A SPELL TO CALM STRESS

A spell to calm stress:

From "Awakening Osiris: The Egyptian Book of the Dead"

by Normandi Ellis.

Close your eyes and envision yourself wrapped in warm light. Then speak these words either aloud or silently:

"I am air and flame, water and dust.

I am a wick burning in a blue bowl of oil;

a fiery sun rising in a tranquil sky.

I am the phoenix. I am light. I come forth by day.

I am power, an ancient river overflowing
I am love and memory and sorrow that fade away."

Isn't that beautiful? I hand it out to my students and clients if ever they seem to need it.

It does work to calm stress; why, I don't properly understand. (But then, I don't properly understand electricity either.)

I encountered it on its own — so long ago that I now forget where. Some day I must get and read the book it came from. If it's all as good as this....

It came to mind just now because a friend was wondering what constituted her self, that inner self that looks out of her eyes, that something behind or beyond all the labels she might give herself. 

Her conclusion? 

Soul? Essence? Star stuff? Those are the only answers I can give.

Good answers, I thought, and the only ones any of us can give. Then I remembered this spell, re-read it, and thought again, as I have many times, that it says very well what we are. 

Perhaps that is why it is calming — perhaps it puts us in touch with ourselves, so that for a moment one touches one's core, one's bedrock, one's eternal truth. 

Car Spells

Several witchy friends have had car trouble lately. Maybe it's because we all drive old cars, lol.  One of the group put out a request for car spells, and another promptly replied saying that she always carries a piece of turquoise in her car as it is a stone for travel protection. She's sure it has helped stave off imminent breakdown!

I had never thought of doing spells for that purpose. I suppose that's because I, and others who can, tend to use Reiki. But not everyone is qualified to do that. Why not spells?

I do use both magick and Reiki for safety when driving — thinking more of accidents than mechanical disfunction.

I like quick and easy magick that doesn't need physical ingredients; in other words, I use my mind — my intention and visualisation. I wash both my vehicle and myself through with light: the white light that is the energy of the Universe, the rainbow colours of the Universe, and gold for Universal protection. Then I put around both car and me an egg-shaped cocoon of blue-white light as a shield.

(It's not enough just to 'white-light' your car. I remember a girl who did that once when she was illegally parked, hoping to protect it from the eyes of parking inspectors. She got a heavy fine! If you don't specify what the light is for, it can act as a beacon, making your car more noticeable to either cops or robbers. You need to be precise in your intention.

In any case, I think it's a very grey area to be using magick to help you get away with breaking the law, when your reason for breaking it is mere selfishness or laziness. Perhaps it's not surprising that didn't work for her.)

Does anyone out there have any good car spells they're willing to share?

New Year Exercise

A friend of mine posted this on facebook. I think it's a beautiful and practical ritual for the time of year — akin to things witches do at some Sabbats, and very appropriate for this time in the calendar year also.  I'll be doing it!

On one piece of paper I write all that I'm glad for, that came with the year that is passing. I add it to my altar or under a seven-day candle, flowers or any other reverent, symbolic item in my home or where I'm staying.

On another piece of paper I write all that I'm glad to be rid of. I get a metal bowl or if I have a fire place or fire pit, I go there, light the paper that contains all I'm rid of and burn it to ash; then let the ashes go.

On a third piece of paper, I write what I'm keeping, allowing to grow and inviting into my life in the new year. I sign the document and tape it to my door.

A Spell for Healthy and Abundant Water: a Blog Action Day post

Although I had some difficulty registering my blogs with Blog Action Day this year, and didn't in the end, water is an important topic. Without sufficient clean water, we're in trouble!

Masaru Emoto, who discovered the effects on water of language and emotions, requests that when we use water — perhaps when having a shower, perhaps when drinking it — we say, 'Thank you water, bless you water, I love you water.' His advice is that this will help clear water pollution and help it to flow more abundantly. I believe him.

I suggest that, in witchy thinking, this little formula will function as a spell. Just imagine the energy we can generate if we all do it, and keep doing it!

Should Practitioners Charge for their Gifts?

Pagan Magic asked:   

This is a question that I see a lot, and I would like to know the opinion of the people here.

Should a spell caster charge for their gifts - is it right to make money from the Craft, or should it be freely given?

I said:

I have a double standard. I charge for doing psychic readings and mediumistic work, and for any form of hands-on healing – except for very close friends and family with whom there is a lot of give-and-take and no-one could possibly keep track of who owes what to whom. For absent healings I don't usually charge; it becomes too complicated. In return I feel free to call upon other absent healers to help with any work I need for myself or others. Again there is that give-and-take operating amongst us. And so far I haven't charged for doing spellwork either, for similar reasons.

I do however like the point that others have raised, that when a spell is requested one has the right to ask for an energy exchange. I might do that if it were a member of the public asking rather than someone close to me. Mostly, however, clients ask in the context of readings or healings I'm doing for them. If possible I instruct them in how to do their own spells for their particular purposes, and incorporate that instruction into the time for which they're paying. If it's complex, though, I just tell them I'll 'do something' later. If they offer me a gift, or extra money, I accept; if not, no matter.

I have a friend who is able to 'see' people's energetic origins before their life in this place and time. She herself is what she calls a 'feathered angel', whose joy and purpose is to serve; so she never charges for the psychic information she is occasionally impelled to give someone. The first time I met her, she walked past my market stall while I was doing a reading, and caught my eye. She came back later to tell me – as others have done – that when I read I am plugged into Source. She added, 'You are a human being. You have chosen to do this work. Never let anyone tell you that you shouldn't charge for it. I never charge for what I do, because I'm an angel and it's my duty to serve. But you have chosen it freely and you have a right to be recompensed.'

I like what I recently heard a healer say (after working on my husband for free): 'I do some work for love and some for money. This one's for love. Aren't I lucky that I can choose to work for love or money?' I guess that's how it is for me too; and if the choice is sometimes arbitrary, well that's my right and privilege.

PS A young woman did once take me to task in the market for charging for spiritual work. She cited the case of 'a wonderful man named Edgar Cayce who never asked for money for the wisdom and healing he gave the world.' I was a bit flabbergasted and just reiterated that I was comfortable with what I was doing. I didn't think until afterwards to ask whether Edgar Cayce had a day job or people who supported him! (Of course I have some books about him, but they focus on his spiritual, not mundane life.) Personally I'm on the Age Pension, which is a frugal living, and the readings etc. merely supplement it within the allowable limits.

Later:

 Re-reading [other answers, some weeks later] I think it rather depends on whether one treats it as the career / profession, or as something extra, outside one's everyday work.

If you're working as a shop assistant, accountant, hairdresser, plumber, you-name-it, then some form of donation or other energy exchange when you do magickal work for others might well be sufficient. It's fine to refrain from charging for the work if you are provided for by some other means.

But some of us choose to make this our actual occupation and source of income, and that's a valid choice too. Then it becomes like any other form of self-employment: a means to eat and pay the bills. It's just that we choose to work at something that is both our passion and our service.  (Not unlike those who have a vocation for nursing, teaching, etc.)

In my case I used it to supplement the Age Pension within the limits legally allowed, as the Pension alone was impossible to live on when I was in private rental. Now that I have recently moved into Housing Department accommodation at lower rent, I've retired from my regular work as a psychic medium and energy healer, but will continue to help some people privately — for love, barter or money, as appropriate. I have been given gifts; I also spent much time, energy and even money developing them, and I'm good at what I do, so I don't have any qualms about being recompensed financially.

Do Love Spells Actually Work?

Pagan Magic said:

In the media, Love Spells are probably the most common form of magic which is depicted - from childhood story books to Xander's unfortunate incident in BTVS which left him fearing for his life.  But, do Love Spells actually work?

Has anyone ever met a person under the influence of a love spell - or themselves been affected.  How were these spells broken, and if they weren't what happened to the persons involved.

Can Free Will be so readily controlled by another? Is casting Love Spells simply wishful thinking - or is it a dangerous form of magic?  Are there situations where a love spell should be used?

 I said:

I wouldn't do it because, if it involves a particular person that's manipulation, and if it is general it would need to be VERY carefully worded. I think a self-love spell or ritual is the way to go. Even more, practise loving. Become a being of love, and you will naturally attract it.

Afterthought:

Why would one want a forced or coerced love anyway? What if the spell wore off and the person didn't like you any more? Even if not, surely you must always feel cheated and insecure? Better to be loved truly, and for yourself!

The Universe is Always Listening

But you do have to give it a clear message.

While our car was gradually dying, my Beloved stuck a big picture on our fridge of a red car in a particular make and model, on which he had written, 'THIS IS OURS!' as a signal to the Universe that it was what we wanted to manifest. He was mad keen on that car. I wasn't so convinced. Months passed. He didn't give up hope, but we couldn't see any way to buy that car — or any car.

Meanwhile I was frequently expressing appreciation for the car we had, which had given us many years of excellent service, and which we had kept on the road as long as we could. It had got to the point where it just wasn't worth spending any more money on it. In fact it was getting a bit scary to drive. I wanted to make sure it lasted until we could afford to replace it, and that we would find something suitable to replace it with. Expressing gratitude for what you've got is another way to let the Universe know what you like and want. And it wasn't hard — it had been a good car and I was truly grateful.

Where we now live is wonderful for us. I'm clear the Universe found us this place in excellent timing. But public transport is not great. What would we do if the old car conked out and we had no replacement? 'If you really  want us here,' I said, 'Please solve our transport problem.'

One day we were in a car park and he said, 'That's one of [particular make and model] there.' I went and had a good look at it, and immediately said, 'Oh no, that boot's nowhere near big enough. You'd have to put the back seats down to use it.' I thought that I wouldn't mind a red car, just not that kind.

A couple of days later he saw a notice about a car for sale, same make as ours but a later model, in very good condition, within our price range — and red. We phoned, we inspected, we drove it, we bought it. And we're very happy with it! (The old one went to the wrecker.)

Afterwards he pointed to the picture on the fridge and gleefully declared that it had helped get us a red car. I don't disagree.

How could the Powers That Be act in our behalf when we weren't united about what we wanted? But as soon as I vetoed the [particular make and model] and he accepted that that wouldn't suit us, then They could go, 'Right, they want a car that works, they like the make they've had and they like red — hey presto!'

Love Meditation

Back in the nineties I did an amazing course called The Master Game, devised and presented by my friend Jenette Youngman. I guess you could describe it as personal development in a spiritual context. One week she gave us homework in the form of a guided meditation which we were to do every day for the next week, first thing in the morning.

I had the most magickal week! Everywhere I went, I was welcomed enthusiastically, even by strangers. I asked for things and people gave them to me gladly.

Human beings are funny creatures. We think we want life to be wonderful and fulfilling, but often we don't act accordingly. We forget all the brilliant tools and techniques we have.

I was the only one who did the homework – and after that wondrous week, I too forgot most of the time. I still don't manage it every day; sometimes months go by. But when I do remember, and do it for a while before it slips my mind again, life becomes miraculous and delightful once more.

If you'd like to try it for yourself, DOWNLOAD HERE