Thursday 25 April 2013

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

Sunday 21 April 2013

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 18th 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 15th April – 12th May
Color- Bright Colors
Animals- Hare, cat, hawk
Planet: The Moon
Gemstone: Moonstone
Flower: Primrose
Diety: Morgan le Fay, The Morrigan , Cailleach

Tuesday 16 April 2013

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: