Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Wicca 101: Basics to Elements

Merry meet, guys! I haven't been writing about my Wiccan journey because I have no idea what to write about. As if the deities have heard about my writing block, a follower on the social networking site, Twitter, had noticed a recent post about me finding my element. They had a lot of questions, which is quite normal to ask, and I'm here to break it down not only for them, but for you.

I thought my zodiac sign determined my element.
Actually, it can, but it doesn't. Here's what I mean by that: there are 2 different aspects to elements. The zodiac element doesn't refer to your physical capabilities with element, but they determine your personality. A water sign would be completely in touch with their emotions and more empathic, more-so the emotions behind an idea. One who is in touch with earth would be grounded in what they do and think more in depth. They are the one that holds everything together. Air, my element belongs to me because I analyze everything. I am a natural-born leader, and I'm usually the brains behind the idea. I'm also very creative. Fire is the passion behind the idea. I'm not saying this to embarrass anyone, but they can be pretty sexual.

What is my element?
Your element is one of the easiest things to figure out in Wicca. I promise you, all you have to do is pay attention. I didn't do this until I began researching elements. When the wind blows, I can feel my heart flutter, and I just want to scream and throw my hands in the air. I feel so liberated and loved. It feels like I'm one with the wind. That's why my physical element is air.

But Astrology....
Yes, I get it. Astrological elements may be a guideline for you. I'm a Virgo, but notice how I connect with air on both tiers of elements. You don't have to be what your astrological sign is. Everyone is different. Just pay attention. You'll know.

I hope this helps everyone. There is only so much that I can do. If you want to follow me on Twitter I am @Faerie_of_Dawn. I also am giving you a heads-up. I may be changing my name because I found out my element is air, and my spirit animal is a wolf. I have my first name narrowed down to Camdyn or Aura. As usual, this is considered normal in Wicca.

Much love and positive energies,
Dawn )O(

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Current Reads

Hey guys! I apologize for not blogging at all/rarely last month, but I have had a lot of things going on with me. I am aware that I have been having panic attacks, and it is suspected to be stemming from an anxiety disorder, so please send a little healing energy my way.

Today, I wanted to share my love of books. This is pretty different from what I usually do, but I have found this excellent book that I have picked up. I'm about halfway done with it, and I got it about 3 days ago. It's a fairly light read, and it's packed with information on Wicca. It is titled Exploring Wicca by Lady Sabrina. It is the updated edition, and I absolutely adore this book.

This book is beyond perfect for a person who has just started classified themselves as Wiccan. It goes over all of the basic things that one would be expected to know after the first and second years of being in this religion. It goes over a history of Wicca, the different traditions of Wicca (some of which I had never heard of until now), and many, many concepts.

It explains the different types of gods such as Sun Gods, The Horned Gods, and The Harvest Gods. It gives a brief history of them and some examples from the Norse, Greek, Roman, and Celtic pantheon. It does the same with the Goddesses (Moon Goddesses, The Triple Goddess), and it actually helped me find which God and Goddess I can consider my patron deities. (In case you do not follow me on Twitter, I have recently changed from the 

This book also has a detailed description of the elements, and what they represent. This book, in a way, help me find that my element is actually air. I believed it was fire or water, but given the meaning in the book, I can clearly see that I am of the element air (natural leader, and the intelligence behind the event). They list herbs, the archangels, the stones, the colors, and so much more representing these elements. They also explain how certain herbs can promote certain actions, and I thought that was really neat.

I flipped through the book, and this tells you about alter setups, the history and meaning behind the Sabbats, how to go about casting a circle and magickal spells, and it even has a glossary. You can look up specific terms, and that may be helpful for starters in Wicca.

I give this book a 5 star rating. The only that caught my attention and bugged me is that I saw a couple of love spells in the book. As much as love spells are popular, I have no problem with them... IF THEY DO NOT TARGET A SINGLE PERSON. I don't believe in manipulating one's free will, but... I'll be perfectly honest, I have done a spell having to do with love. It was not aimed at a specific person, but it was more-so a "let me find love, and let me experience it with whoever the universe feels like pairing me up with" spell. The book does have a spell that does say [insert name here] in one love spell, and I didn't care for that. (Once again, I was just scanning ahead and found that.) 

Other than that, the book does contain spells that I can actually conduct with what I have on my hidden alter: a pink candle, a green candle, incense....

I can't say it enough, I love this book. I want you guys to check it out and tell me what you guys think of it. I also have to wait for the library to get the other books I have on reserve. One is a Scott Cunningham book, and another one is a huuuge book on Wicca and Witchcraft. I'll let you guys know about those ones too and what I thought of them.

Brightest blessings and much love,
Dawn )O(

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Wicca 101: Imbolic

Here is my 2nd blog of the night.... so, here it goes.

Tonight, I also want to talk about Imbolic.  It is the 3rd Sabbat, or Pagan Holiday, in the Pagan calendar (First Samhain, then Yule).  Imbolic occurs around Groundhog's Day in the North America (February 1st-3rd). 

Imbolic is a time of warmth and love.  I guess you could say that Imbolic can be considered a "Wiccan Valentine's Day" due to what it is about.  It also is about passion, and anyone knows that anything that has passion has a fire to it.  That's exactly what it is: Worship of the fire deities.  The most popular one is Brigid, the Celtic Goddess of fire.  However, there are a lot more.  On Imbolic, I will be worshiping Hestia, the Greek Goddess of fire.  She is also the Goddess of one of my elements.  

I have also known Imbolic to help others with divination.  It is a good way to enhance your spiritual energies.  Because of this, I would say that tarot reading, any fortune-telling activities, meditating, and other things to that nature is beneficial.  

Some ways to celebrate this holiday is to either work with divination, bake and cook (seeing as though you bake and cook with a fire), or going to a bonfire.  

I rarely talk about stones and gems, but amythist can help with one's spiritual energies and divination.  Rose quartz also helps with being calm and attracting romance, and I would probably recommend it to you guys.  

This Imbolic is special to me.  Since I am not quite out of the broom closet, I am going to a Church event.  On the day of Imbolic, they decided to have a "fireside chat."  That means it will be more like a bonfire situation.  They have no idea that they are celebrating Imbolic, and it's phenomenal.  I can also practice with fire scrying.  It is one of my favorite types of divination, and my friends enjoy scrying with me, too.  I will also wear my gem bracelet.  It has amythist and rose quartz in the mix, and it'll help better my mood.

Wishing you all a blessed Imbolic,
Dawn )O(

Incorporating Spirituality Into Wicca

Hello, again! I feel like I haven't written a thing since I had a sinus infection.  I've also been having a tough time bouncing back emotional-wise, but I seem to be better now.

Today, I decided to talk to you guys about spirituality, and how some things I have experienced within it have been incorporated into my Path.  This is going to be interesting when I explain some of the beliefs I follow.  Some stem from other Pagan religions, such as Buddhism, some have been pulled from Wicca, of course.... And I even found that even a Wiccan can follow some teachings from the contradictory religion, Christianity and it's Holy Book, the Bible.  This is what I believe makes me eclectic: Taking bits and pieces from other religions and placing some of them into my life and Wicca.

I believe in karma, which is different from the Threefold Path.  Karma says that whatever you do will affect you for better or worse.  The Threefold Path states that the energy you give something (positive, negative, passionate, anger) will return to you in Threefold.  That is the difference, and it's a rookie mistake. Anyways, I absolutely believe in the law of Karma.  I also love to meditate, which is usually a part of Wicca anyways, but it is also Buddhist.  It really does calm me down, but I also am creative with these meditation sessions.  I have tried meditative painting before, or painting in general.  It helps me talk to the God and Goddess.  It also pleases Apollo because he is a God of the Arts.  I love doing yoga, but haven't done it in quite a while.  I like to believe that it is a physiological meditation.  I am attempting to work with chakras, but I have no idea where to start.  (I will research this later.)

I am Native American, therefore Paganism is in my blood.  My great-grandmother believed in nothing but herbal remedies and believed in having a totem animal.  I am not sure what our totem animal was, but I think it may have been a wolf.  Regardless, I believe in the same thing.  I feel more connected to felines, particularly black domestic cats.  I also am looking into certain herbs and what they may help with.  I have come across a video that has informed me on how to treat illnesses, which will come in handy.

Now, for the most controversial part that I have been DYING to get to: the Bible.  You're probably like, "Dawn, how do you live by the Bible when it speaks against Paganism?"  I follow certain verses that I would like to share with you. Let me type them.

John 15: 12-13
This is my command, that you love one another, so that I have loved you. Greater love has no man than the one that lays down his life for his friends.

Romans 12:15-21 (Modified for Wicca)
Rejoice with those who are rejoicing, and cry with those who cry.  Have the same concern for everyone.  Don't be full of pride, but accept humble duties.... If someone has done you wrong don't repay them with a wrong. Try to do what is considered to be good.  Do everything that is possible on your part to live at peace with everybody.  Never take revenge (for that is the God and Goddess's part).  If your enemies are hunger, let them eat.  If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.  This will make them filled with shame.  (Do not let negative energies take over you.  Instead, let positive energies flow from your heart.)

1 Corinthians 13:13
These 3 things remain: hope, faith, and love.  The greatest of these is love.

These are just a few of the verses that I apply to my faith.  Just read these and think... Most of these involve love, right? And I quote the Wiccan Rede:

Abide by the Wiccan Rede, ye must
In perfect love and perfect trust...

See the connection? That's something that Wicca and Christianity have in common.  There's a lot of common aspects between these 2, but in general, no one really knows it. (I'll save this for yet another post.)

This is why I'm Eclectic.  I believe in all of these things and apply them to Wicca.  

Many blessings and have a great esbat,
Dawn )O(

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Wicca 101: Appreciating Nature

Hello, again! I haven't blogged in forever, or at least, that's what it feels like.  Today, I want others to take a breather and think about what you've been doing with nature, and how exactly you treat it.  

Pause for a second.  When you are a Pagan, especially Wiccan, you notice that you don't go to a certain building for a worship session.  Nature is your temple.  You go out there and you admire its beauty. To be perfectly honest, that is why I go to camp, regardless of its religious teachings.  There are so many subtle ways to go into nature and bond with it.  I believe that's why I connect with the element earth a lot.

First of all, when you search for a wood to make a wand, don't you ever snatch a branch off on the tree.  Look and see if there is a detached branch. Trust me... I learned the hard way. Another thing you can do is that if the tree shades you from the sun, give it an offering, like water.  I remember doing it to this magnificent pine tree and I felt as though the tree actually said thanks. 

Meditation in the afternoon is calming, and you can focus on the beauty of nature.  You don't do it by using your vision, but by touch and listening. It is amazing.  I've done it for 5 days, 15 minutes each day.  You don't even have to close your eyes.  Just sit and write or draw.  It's amazing.  

You don't have to be in the sunshine in order to appreciate nature.  Sometimes, I like to sit out in the rain, or just watch it.

Either way, these things and more can be taken into consideration. 

Just a little thought and lesson for you. 

Dawn )O(

Friday, January 11, 2013

I Seriously Had To...

Hello, it's me again. Today, I'd like to talk about what happened today, and how I felt afterward.

A friend of mine (let's call her Staci) had talked to me in depth about what she believes in.  She says that she has had some paranormal experiences and obsessed with spirits and psychic powers and such.  She unknowingly brought up divination, specifically tarot.  I was so happy, and asked if she wanted to see them.  We could also do a reading in the library, seeing as though there is a book about that in detail. She was pleased with that.

Something clicked inside of me, and I literally began shaking.  It was uncontrollable, and it felt like I wasn't really the one in charge.  I think the Goddess took hold of me and was trying to say that Staci is going to be important in my life and to stick with her.  The last time my right hand began shaking, it was when I picked out Apollo, and the God I've worshiped for about a year.  So, in a nutshell, my deities are telling me something about Staci and her beliefs.  

Just wanted to share that with you guys. I may come at you with another Wicca 101 blog today, so you guys get a treat, hopefully.

Many Blessings, 
Dawn )O(

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Huge Steps

Hello, again, guys! I'm Dawn, and today, I'd like to share with you what actually happened yesterday.  I talked about it briefly on Twitter, and seeing as there's only about 140 characters, I couldn't explain on what I was saying and what had fully happened, so I'd thought I blog about it.

Yesterday, I had met not only another Pagan, but I had met a Wiccan.  It started when we were talking about religion, and he claimed he was a witch.  He prefers the title to be called "Mage," so I asked him if he meant real life or Skyrim (because that was quite a bizzare statement).  He said both.  

At this point, I was really interested in the conversation.  He told me about a couple of spells that he had cast...  He had cast a couple for revenge, which I'm mostly against.  I wouldn't cast one in order to put a family member in the hospital, which is what he did to his sister, but if it was to teach another person humility, then MAYBE.  (Let's just say the other involved extensions falling out. Yes, I laughed my butt off.)  So, he's more into... a darker side of Wicca, you could say.  

He explained to a friend that was sitting with us that Wicca is all about manipulating energies and that is how spells work.  He actually volunteered to help her learn more about Wicca and its beliefs.  He also stated he works with candle magick, and I was happy that I wasn't the only one.  After he said this, I stated that I knew a lot about Wicca and asked him how long he's been a Wiccan.  He is on his 7th month, 5 months after I became a Pagan.

The conversation had died out, and he left to check out a devotional book from the library.  I then took a deep breath and said I researched Wicca for a year, and that I am Wiccan.  She is quite accepting, and now she has 2 friends that are Wiccan.  She has yet to get used to the fact that I don't believe in the Christian God and that I believe in Apollo and Hecate and other deities of this nature.  As a matter of fact, she loves religion and is kind of wondering if she wants to minor in Theology like I might do.

So, that's yesterday in a nutshell. I am so glad I was able to find another Wiccan, and I am starting to get out of the broom closet. 

To all of you who are still in the broom closet, I suggest that you tell your best friend about being a Pagan first. They are usually the ones to understand you a lot more.

Much love and blessings,
Dawn )O(