Random Words of a Rambling Witch

wisdom tooth removal surgery

2008-04-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

For the last week or so, I've been panicking about my surgery to remove all four wisdom teeth. It happened yesterday, and I realized my worries were totally unfounded. What little pain I have is alleviated by the Vicodin, and I have slept deeper and longer than I have in a while. Consequently, my body is nice and well rested, and my boyfriend is coming over later to baby me. Not a bad turnout if you ask me.

A really inspiring and educational video on paganism!

2008-03-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

a random idea

2008-03-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

You know how they make sun tea by putting pitchers of water and teabags out in the sun to steep, right? Well, I've decided to try that with a bottle of water with a few green tea bags in it. If it works, I'll move on to trying it with some of my herbs!!

more Sevvie Snape lurve

2008-03-24T17:45:00.001-07:00

A spell-ish ritual-ish thing...

2008-03-23T14:47:00.000-07:00

Last night, I was feeling a little stressed and down (and I remembered that the day before was Ostara and I had totally forgotten to celebrate), so I invented a little ritual thing on the spot, and it really worked wonders. I'll outline it here. I highly recommend it!

I set up a simple altar by putting my altar cloth over a large book and placed a quartz crystal and a seashell on it. Behind the altar, I put a sturdy box, and on the box I placed a pink jar candle and a glass of green tea with a dash of fruit juice. I changed into my purple ritual dress, lit the candle, and cast a simple circle with the crystal. I then knelt before my altar and wished the Goddess and God happy Ostara (I figured that they'd forgive me for being a little late, lol). Then, I got up and put on some Celtic/sorta Pagan-y music and danced wildly in the candlelight (being careful not to knock over my flame, of course). I danced until I could barely walk, let alone dance, and I raised so much energy that way that I could almost feel the air crackling. Then I knelt before the altar again and held the glass of juice as close to the flame as was safe. I envisioned all the energy I raised being channeled into the juice as I asked the Goddess and God to bestow on me self-confidence and the courage to be me in the face of the opinions of others. After I was done with this prayer, I drank the juice, invisioning that I was drinking everything I had just asked for into myself. I danced a little more, and then I sent this energy out into the world, telling the Goddess and God to use it to help someone in need. Then, I snuffed my candle and opened my circle, feeling absolutely wonderful. That wonderful feeling has carried over to today, and I think it will last for a while. :)

I highly recommend this!!

i trust severus snape

2008-03-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

Spread the word!!

a spell to bless a new pentacle necklace

2008-02-18T10:56:00.000-08:00

I wrote this, so feel free to use it, but please don't steal this and claim you wrote it yourself! kthxbai

Blessing a New Pentacle Necklace

~*~

Take your new pentacle neclace with you on a walk in the nearest forest that contains a stream, brook, or other small waterway. Walk for a while silently observing every little thing in the forest. If you find something interesting, stop and observe further. Take your time and relax. Just concentrate on what is around you, and don't think about your outside life. When you feel like you are finished, find a comfortable place to sit on the bank of the waterway. Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Begin to meditate on the Goddess and God and all the ways they affect you. Expand your meditation to the elements and how they are present, both literally and symbolically, in your life. When you are finished, dangle the pentacle in the stream and chant:

"Symbol of Goddess and God,
Icon of the elements,
Guide me and remind me
Of their presence in my life."

Chant this until you feel like you're done. Then take the pentacle out of the water and fasten it around your neck. Dip your finger in the water and trace an equal-armed cross on your forehead with it. Finish up with a whispered "Blessed be."

How To Be Taken Seriously

2008-02-18T10:44:00.000-08:00

Reading Wiccan writings penned by other teenagers, I’ve made an observation—teen Wiccans are paranoid of adults of their path not taking them seriously as real Wiccans. After thinking for a while about this, I’ve come to a bit of a conclusion.

In my humble opinion as a fellow teenager, I think that most adults see our MTV culture and flock-of-sheep mentality and say, “Nah, they couldn’t make serious Pagans. They’re way too superficial! How can a person whose life is focused on celebrities, overpriced makeup, gossip, and what everybody else thinks about them really have the depth of soul to love the Goddess and God and really connect to the Earth in Wicca?”

If you think about it, when American teens are viewed as a group, the adults might just have a right to think this way about us. Can we really blame them? It seems like everywhere I look around, there is a montage of sheep, teenage sheep with their designer handbags (honestly, who in their right mind would spend thousands on a purse?), super-trendy little cell phones, and the latest piece of clothing that everybody’s wearing. Look around your school and listen in on your classmates’ conversations. Are they talking about the interesting new piece of literature they just read or how they helped save the planet? No! More often than not, they are jabbering about their new cell phone or which member of the opposite sex is the cutest. Now, I’m not talking about teens on an individual level, but even the most generous of perceptions is going to take in this selfish superficiality in which our culture is embroiled.

Okay, now that the problem is outlined, how does one go about solving it? My challenge to you, my magickal teen chums, is to rise above. You know those television ads that say rise above the influence of drugs and alcohol, right? Well, picture my message as pretty much the same thing only concerning the whole plastic, mainstream teen culture. I’m not saying it will be easy. It won’t be easy in the least. You’ll have to deal with peer pressure, being ostracized by the “popular” people, and basically the entire force of the media telling you what kind of person to be. I learned how to be different the hard way.

A few years ago, I tried to fit into several different social groups, from Goth to prep. I adjusted my whole life to fit each new circle of friends that I tried to be a part of, but each time, I ended up feeling empty and like a big fat phony. And yet, I pressed on, trying label after label just because I wanted to belong. Finally, I got sick of this. This is really no way to live a healthy life. My schoolwork was suffering, and my emotional state was a total wreck. I did some real soul-searching and finally became secure enough with myself that I didn’t need the validation of others to feel secure, and, believe me, that took a whole lot of time. I meditated, went to a therapist, and above all, read. A book that really helped me out in this regard was Marina Baker's Teenage Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Life, Love and Caring for the Planet. In the end, my mental journey was infinitely rewarding. I realized that categories are for file cabinets, not for people, and I could finally live my life the way I wanted to instead of how I was told to.

Nowadays, I'm not your typical teenage girl, and I happen to be quite proud about it. I wear what I want. If I feel like wearing jeans and a t-shirt every day of the week, I go for it. If I feel like spicing it up and wearing a long, swishy skirt one day, I do. I carry my lucky stuffed otter around school on days when I have a math test. I never go on Myspace and only use my Facebook account to connect with friends who have moved far away. I hate all reality shows, especially American Idol, and I think MTV is a complete waste of time. My cell phone does not have a camera, Internet, or any other unnecessary money-waster. I cannot stand text messaging, and I am always extremely under my minutes on my phone bill every month. My two best friends live in Amsterdam and Jakarta. I have a strawberry plant called George who I talk to every day. I am an eclectic solitary Wiccan and sport my pentacle, Stonehenge charm, and/or crystal with pride. I have no shame in admitting that I play Dungeons and Dragons. My half-elf bard is truly amazing—the balance of good and evil in the whole world depends upon me (in our campaign at least). I have no desire to be popular or hang out with the “coolest” girls, chatting about makeup, which boy band is cuter, or whatever they giggle about while painting their toenails. Instead, I hang out with a bunch of guys, watching movies, goofing off, and going to Waffle House every single weekend, or I just hang out with myself, meditating on a rock in the middle of a creek. If I feel like someone’s treating me or anyone I care about unfairly, you bet I am going to speak up, no matter how embarrassing or against the status quo it may be.

It's challenging at times, and sometimes I'm just so tempted by how easy it would be to don an Abercrombie and Fitch shirt and re-join the masses, but then I realize that I would be giving up my very soul. I challenge every other teenager out there to be different and challenge these social "rules" we find ourselves feeling obligated to adhere to. Don't fit it. Maybe then, once we cut ourselves off from the negative images projected onto mainstream teenagers, adult Wiccans will start to take us seriously.