wiccans, but have a handful of celebrations of which we take part. Yule, Beltaine, and Samhain are three of the main ones that occupy our focus.
We do not go in for circles much unless we need to generate and focus a great deal of power. For to us the land is sacred and so are we so protection abounds within us all.
We also do not invest in a great number of "sacred" objects. All that we use are fairly mundane. We have a sharp knife, a cauldron, a staff or wand, a stang, and other items that are utilized. However, we are just as likely to cast a spell with our knife and cauldron in the evening and make breakfast with the same tools the next morn. In the using, they attain their magick and so are not magickal in and of themselves.
The power lies in the sorcerer.
We believe that one can curse as well as cure and that one must know both sides in order to be powerful and useful. For there is no light or dark, there is just energy and how one uses it is up to them. We do not have the law of three that Wiccans do as we do not believe that we will bring back the energy upon us if we curse. However, we do believe that if you go around cursing for the sake of cursing, then someone else will eventually give you a slap, so you must use that power judiciously.
We do not go in for huge, elaborate rituals. These are time consuming and my ancestors had animals to tend and crops to bring in. So we build up the energy and cast the spell and away we go. That is one reason for the small number of tools that are actually used.
Well, that is about it for now.. I will add more to this subject as time permits.
Until the next time.......
Traditional Witchcraft is not Wicca. It is based upon older practices that would be considered almost shamanic in some respects. We have a matron goddess and a patron god, but we also work with other deities and spirits. Spirits are hugely part of our work. Both ancestral and other. We do not particularly practice a great many festivals as do Wiccans, but have a handful of celebrations of which we take part. Yule, Beltaine, and Samhain are three of the main ones that occupy our focus.
We do not go in for circles much unless we need to generate and focus a great deal of power. For to us the land is sacred and so are we so protection abounds within us all.
We also do not invest in a great number of "sacred" objects. All that we use are fairly mundane. We have a sharp knife, a cauldron, a staff or wand, a stang, and other items that are utilized. However, we are just as likely to cast a spell with our knife and cauldron in the evening and make breakfast with the same tools the next morn. In the using, they attain their magick and so are not magickal in and of themselves.
The power lies in the sorcerer.
We believe that one can curse as well as cure and that one must know both sides in order to be powerful and useful. For there is no light or dark, there is just energy and how one uses it is up to them. We do not have the law of three that Wiccans do as we do not believe that we will bring back the energy upon us if we curse. However, we do believe that if you go around cursing for the sake of cursing, then someone else will eventually give you a slap, so you must use that power judiciously.
We do not go in for huge, elaborate rituals. These are time consuming and my ancestors had animals to tend and crops to bring in. So we build up the energy and cast the spell and away we go. That is one reason for the small number of tools that are actually used.
Well, that is about it for now.. I will add more to this subject as time permits.
Until the next time.......
Thursday, December 5, 2013
The Fool!
Since we will be discussing "The Fool's Journey" at our Meet-Up group this month, I thought we would quickly revisit this card . . .
Major Arcana - The Fool!
So who is this Fool? Well, if we are very lucky, it is us! The Fool represents many things. He is childlike innocence, and one who still views the world with a sense of wonder. He wanders through his life with his head in the clouds and is awestruck by the miracles around him. In the traditional symbology, he is so oblivious to his surroundings that he does not even notice that he is about to step off a cliff, even though the little dog at his feet is trying to warn him! Over his back he carries a sack on a stick. This sack contains everything that The Fool needs to get him through his life, if only he would stop long enough to open it up and learn the secrets that it holds.
If you are interested in learning more about The Fool, feel free to access this free report on him that we at Arcanus have put together for you. Here's the link:
http://www.privatetarot.com/Reports/The_Fool. pdf
Do you have your own interpretation of this card? As always, we would love to hear from you!
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Creating Abundance in Your Life - The Law of Attraction
We
all want to create abundance in our lives and for those who have heard
of the law of attraction this is a very common desire. But how do you do
that? With the world seemingly going through a financial crisis leading
to stress and more worry, manifesting and creating abundance can seem
harder than ever. Discover how to create the abundance that you want and
deserve by creating the right mind set and using the law of attraction.
The law of attraction is by far the best way to approach creating abundance in your life. Why would you not use the most powerful tool you have, YOU!
Abundance Strategy 1
Embrace the most basic rule of the law of attraction and conscious creation: ‘you get what you focus on’ : this means that your experience will focus on what you focus on and the more intensely you focus on it, the more intense and real it will be. Focus you attention on ABUNDANCE.
Abundance Strategy 2
Creating an abundance mind set: this is essential to do but what it is and how do you do it? The first you do is focus on the abundance in your life now or any abundance that you can see in reality. The key is to focus and acknowledge it. Secondly begin to praise any aspect of your life that you could call abundant: you need to create a ‘relationship’ with abundance and praising areas of your life is a great way to do that.
Abundance Strategy 3
Get the abundant ‘feeling’ and FOCUS it! Reality responds to beliefs and feelings, beliefs are the ignition and emotions are the fuel: so find a way, anyway to start believing that YOU can be abundant, just use the abundance strategies 1 & 2. Once you get the ‘feeling’ of what it will be like to be abundant, take 5 minutes each day to feed that feeling into your life. Imagine that feeling flow into areas that you want to be abundant and allow those feelings to grow; it is like watering a plant. Soon you will feel more abundant, start to believe in your abundance and great things happen from there.
Abundance Strategy 4
Explore your abundance ‘patterns and beliefs’: Take some time to explore your beliefs about abundance. Remember that the reason you have a lack of abundance is that you have directed the law of attraction and reality to create that lack, through your belief system, emotions and imagination. So what do you believe about abundance? I promise you that you will have limiting beliefs about it and that those beliefs MUST change to create something new in your life. Start to write some lists about your ideas and you will soon see where your beliefs have limited your experience.
Abundance Strategy 5
Break down your behavior and patterns: one of the best ways to introduce new ideas is to shake up the old ones. So start doing some things differently, break up your patterns of thinking. If you eat at 7 every night, eat at 6. If you go to bed at 11, go to bed at 11.15: it does not matter what you do but you must BREAK your old thinking and that can be helped by breaking habits and patterns of thinking. Just do something different to the norm, it really does help!
The law of attraction does work but it takes commitment and energy to master it so keep going and never give up your dreams. Focus and Intent my friends! See you at the Parlor!
The law of attraction is by far the best way to approach creating abundance in your life. Why would you not use the most powerful tool you have, YOU!
Abundance Strategy 1
Embrace the most basic rule of the law of attraction and conscious creation: ‘you get what you focus on’ : this means that your experience will focus on what you focus on and the more intensely you focus on it, the more intense and real it will be. Focus you attention on ABUNDANCE.
Abundance Strategy 2
Creating an abundance mind set: this is essential to do but what it is and how do you do it? The first you do is focus on the abundance in your life now or any abundance that you can see in reality. The key is to focus and acknowledge it. Secondly begin to praise any aspect of your life that you could call abundant: you need to create a ‘relationship’ with abundance and praising areas of your life is a great way to do that.
Abundance Strategy 3
Get the abundant ‘feeling’ and FOCUS it! Reality responds to beliefs and feelings, beliefs are the ignition and emotions are the fuel: so find a way, anyway to start believing that YOU can be abundant, just use the abundance strategies 1 & 2. Once you get the ‘feeling’ of what it will be like to be abundant, take 5 minutes each day to feed that feeling into your life. Imagine that feeling flow into areas that you want to be abundant and allow those feelings to grow; it is like watering a plant. Soon you will feel more abundant, start to believe in your abundance and great things happen from there.
Abundance Strategy 4
Explore your abundance ‘patterns and beliefs’: Take some time to explore your beliefs about abundance. Remember that the reason you have a lack of abundance is that you have directed the law of attraction and reality to create that lack, through your belief system, emotions and imagination. So what do you believe about abundance? I promise you that you will have limiting beliefs about it and that those beliefs MUST change to create something new in your life. Start to write some lists about your ideas and you will soon see where your beliefs have limited your experience.
Abundance Strategy 5
Break down your behavior and patterns: one of the best ways to introduce new ideas is to shake up the old ones. So start doing some things differently, break up your patterns of thinking. If you eat at 7 every night, eat at 6. If you go to bed at 11, go to bed at 11.15: it does not matter what you do but you must BREAK your old thinking and that can be helped by breaking habits and patterns of thinking. Just do something different to the norm, it really does help!
The law of attraction does work but it takes commitment and energy to master it so keep going and never give up your dreams. Focus and Intent my friends! See you at the Parlor!
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Candle Magick Spell!
Here
is a simple and safe candle spell ritual a person can do to help
protect from negativity generated by other people. Though simple, this
is still a powerful spell. As with all magick, it’s important that one
is in the right frame of mind prior to working with it. The easiest way
to get into the proper state of mind is to mediate or relax without
interruptions for five to ten minutes before beginning this spell.
You’ll need a white candle, some aluminum foil, and a knife.
Step One: Begin by carving into the white candle the name of the person whom you want to defend against. As you carve, make sure you place your intent into the candle by focusing your mind on the idea that this person will have no further effect on you.
Step Two: Wrap the candle in the aluminum foil, shiny side facing in. This puts a protective shield around the person. The aluminum foil will reflect whatever energy the person puts out right back toward them. This is a white magick approach to protection as the person still has free will to decide if they want to put out positive or negative energy.
Step Three: Hold the candle in your right hand and send white light through the top of your crown center (head) down through your arms and into the candle. As you do this, visualize the person not being able to come around you when they are in a negative mood.
Step Four: Put the wrapped candle into the freezer and leave it. Do not remove it until you’re ready to break the spell. This action “freezes” the person with the protective shield reflecting their own energy back to and around them.
This is a great spell for beginners. Not only will the person putting out negative energy be zapped by their own negativity, but when they choose to give off positive energy they will be zapped with that as well. Done properly, this spell can actually serve as a means of training another person to have only positive thoughts when within your presence.
You’ll need a white candle, some aluminum foil, and a knife.
Step One: Begin by carving into the white candle the name of the person whom you want to defend against. As you carve, make sure you place your intent into the candle by focusing your mind on the idea that this person will have no further effect on you.
Step Two: Wrap the candle in the aluminum foil, shiny side facing in. This puts a protective shield around the person. The aluminum foil will reflect whatever energy the person puts out right back toward them. This is a white magick approach to protection as the person still has free will to decide if they want to put out positive or negative energy.
Step Three: Hold the candle in your right hand and send white light through the top of your crown center (head) down through your arms and into the candle. As you do this, visualize the person not being able to come around you when they are in a negative mood.
Step Four: Put the wrapped candle into the freezer and leave it. Do not remove it until you’re ready to break the spell. This action “freezes” the person with the protective shield reflecting their own energy back to and around them.
This is a great spell for beginners. Not only will the person putting out negative energy be zapped by their own negativity, but when they choose to give off positive energy they will be zapped with that as well. Done properly, this spell can actually serve as a means of training another person to have only positive thoughts when within your presence.
Friday, October 18, 2013
All Hallows a time of the dead
The dead are coming. I sit here contemplating the season at hand. It's cold today. Reminding me of the depths that encompass this time of year. The veils get thinner the closer we get to the end of this month. October is a magickal time. A scary time for some. Goblins and ghouls walk among us appearing at our doors asking for treats, or giving us tricks. It makes me smile as I think of the true meanings of this time. Communion with those that have gone before. We set the table with an extra plate to welcome our dead. For the dead like to eat too, though not in such a corporeal way as we. And setting the extra plate lets them know that they are still in our thoughts. In my family tradition it is a time of reflection, magick, and ancestors. We go to our altar that contains the remnants of our dead and light a candle. Speak a word or two to the departed. Then leave our offerings and ask for health and wealth and that they keep us close to their hearts as we keep them close to ours.
This is the meaning of All Hallows that is underlying the masks and candies that are so prevalent in today's society. Perhaps at this time, you will all join me in paying homage to our dead and leave a bit of something as a gift to their continued watchfulness over us. Let your children know that death is but a doorway and remembering those that have gone before is the one of the greatest examples of love. For even though someone is dead, it doesn't mean they are gone if we keep them in our thoughts.
The dead are coming.
Give them your time and they will give you theirs.
The dead are coming.
Welcome them into your heart and home. As they had always welcomed you.
The dead are coming. The dead are coming. The dead, are coming.
Happy All Halllows
This is the meaning of All Hallows that is underlying the masks and candies that are so prevalent in today's society. Perhaps at this time, you will all join me in paying homage to our dead and leave a bit of something as a gift to their continued watchfulness over us. Let your children know that death is but a doorway and remembering those that have gone before is the one of the greatest examples of love. For even though someone is dead, it doesn't mean they are gone if we keep them in our thoughts.
The dead are coming.
Give them your time and they will give you theirs.
The dead are coming.
Welcome them into your heart and home. As they had always welcomed you.
The dead are coming. The dead are coming. The dead, are coming.
Happy All Halllows
Friday, September 27, 2013
Halloween Seances!
Just a quick note to let you know that we have scheduled several seances for Halloween!
Here's the blurb -
Perfect couples night out! Only $30 per person!
You will be treated to an evening of paranormal activity as we contact the spirits near the old building that houses the Arcanus Reading Parlor! There will be contact made to the other side!
Seating for this event is extremely limited to about SIX participants, so order and confirm your spot(s) as soon as you can as these events typically sell out very fast!
Visit the website here to get your seats:
http://www.arcanusmagickus.com/Seance.html
Here's the blurb -
Arcanus will be presenting two seances for the
Halloween holiday! Come join us as we conjure the
Spirits of Arcanus!
October 29th & 30th @ 7:30 PM to about 9:30 PM
This is an outstanding evening of paranormal entertainment!!October 29th & 30th @ 7:30 PM to about 9:30 PM
Perfect couples night out! Only $30 per person!
You will be treated to an evening of paranormal activity as we contact the spirits near the old building that houses the Arcanus Reading Parlor! There will be contact made to the other side!
Seating for this event is extremely limited to about SIX participants, so order and confirm your spot(s) as soon as you can as these events typically sell out very fast!
Visit the website here to get your seats:
http://www.arcanusmagickus.com/Seance.html
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Animal Energies
We teach many things at our Victorian Tarot Parlor in Longmont, Arcanus. Folk magick and shamanism are a couple of favorites. Below we look at the spirits of nature that can help us on our journey.
Animal spirits can be called
upon to empower or teach the practitioner. The thousands of years of shamanic practice
have proven the efficacy of this tradition. By getting in tune with the spirit
of say the Crocodile, the practitioner can develop new wisdom among many other things
attributed to the Crocodile teacher. The familiar is part of this secret
teaching wisdom. They can use their animal powers to enhance spells and help to
secure knowledge for the practitioner.
This is
a body of knowledge that can take years or even a lifetime to study. For our purposes,
knowing the ways of the animal and how to call can be enough. Journeying with a
totem can open up whole new vistas of information. For a list of animal symbolism, do a Google search, or check out one of the many books on the subject at your local bookstore.
Following is a technique
that the practitioner can use to facilitate this communication -
Exercise – In a quiet and safe location, perform the sphere
exercise found in other articles of this blog to focus and empower you.
Once ready, smudge your person and the area with sage. This will cleanse the
area and your own energies of confusing remnants of impressions left over from
your day or previous workings. Settle yourself into a comfortable position.
Close your eyes and take a deep breath to prepare for the journey. As is
typical of this sort of journeying, you will visualize a natural hole in the
ground or tree and allow yourself to follow it down into the other realms.
I
generally find a cave to be the most efficacious for me, but what pleases you
will be of your own choosing. Once you find yourself descended into the other
realm, put the desire into the ether that you wish to meet your personal totem.
After a short while, you should encounter the animal that is most prevalent to
you. Allow impressions to materialize and make note of any communication that
you receive. When you are ready to return, take a deep breath and visualize
yourself traveling back up through the tunnel until you reach your level of
awareness. Take another deep breath to focus and end the session.
You may want
to eat something to help ground yourself in this plane.
I hope you find this article of some assistance on your own journey into nature and the powers that reside there.
Until next time............
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