*Me And My Future Wife About To Summon Demons On A Ouija Board*

Aries Sun: Ego can be self-centered, all about action and individuality. Ego needs fuel from praise, attention, and conquest.

Taurus Sun: The ego lives in the physical world and needs to be fed by environment, food, affection, and comfort. Healthy surroundings= healthy ego.

Gemini Sun: Their ego relies on communication and information. Variety is healthy for the ego but its state can change rapidly based on info.

Cancer Sun: The ego is wrapped up in emotional security and/or understanding. They tend to keep its needs hidden. Must learn to recognize their needs. 

Leo Sun: Ego is connected to individuality, recognition, and self-expression. Ego is at the surface and is essential to well-being.

Virgo Sun: The ego can easily be neglected and abused by the desire for perfection. They are critical towards self or are overly humble. Ego can be fed with accepting appreciation and accepting flaws in themselves and others.

Libra Sun: The ego along with individuality can be lost in a desire to adapt or please others. Ego revolves around acceptance and love. Ego is strengthened by self-love and acceptance.

Scorpio Sun: Ego is a reflection of past pain or reward. Ego goes thru many intense transformations in life. Ego feeds off emotional experiences. 

Sagittarius Sun: Ego is tied to their self-expression, understanding of the world, and beliefs. Ego is fed by recognition and their ability to influence others. 

Capricorn Sun: Ego can be tied to the physical world and social world. Achievements is what feeds it. They can be harsh and neglectful towards their own ego. 

Aquarius Sun: Ego is closely tied to acceptance from others, individuality, and self-expression. Ego and emotions are HIGHLY separated.

Pisces Sun: Ego is easily influenced. The ego and emotions are connected. Ego feeds off of reassurance and closeness to others. Ego= in flux.

Why Yule Needs to Stay Creepy

“…There’ll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago…”

So I have been thinking about our Contemporary conceptualization of the Christmas season a lot lately and it’s kind of interesting. So many things we associate with Christmas – Christmas trees, greeting cards, Santa Claus, his reindeer and elves, gift-giving in general – all of these things came into vogue in the 19th Century and are very sticky-sweet, in my opinion. They’re lovely, but not filling. If we just scratch the surface of the Christmas we know and love and peek back into its history, we find something much meatier.

Before the cheerful Christmas tree, a number of other plants were associated with Christmas. The holly, associated with sacrifice and the blood of Christ, and the parasitic mistletoe, associated with the death of Baldur in Norse mythology – these were the plants associated with Christmas before the Christmas tree became the standard.

Also, the Yule log. The Yule log, meant to provide light on the darkest night of the year, was a magic charm in and of itself. If it did not burn through the night, it would be a terrible omen. By watching the fire and coals of the Yule log, one could also predict who would give birth and who would die in the coming year.  

When our simple Santa Claus is reduced to his predecessors, one is left with Odin, ancient Norse God of battle, Saint Nicholas, the canonized former bishop of Turkey, and Father Christmas, the hard-drinking gluttonous representation of holiday merriment. And all of them brought ghastly friends – Odin, the spirits of the Wild Hunt and Saint Nicholas, his helpers (including Knecht Rupert, Krampus, etc.). Father Christmas, more of a personification of the season than a night visitor, undoubtedly brought many hangovers.

Before stories about reindeer, snowmen, or things of that ilk, there were ghost stories. Charles Dickens did not invent the Christmas ghost story in “A Christmas Carol,” but popularized an already-existing folkloric trend. If we look to the old tales of Christmas, we find stories about witches that rode the night air, cursing the birth of the Savior. There are stories about fairies, ghosts, and Devils that wreak havoc, frightening livestock and damaging property. In an era before television or radio, homemade storytelling was one of the primary forms of entertainment. And winter was the storytelling season.

You also have mumming, wassailing, and caroling – dressing up in colorful costumes and (sometimes drunkenly) begging for money door-to-door. As John Grossman notes in his book “Christmas Curiosities,” Christmas before the Contemporary Period resembles our Halloween more than it resembles the Christmas we know now.

Let us not forget, those of us who acknowledge the Wheel of the Year, that the season of darkness extends from Halloween to Christmas. This darkness only begins to fade when we gain back the Sun at the Winter Solstice. From Halloween to Christmas, the dead may roam the Earth and weird things may happen. In his classic “Mastering Witchcraft,” Paul Huson notes that Yule is not a time for pleasant spell work, but cursing! It is a time of dark magic and mystery. And we need this time. To understand the light, we must understand the darkness – the witches, ghosts, and Devils of the old Yuletide. Like the trees that go dormant, we must embrace the darkness of winter to grow and thrive.

. : MABON  INTRODUCTION : .

the autumnal/fall equinox

Mabon! - - a time of balance, mystery, and honor. Night and Day now find harmony in Autumn–a time of equilibrium (equal night and day)–a time to relax and enjoy the harvest–the fruits of our labors, from our gardens to our children, jobs, and everyday chaos.

During the 19th century, we would see agriculture become merchandized. As a result of this disconnect with nature, and lack of working directly with the harvests, we would see a change in the modern Sabbats. The great harvest supper would move from Lammas to the Autumn Equinox.

Mabon is now our time of Thanksgiving and Feast. We enjoy the food we have collected, the spiritual and emotional harvests we have reaped, and we are thankful for all we have reaped as we plant seeds for the future. Enjoy the warmth, spice, and color of the season–and remember: correspondences are what you associate with the season and always do what feels right for you and your path!

Spiritual Gifts

Aries- Embracing the rough and tumble the of the world with childlike curiosity and wonder. Reacting to things as they crop up without overthinking and evaluating, even if society says no to this. Protecting the innocent around us, including the spirit of naivety and recklessness.

Taurus- Knowing the value of the things around them, embracing the sensual pleasures of the Earth, finding meaning in simplicity and routine, having devoted relationships with the people around them. 

Gemini- Finding joy and stimulation in the trivia, humour and knowledge of the world. Being the messengers of the universe, here to be teachers and spread interesting and thought provoking wisdom. To flourish in all areas of communication, make believe and play.

Cancer- Being emotionally receptive and compassionate to the people around them, especially the vulnerable. Finding a sanctuary in creativity and solitude, where they can gain a grasp on themselves and recharge somewhat. Being a representation of the divine nurturer. 

Leo- Finding joy in creativity and pleasure, yet also seeing the warmth that others can exude. Being humorous, light hearted and loyal to the people around them. Being a jackpot of wisdom and uplifting knowledge, especially as they grow. 

Virgo- Understanding the preciousness of connection through duty and shared burdens. Appreciating the little gestures of kindness and the simple beauties of the Earth. Gaining knowledge through their life events to ease the pain of the people around them. 

Libra- Learning about themselves and the world through the eyes of others. Finding the other part of their soul in intimate relationships. Being creative and harmony seeking, knowing that there is a yin to every yang. 

Scorpio- Seeking intimate truths and knowledge from the universe. Being endlessly devoted to the people they love, yet also receptive to subtle emotional intuition. Going through intense shifts that reflect their surroundings. 

Sagittarius- Finding optimism and wisdom in the information they receive. Always questioning the powers that be, looking for evidence from their surroundings. Finding flight in abundance, yet also the minimalism of swift travel. 

Capricorn- Having timeless wisdom learnt through independence, simplicity and authenticity. Understanding the value of long standing relationships that are supportive. Finding humour and lessons in even the morbid. 

Aquarius- Being the pioneers of the collective new age and the practices that go along with this. The humanitarian conscience that resides in many of us, finding joy and excitement in invention and innovation. 

Pisces- Seeing and having knowledge of the many dimensions of this universe, experiencing the fluidity and passivity of this world, seeing light in the personalities of others and being porous to this. 

If Brand Names Were Anime Characters

Credit: @sillvi_illustrations

Litha Questions for Divination

Litha is the celebration of the summer solstice (June 21st), the longest day and shortest night of the year. The day is to celebrate Sun/Light/Fire deities and their power; it is a day of joy and growth as the crops/harvest comes to be. Of course, to celebrate, one might look towards divination. The day, being associated with fertility, love, power, and the bringing in of the harvest, is great for questions relating to one’s own growth and labor. 

🐰 How can I improve myself so that can I reach the height of my potential?

🐰 What are some things that I should look out for/ be aware of?

🐰 What is coming into my life–how can I best prepare for this?

🐰 What should I start bringing into my life for my growth?

🐰 What are some things that I should let go of?

🐰 What can I do to increase the rewards from my labor?

🐰 How can I ensure what I want comes to me

🐰 What can I do to help me and my partner have a good relationship?

🐰 How should I approach my love life?

Take note; if you’re going to ask a diviner these questions-make sure to be specific. 

Fluffy Bunnies

C&P’d from Wicca for The Rest of Us

http://wicca.cnbeyer.com/fluffy.shtml

Willow: Talk. All talk. ‘Blah, blah, Gaia. Blah, blah, moon. Menstrual life-force power thingy.’ Buffy: No actual witches in your witch group? Willow: No. Bunch of wanna blessed be’s. Nowadays every girl with a henna tattoo and a spice rack thinks she’s a sister to the dark ones.

Q: How many New Agers does it take to change a light bulb? A: (Waaayyy too perky) We don’t use light bulbs, we just think happy thoughts at our quartz crystals and they glow.

Fluffy Bunnies, Insta-witches, McWiccans, One-Book Witches, Wicclets, and Whitelighters: these are those people who, most broadly categorized, give the rest of us a bad name, not by doing bad or objectionable things but instead being unserious, sophomoric, or just plain wrong. Wiccans will say that everyone is allowed to follow their own beliefs, and that any form of belief, whether another person agrees with it or not, counts as religion, and I agree. However, it does not necessarily make the practitioner a member of my religion, and I for one would prefer for them to stop embarrassing the rest of us with their antics.

The primary definition of a Fluffy Bunny is one who refuses to learn, refuses to think, and refuses to consider the possibility that they could possibly ever be wrong. Generall, they find one book, author or website and follow it as if it were the holy word, frequently denouncing anything that disagrees with it as obviously false. Fluffy Bunnies rarely get past the defense of “Because [insert favorite author here] says so.” Sometimes they don’t even get that far, responding to any and all criticism with something like, “You’re just trying to persecute me!”

When I speak of Fluffy Bunnies, I do NOT mean those who disagree with me. Lots of people disagree with me. People I respect sometimes disagree with me. I respect them because they have actual reasons for their beliefs and are willing to consider the opinions of others - but just because they consider my opinion does not mean they are required to agree. Blindly agreeing with me is just as fluffy as blindly agreeing with the author of the week.

Likewise, being a newcomer to Wicca does NOT make one a Fluffy Bunny. All of us were new to this at one point in our lives. Moreover, having bad information does not make one a Bunny. There’s still a lot of bad information available in books and websites, and if that is the first information you find, how can you know it’s bad? There’s only a problem when one stubbornly refuses to question that original information regardless of the mountains of contradictory evidence put before them.

Fluffy Bunnies are frequently attracted to Wicca for the sake of appearance. This includes those who:

Are into Wicca to upset their parents and just plain “be different”. This generally occurs during the teenage years, but its amazing how many of the Fluffy Bunnies never really grow out of this stage.

Think black clothes and huge pentagrams are appropriate Wiccan dress. You’re allowed to wear anything you want. If goth’s your thing, so be it. But those who dress that way do so out of personal choice, not because of their religion. Author Laurie Cabot is the absolute worst, dressing day to day in a long black robe which she describes as “traditional Wiccan garb.” And before you load yourself down with ten pounds of silver pentagrams, imagine a Christian wearing an equivalent amount of religious jewelry. I think we’d all find that truly obnoxious.

Believe the God and/or Goddess are an embodiment of love and want nothing but what’s best for us. For a religion that has no embodiment of evil, how in the name of balance can our gods be dedicated to good and benevolence? The world that these gods are a part of exists in a state of equilibrium. Things live and things die. It is necessary, but it is not benevolent.

Think picking up one book on Wicca ever makes them Wiccan. No one possesses the Divine and Ultimate Truth. Wiccans are seekers, and everything you read helps you further develop and understand your faith. You’re not going to agree with everything you read, and that’s fine. You should allow yourself the opportunity to choose what you accept and what you do not. One book does not allow you to do that, and if you never put that information to use, then it doesn’t matter if you have read a thousand books. Just reading books makes you student of the subject of Wicca. Wiccans actually practice and live by Wicca.

Think speaking a few words out of a book over a candle is how one makes magic. An entire library of books will not allow you to practice magic on their own. Magic involves belief, focus, practice, and serious intention. It also involves responsibility and a healthy dose of common sense. One class on magic at the local new-age store does not bestow mad majickkal skilz.

Preach that Wicca is all “goodness and light”. The corollary to this is the exclamation of “So-and-so couldn’t have done that. She’s Wiccan!” Like everyone else in the world, we are not saints.

Other things to look out for:

Claims that Wicca is a “woman-thing”. Both genders are equally welcome, which some women find to be a positive change from previous religious experiences, but Wicca is not about femininity. Some people will even say being a woman is the only reason they are a Wiccan. Wicca is a religion, not a political movement. For more on this, read Goddess Worshippers.

Those who took up Wicca to spite their Christian upbringing. We are not against any religion. Moreover, most of the accusations leveled at Christians in the name of Wicca were never committed against Wiccans, if indeed they were committed at all.

Overly ostentatious ceremonial tools. I have found that, in general, the more flashy (or even gaudy) the tools, the more interested the Wiccan is in appearances over any actual religion.

Liberal advertisement of titles or degrees. Since each coven is autonomous, the titles bestowed by one may mean quite a bit within the coven or even within the Tradition, but they don’t mean squat to the rest of us. High Priestess So-and-so could be presiding over an entire coven of fluffy bunnies for all you know, while solitaries, no matter how well-learned, have not had the chance to have any titles bestowed upon them. Likewise, some covens denote their High Priest and High Priestess by the titles of “Lord” and “Lady.” This means quite a bit within a Tradition, but is pretentious outside of it. If nothing else, we have no way of knowing who honestly earned that title and who has just tacked “Lord” or ‘Lady" to the front of their name. If someone has honestly earned that title, it should be evident in their knowledge, not in their titles

Quoting Margaret Murray. This woman’s writing is the basis of a lot of our supposed history. The problem is her work was debunked decades ago and the only people who take her seriously are some Wiccans and Pagans, including some very influential writers. For more information, see Murray’s Unlikely History.

Users of “White Magic”. This term makes no sense. It’s most often used by those who swear up and down that witchcraft is not evil and was in fact only called evil by the Church as part of a smear campaign. If that’s the case, then why the clarification? The existence of white magic implies an existence in black magic. The simple fact is that magic, like any tool, is neither good nor evil, although it can be used toward either purpose.

Odd spellings of magic. While some people have specific reasons for speaking of magick, a great many users of this term are simply looking for attention. It doesn’t prove you’re more knowledgable. It just shows you can’t spell. More extreme Fluffies will even speak of “majick” or (good grief) “majik”. For more on why strange letters get added to “magic”, check out Magic.

🔮3 OF SWORDS–ACE OF PENTACLES–KNIGHT OF CUPS🔮

This week (and every day) a lot of pain has been surfacing for survivors and resistors. There is heartbreak in the fact that with the way things are set up, we are all trained to hate women/femmes/gender non conforming folx and not be surprised when they are hurt, traumatized, and/or killed. Take the space that you need to recover from the weight of this. You might also be processing the fact that the men/masc ppl in your life haven’t shown up for you in this life, that they still have so much to learn and still do that learning at your expense. It is ok to be angered by this. It is ok to live into the fullness of whatever emotions surface for you, now. You are allowed to feel big, cry big. Remember that you are far more powerful than any person who comes for your dignity. Remember your self-knowledge, the fact that you have survived your whole life until this point. Remember all that you have striven for and worked towards in your healing process, whatever that looks like for you. Celebrate, my loves, because an opportunity to make real change is possible. Where do you fit in the change process ? What is your place in the revolution ? Where do you find your work ? Maybe it’s in direct service, in healing work, in planning, in organizing, in balancing budgets, in waking up each day so that you can continue to support others. Wherever your work is, know that there is a lot of potential for success. Together, we can move into the next way, the next moment. Into a time when ppl arent afraid to walk on the street or wear a piece of clothing or have a conversation in fear of pain and death. This is a time to mourn. To feel. So that we can move forward with the lessons from that mourning. Don’t ever let someone tell you what it looks like for you to grieve. Do what works for you, live into the whole self. With what you have to offer, we can start building stronger communities. Even if what you have to offer right now is your depression or anger or joy or comfort, we can use all of these in conjunction with our collected knowledge to make things happen. There is power in vulnerability and emotion. . 🔮: Rider-Waite https://www.instagram.com/p/BojubQoF-vn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mimm3me666aw

I really want an environmental revolution to happen soon. Gardens everywhere, herbal wisdom flourishing and intelligent environmental policies.

Please don’t click his new Chris Hansen video. It’s a dumb skit.