Yule Blessings......

As I sit on this Yule evening staying up late as I cook and waiting for this stomach bug I have to go away. I  just wanted to drop a quick and short blog to wish everyone the best of everything this holiday season and the up coming New Year. Blessed Be.....................

Our Yule Tree

Happy Holidays from me and my family to yours............

Spirits: Friend or Foe

So this subject goes back to my childhood experiences. When I was little I suffered from extreme night terrors. It would be so bad that my mother would have to wake me up because I would be crying out loud and screaming. We were a very poor family so I shared a room with my parents so my mom had to watch over me continuously.
As time went by I finally got my own room and the night terrors stopped. Well I think. It went from night terrors to seeing an individual in my home. It was a lady dressed in a long white dress with lace around the arms  and a white silk ribbon tied around her waist. She is very thin, long black hair, white skin and it looked as if she had black holes for eyes.
I never felt that she wanted to hurt me or even frighten me but of course I was only a kid so yes she did scare the hell out of me. I would see her in mirrors during the day and at night she was always walking around our apartment and even would sit next to me in my bed. I would be so scared I would cover my head with the covers and wait till morning so I could run to the restroom.
After dealing with this and the night terrors for 10 years we finally moved and both stopped. So I just figured it must have been that particular place. And all had been well till the other day.
When all that happened it was 25 years ago. Recently my home has been amok with all kinds of emotions. Between my teen going through growing pains, my 4 year old thinking shes an adult and talking back along with bad behavior and my 23 year old son having housing issues and needing to move back in and me having domestic problems with my boyfriend who is now actually my ex-boyfriend but still needing to be in the house so he can help out a little with bills and save up for his own place there is a lot of bad emotions going on.
We all felt this so I smudged the home which helped for a little bit. Then I kept seeing little shadows here and there and so did a few others in the home. Again I cleansed the home and that disappeared. And with the separation between me and my mate I have been feeling a lot of anger not hurt. So hence I saw her once again!
But what makes this different is she was not coming to me but going to my teen daughters room! Like I said she doesn't feel as if she's a menacing spirit (or emotion whatever she is) but it freaked me out. I thought I was just seeing things looked in my daughters room and saw nothing. So I ignored it until my son came to me and told me he saw a woman sitting next to my daughter in her bed as she slept. I asked him to describe what he saw and there you go it was her. He described her exactly as I have always seen her. Being that I have never told my kids about her this was a shock. Finally my daughter and even her best friend had seen her walking in and out of the bathroom and they too described her the same way as I always have seen her.
After sitting and thinking about what was going on in the home I remembered that when I was growing up there were a lot of domestic issues between my parents and between my mom and my older sisters. And I was feeling the same way now as I did then. I think the lady in white is a part of me. A part of my emotional distress and she shows up. Now why she shows and how she helps I have yet to figure that out. But after relaxing, calming down, going out with friends for some laughter and coming to terms with the changes going on, she has disappeared once again.
I went ahead and cleansed the home again and everyone in it and things seem to be normal. But if anyone has any idea what this may be please enlighten me I would love to know.

Farewell to Samhain....

Oh this Samhain was a fun, busy and event filled sabbat.
Friday October 28th was Halloween movie night with my little one and my bff. We got the older kiddos ready with their costumes cause they were headed out for a Halloween party. My oldest daughter was an 80's rocker chick, her best friend was a circus ring leader and my foster son was The Crow.

Saturday October 29th was all for the little one. First we went to Zoo Boo which is an event at our local zoo here where kiddos in costume get in free and they have live bands, treats and games going on and of course you get to see the animals. From there we headed across the street to Old Town which was having a Fall Fest  with a ton of things to do for the little ones. My baby girl had a blast.

Sunday October 30th was a day to make pecan pie, sugar skulls, candy apples, popcorn balls, candied pumpkin and a some family pumpkin carving fun.

Of course on Samhain was trick or treating for the kids, made some witches brew for them to drink when they got in from the cold and did my personal ritual late that night.

November 1st we cleaned and rested up but on the 2nd we celebrated Dia de los Muertos. Day of the Dead. We had a silent super here at home but we also grabbed some food and headed out to the graveyard and had a little picnic with my aunts, brother and grandparents. Gave them some roses, candles, sugar skulls and some of their favorite food. We left when it got just too cold to bare and said our goodbyes.

Now to wait till next year. In the meantime I have a sweet 16 birthday party to plan and start getting ready for Thanksgiving and Yule. Whew, what a busy time. Hope everyone out there had an awesome holiday as well.

Love and Light.......

Blessed Samhain...

I'm so busy and caught up in the holiday/sabbat that I have nothing really to type. Well I have a ton of stuff but way too tired. Saving my energy for tonight's festivities. Just wanted to drop a quick line and wish everyone a Blessed Samhain, Happy Halloween and wishes for a good Dia de los Muertos.
Love and Light...........

Isis, Oh my Goddess.

So my whole life I always have heard Christians talking about how God/Jesus talked to them or showed them something.
Well I have the same thing except with my Goddess. This morning for some reason Isis kept calling to me. I figured it was because I honor her on Wednesday's and it was time to do my offerings but it was very early like around 6am. So I got up and did my norm for my morning dedication and such and right there in front of me was something she wanted to show me.
Lately I have had a gut feeling that my fiance' has not been happy and I have had the feeling that he has been up to something. Well early this morning he had to run an errand and forgot his cell phone on my Egyptian shrine. And there was a few messages from this woman he has been chatting with and trying to hook up with. Sadly it's someone I know and she's married with kids! Very sad as women I would think we should stick together and not betray another sister especially in the craft. But not the case. So sadly this will all come to surface and my 4 year relationship will end.
But so strange the Goddess nagged me to wake up while he was gone so she could show me this betrayal. I'm sad and hurt yes but feel loved that my Goddess is watching out for me.
So let's honor our patron Goddess for she keeps an eye out for all her children.
Hail Isis!!!
Love and Light....

Familiars

Okay so this is a blog about my former familiar Little Bit.
I got her as a gift 13 years ago from a former boyfriend. She was so ugly that it made her cute. Her body was brown, tail was striped, under her belly and neck was white, and her head was black and bigger then the rest of her body. Hence the name Little Bit cause she was a little bit of everything as far as coloring. Later on she kept the white but the rest of her turned all black. Oh how I loved this cat.

I use to dance in my room and she would be under my feet dancing along with me. We use to play tag where I would tell her "I'm gonna get you!", and she would run and I would run after her. Then we would stop I would turn around and she would chase me. This cat was my shadow. Everywhere I went (even the bathroom) she would follow. Even in the van to pick up the kiddos she would accompany me.

Sadly this past April I lost her to a kidney infection and I have missed her so. Her death has affected me more then I could imagine. I lost pets in the past and has a kid but nothing has felt like this. I'm a lost witch without her. So what does a witch do without her familiar????? Can anyone help me cope with this loss??? My husband and kids got me a kitten about a month later and I just don't have the same bond or really want the bond with this new kitty. He is not my familiar I can feel it. He's a cute kitten but not for me. I miss my Little Bit and feel so sad without her. I think I'm taking it too hard or am I? I just want her back but I know that is not an option.

I guess I just wanted to vent a bit about this cause it's been on my mind for some time now. But if anyone reads this can you give me suggestions. My magic, my spirit, my personality, my life is just not the same since her death.

In Loving Memory of My Familiar..................................xoxoxoxoxoxox

Little Bit Montoya R.I.P

July 1997-April 2011

Candied Pumpkin

Being that we are headed to the Fall season I just wanted to share one of my favorite things to make. I normally make it for Samhain/Dia de los Muertos treat. Hope you try it out and like it.

Calabaza En Tacha- Candied Pumpkin Cook Time: 2 hours,

Ingredients:

    * 5 lb pumpkin (approx.)

    * 4 cinnamon sticks

    * zest of one orange

    * juice of orange

    * 2-4 parts piloncillo

    * 4 cups of water

Preparation:

Cut off the stem off of the pumpkin. Cut the pumpkin in half and scrape out the seeds and stringy parts. Cut each piece in half lengthwise again and again until you have 8-10 long pieces of pumpkin. Cut the skin off of each piece and then cut the flesh into approximately 1 to 2-inch pieces. Place into a large saucepan and bring piloncillo, orange juice, orange zest, cinnamon sticks and water to a boil. Carefully add in pumpkin pieces and reduce to a simmer. Simmer for approximately 2 hours or until pumpkin is fork tender and the rest of the ingredients have reduced to a thick glaze. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature before serving.

OPTIONS-

    * If you don't have piloncillo, substitute 1 3/4 cup dark brown sugar and 1/4 cup          molasses. (note when using molasses the flavor is more tart than sweet)

    * You may leave the skin on the pumpkin. 

Pagan 10 Commandments

1. There is more than one God and Goddess....do not honor one above another, and respect each individual's right to honor the God or Goddesses of their choice. 2. All things are created equal, and each thing is created in an image of the All. 3. Do no speak ill of the Gods, for each thing that happens happens for a purpose or reason that we may not yet be privy to. 4.  Keep your holy days sacred. Whichever of the holy days you chose to observe, follow them in your own way and preserve their memory for your children. 5. Honor our elders for they hold much knowledge. Follow the instructions of your parents and bring honor to their household. Insist that your children do the same. 6. Honor Nature and the spirit of the Earth; do not destroy any of the God or Goddesses creations without just cause. 7. Regard sexuality as sacred and do not defile it with abusive acts, or use it as an excuse to degrade others. 8. Do not set yourself up higher than anyone else, nor take tangible items from another, nor steal their thoughts and present them as your own. 9. Do not speak falsely of others; neither gossip nor lie. 10. Do not covet what others have; rather, treat your belongings with respect and care.

	Published ( 2004 ) Earth Beleifs.

Blessed Lammas

Merry Meet!
How are you spending this Sabbat?
For my family and I not too much I already harvested herbs and veggies from our back yard. And I have never been much of a bread maker but I do have a recipe from Paula Deen called "Monkey Bread" which is so incredibly easy to make its just ridiculous. So with the monkey bread, and salad from our veggies and herbs along with some sage in my little fire pit that will consist of my celebration/ritual today. So whatever you may be doing I hope its a blessed one for you. I'm adding a little wikipedia knowledge link below for anyone who is curious on Lammas.

Love and Light )o(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lammas

Finally.......

So for the first time ever I actually got paid for my witchy services today.
I've been practicing my craft for so long and have kept in on a low key that not many people know what I do or ask for anything. Once in a while they ask about an herb or good luck charm and such. And of course my teen's young friends always needing or wanting a spell.
I'm very careful of what I put out there and most of the time I will provide the materials, spell/wording, and guidance but never do the spell myself for anyone.
My family and close friends always ask for cleansing and or house blessings which I do all the time for free because of course I love them and don't charge family.
But the other day I got an email from a former co-worker needing some help.  She has been overwhelmed with bad luck lately and has been on edge. So I gathered up some stuff for her, provided some spell-work, house cleaning and blessing and cleansed her and her family. On my way out she handed me money, I told her no need but she insisted. I felt "wow" I have never been paid.
I love helping people but it does feel good when people know they where provided with a service that was good and want to pay for that service.
Yeah I know I might sound retarded right now but that was just a neat feeling after 10+ years of practicing.
Okay I just wanted to tell everyone and let out my excited feelings. Hope everyone has a blessed day.

Love and Light )0(

Pagan Creation Story

Okay here's our version maybe this way some people will stop asking me or maybe it will enlighten some, sheesh...........for everyone else please enjoy. 

Love and Light 

In the beginning, before people, before the creation of the Earth, there was the All. The All existed in knowing, stillness, silence and darkness. From this place of nothingness, the All drew upon itself and the Goddess exploded into being in an eruption of glittering silver light. Her essence is the totality of perfect love and perfect trust. In Her heart she held the spirit of the Divine, and there was no part of Her that was not of the Divine.

    Delighted, the Goddess began the Great Work. She danced among the heavens, Her bare feet beating out the rhythm of all creation. From this rhythm were created the stars and planets and She bid them to dance with Her. As they began to move, so the cycle of the year was born, and the divine symphony of the Universe came into form.

 

From Her pure, silver light came the colours of the Universe, giving all things vibrant beauty. From the bubbling laughter in Her throat come the sounds of the clear running water of the streams, the gentle lapping of the lakes and the roaring of the oceans. The essence of the Goddess is the Moon and the cycles of life, as all women have a cycle which is the bringer of life. She is the mountains and the oceans and the stars in the sky.

    When her dancing slowed, the Lady sought a companion to share the wonders of the Universe. As the All,  She created the God as Her soul mate and equal and brought Him into being with an explosion of dazzling golden light.

    Even though there were now two spirits, They were still one – They were two halves of the Whole. This Spirit watched with pride as life came into being on Earth, gradually becoming more complex and intelligent and eventually witnessing the evolution of humans. To each being our Lady gave a unique vibration with which to communicate and the Lord bestowed upon each one passion and the burning instinct to survive.

    As a gift for His magnificent handiwork and caring for the creatures of Earth, the Lady gave the Lord a crown of stag antlers, which He wears upon His great head. This appearance of half man, half animal would forever show His joy in both the human and animal creations of Spirit. The essence of the God is the Sun and the green, growing things - forests and fields, all things that grow under the Sun.
 

Much later after the creation of the Universe, when humans began to prosper, they forgot about their divine parents. Although the God and Goddess called to Their children, they did not hear. They were lost, fighting the demons they themselves had created. Not wishing to abandon Their children, the Lord and Lady made the decision to create healers and workers of harmony among the humans to remind them of the Divine source. Within each special soul would be the remembrance of the Great Work: love, creation and movement in harmony. So the Lord and Lady drew forth energy from the Realm of Angels and the Realm of Power Animals to make the essence of Their healers. Into the Realm of Humans They instilled these special souls to convey the divinity of Spirit. These beings of power were called Witches.

    The Goddess taught the Witches the wisdom of the Universe. They were instructed how to cast the Circle and how to communicate with Spirit, because the humans of Earth had forgotten. In each soul She implanted the ability to work Magick. The God taught the Witches how to connect with the elements and spirits of Air, Fire, Earth and Water and to commune with the animal and plant kingdoms.

    At first, the humans accepted the Witches and treated them fairly. But, because the Witches were different, the other humans began to fear the Wise Ones of the God and Goddess. And so the Witches became the Hidden Children, conducting their rites of positive energy in secret, so as not to risk capture and then punishment at the hands of their fearful brothers and sisters.

We are the Witches, the demonstration of the wisdom of the Lord and Lady. We are the power and we are the change - we are embodied in every race and every culture. Once a month, when the Moon is Full, the Witches celebrate the blessings the Goddess has bestowed upon us. Four times a year, as the Sun cycles through the seasons, we celebrate the Fire Festivals and honour the Lord and His love for us. At the four midpoints of the seasons the Witches honour the cycle of life and the gifts of the Earth. When thunder roars and lightning cracks, the Lord and Lady dance the divine steps of the Universal symphony so that we may remember them and know that we are never alone.