Kat Sanders's Blog, page 9

What is Shamanism?

“There is no question that there is an unseen world. The problem is, how far is it from midtown and how late is it open?” ~Woody Allen~

Shamanism predated every organized religion worldwide. It seemed to be part of human nature to recognize that there was more to existence than what we could perceive with normal human senses.  When misfortune, illness, or death occurred with no obvious explanation, the people turned to their local shaman for help. The shaman, a title derived from a word meaning ‘wise’, interceded with the unseen world to solve the problem.  The role of the shaman was to bridge the ordinary world and the spirit world, protecting the tribe from spiritual danger and promoting their welfare.

The shaman traveled through the Upper, Middle, and Lower Worlds, interacting with the native spirits in search of allies and answers.  Every member of the tribe underwent a vision quest of some kind, which took place in the Middle World (which most resembled the world as we know it). During the vision quest, one met an animal spirit guide, who led them to the answers they sought.  The answers were vague and couched in symbolism.  One of the shaman roles was to interpret the symbols for the quester.

The shaman also traveled to the Lower World, believed to represent the subconscious; this was the place that housed the answers they knew, but did not know they knew.  The Upper World was where a shaman connected with the Higher Powers, spirits/beings who held the answers they knew they did not know.

Many people believe that shamanism evolved into the modern priesthood, but that is an incomplete answer.  The need for organized religion is rooted in the awareness of our own mortality; we want to die well and have a happy afterlife.  Shamanism is rooted in our curiosity and sense of wonder; this is about living to the best of our ability and learning what we need to know as we move from one moment to the next.

Shamanism is spirituality through discovery learning.

Marsha Alterescu, Professor of Shamanism

Dear Students,

Today, I am introducing the most important person in my life and she is an awesome writer of speculative fiction.  Give a warm welcome for my best friend, Marsha Alterescu

Sincerely,

Kat Sanders

Headmistress and High Priestess

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Marsha Alterescu is a speculative fiction writer and shaman.  She has been writing for over 35 years and doesn’t know how to stop.  She started studying and practicing Shamanism over 20 years ago.  She has a unique way of looking at Shamanism that will intrigue you.

Marsha’s favorite color is blue and her favorite quote is: “And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.” -Friedrich Nietzsche

If you would like to find on the web, you can click here to check out her about.me page.

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A short story by Marsha Alterescu:

He Sees You When You’re Sleeping

It was unseasonably warm for a Halloween night in the Northern Hemisphere. The uniform of his calling, heavy red cap, woolen coat and pants trimmed with fur, caused his rosy cheeks to glisten. Sweat dripped into his bushy white beard. Still, he was too dedicated to allow an Indian summer to deter him. The fat man checked his list — twice. Nelly Granger, age 9, lay before him, no doubt dreaming of the Backstreet Boys. A few strands of strawberry-blonde hair lay across her pale cheek and soft pink lips. He watched the fine hairs puff as she exhaled, enchanted at the sight.

Who knows how long he stood drinking in the essence of this delicate little girl? He bathed in her girlish dreams, whims of the moment that lingered in this, her safe haven. He held out a white-gloved hand, reaching for dregs of darkness hidden within, for selfishness, deceit, and greed. She had very little, barely enough to fill the palm of his hand. He carefully placed the dregs of the child’s spiteful wishes into a red velvet drawstring bag, then pulled out a pen from a hidden pocket and wrote the word ‘NICE’ next to the sleeping girl’s name. Before he left to continue his rounds, he gazed at the delicate form that lay within his reach. She was so pretty, so full of life, so tempting, so… off-­limits. He fought the surge of hunger with an inhuman patience.

In the blink of an eye, he stood before another sleeping child. This one muttered and twitched in her sleep. Eight-year-old May Wiley had indulged in another temper tantrum before falling asleep. As before, he spoke not a word but went straight to his work. He searched the currents of the child’s psyche, feeling the mild splashes of good will she sent out into the world. After a moment, he approached the bed, reaching for his sustenance with both hands. He drew out her dark desires in a double-handful, then placed the thick richness of her jealousy into another red velvet bag. Next, he took dreams of greed, selfishness, and petty revenge. When the bag was full, St. Nicholas wrote the word ‘NAUGHTY’ and grinned, revealing for one instant his true face.

One night of tribute to all children who believed was a small price to pay for the feast like the child who lay before him. This one would feed him for days. Her parents would see her lassitude as good behavior, never knowing that she was losing her life energy, one dream at a time. Santa Claus laughed softly, “Ho, Ho, Ho. They don’t even know that they agreed to feed me, and they teach their children to do the same.

After he turned away and left, the half-awake May sat up in her princess- canopied bed, shaking uncontrollably. Her parents found her the next morning, rocking back and forth, starring at the fireplace in the corner, singing,

“Oh, you better watch out

You better not cry

Better not pout

I’m telling you why…”

Elder Futhark Runes: Gyfu

The Elder Futhark Runes were made up of 24 basic runic letters. There were more added at points in time. The basic 24 are the runes that are normally used in divinations and runic magic. The Elder Futhark alphabet starts with Feoh and ends with Dag. Each letter has its own meaning and correspondences.

Gyfu is the seventh rune in the Elder Futhark alphabet. It stands for gift of the gods and for talent/burden. Because this rune is a gift, it stands for the unification between people and between the people and the gods. It also stands for unity and balance. It is an exchange or interchange between two people so it represents the magickal cooperation between the two.

It is important to note that the symbol was not written like the “X” but like the “>” and “” represents the gods and the “” is above, then it is representing the gods of the heavens or Asgard. When the “>” is below, it is representing the gods of the underworld or Utgard.

The Gyfu Rune is represented by the Ash tree, especially by the most sacred tree, the Yggdrasil. Ash is the tree traditionally used for making fence posts as well as the handles of tools and weapons. In this, it represents order. Ash is also the wood that is used in Druidic wands as it is a great conductor of magickal force or önd. The smoke from burning Ash is said to chase away evil spirits and negative energy.

Some Correspondences

Number: 7
Color: Deep Blue
Tree: Ash/Elm
Herb: Heartease
Gender: Male and Female or Bisexual
Element: Air
Deity: Gefn
Wind: Favonius – West
Essential Oil: Hyssop
Time of Day: 18.30 – 19.30
Half Month Begins: 28 September 11.00

For more information, try these websites:

Runes, Alphabet of Mystery

The Oracle Answers

To purchase a set of runes, click the picture below:

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How to Cleanse a College Ritual Space

Spiritual cleansing of a space, ritual or otherwise, is as important as cleaning your room or the bathroom. It gets rid of the negative energies that can accumulate over anywhere from a few days to a few years. It has to be done at least at each quarter of the year. In fact, the energies can be the cause of paranormal activities such as poltergeist and demonic presence.

Its a common practice to burn and smudge sage in a home or office to act as a cleanser, but in a college dorm room it is not allowed. Fire is not permitted. Then, how do you cleanse a location when you can’t even light a small candle?

You can use Holy Water.  Holy Water is simple to make. Take some water, add salt, and pray over it. Pray as you stir the salt in with your finger or wand:

“I bless this water in the name of the God and Goddess.

So mote it be.”

You don’t have to use those words, but you can. It would be stronger if you use something you make up yourself.

To cleanse your space, just dip your finger(s) into the water and sprinkle it all over where you need to cleanse. I suggest that you say something, at least in your head, to cleanse the space in the names of your Patron God and Goddess.  Make sure you sprinkle over every square inch of your ritual space.

Another method is taking an ordinary broom-preferably wooden–and consecrate it for magickal work. Then, sweep out each room and especially the direct ritual space.  Visualize yourself sweeping each room and picking up negative energies. Imagine yourself forcing them from your space and out the front door. Imagine locking them out with a new lock you just changed it too.

These two simple techniques may require a bit more work than smudging sage, but they will cleanse the spiritual atmosphere of your ritual space and home.

Remember: Anything you consecrate or use in magick should only be used in magick from that day forth.

Happy cleaning and bless be.

How To Make A Spell Magnet or Seven Step To Realize Your Dreams

Spell Magnets can be used to help bring money, love or protection into your life.  They are a fun way to have a spell that can be focused on daily to bring those things into your life that you are seeking.  They are also a fun exercise to work with your kids and let them know more about Wicca and Paganism.

If you are an artist, these magnets can be as elaborate as you want them only limited by what you can fit into the space.  If you want to use different mediums, then feel free.  Scrapbookers may want to make a small scrapbooking sheet with representations of their spell.  Graphic artists make want to make a design and print it.  Don’t feel you have to stick with painting.  This tutorial is just on painting.

There are seven steps to making a spell magnet:

Research
Supplies
Preparation
Painting
Adding the Magnet
Energy Releasing
Daily Renewal

Step 1: Research

Research is step one because you need to define what you need your spell to do.  Once you know what your spell is supposed to do, then you will need to find the correct symbol.  For this tutorial, I will be showing you how to make a money spell and its symbol is this:

Then research what colors are associated with this symbol. For the money symbol, it is green.  Then start thinking outside the box.  What colors go with your symbol?  For the money symbol, you might also want red for wealth, yellow for property and prosperity, black for need, or all of them.    Also you can look up other symbols and representations.  They can be added to your magnet.

(My color correspondences come from the Elder Futhark Runes.  You can find a series of about them, by clicking here.)

Also, this is where you would prepare your spell chant.  You can make up your own or use one you have found on the internet.  Just make sure that you have either memorized it or have it written out near your work space so you can read it.  Here is a sample generic money chant: (Feel free to use this one!)

“My Lady and Lord of Wealth and Prosperity, please grant this petitioner’s plea.  Bring money and wealth into my life. I thank thee for your help in this matter.”

For other chants, my e-book, Spell Chants, has over 25 spell chants and can be purchased by clicking here.

Step 2: Supplies

These are the basic supplies you will need:

Magnets
Cardstock
Paints (I prefer acrylic, but other paint types can be used.)
Paint Sealer (Matte or Glossy, your choice)
Paintbrushes (Have a variety)
Water
An Old Rag
Glue
Scrap Paper and Pencil

There are also alternative supplies that you may want instead.  If you can find the magnetic sheets, you can paint directly on their surface which will let you skip the “Adding The Magnet” step.  If you don’t want to use card stock, you could use canvas or ATC paper.  Also, instead of paint, you could use markers, crayons or color pencils.  Use your imagination.

Step 3: Preparation

Find a flat surface to work on.  A dining room table or craft desk would work.  Make sure you have all your supplies on hand.  Draw your symbol out with a pencil on paper several times before trying to paint it on.  Set up your supplies so that you can easily reach them.

Step 4: Painting

Start with painting your background.  For my money magnet, I have decided that I would like a red background with a yellow and black border and the green symbol.  I would paint on my background in red and let that dry briefly.  Since I would be using acrylic craft paint, it doesn’t take long to dry.

Then paint the border.  I have decided to use a stippling type effect for my border in yellow and then draw a line between the yellow and red in the black paint.  Also, my border is a circle.

Now, paint on your symbol.  Once the borders have dried, then I will paint the green money symbol onto the center of the red background.

Once the paint has completely dried, paint the clear sealer over the whole card stock and let dry.  As I said before, since I am using acrylic craft paint it won’t take long to dry.  At this point, I usually give it at least an hour to dry.  I want to make sure that any areas that have a thick amount of paint are completely dry before adding the sealer.  If you are using oil or another type paint that takes longer to dry, make sure that you give your painting enough time to dry.

Remember, while you are painting your magnet; repeat the spell chant over and over again.  There is not set number of times to repeat your chant unless you want a set number.  That could be part of the research that you did earlier.  Also, the chant doesn’t have to out loud.  When I wake up earlier than the rest of my family, I will chant the spell in my mind rather than out loud.  This keeps me from waking my family and usually being interrupted.

Step 5: Adding the Magnet

Those of you who used the magnet sheets that you can paint on, you can skip to the next step.

If you want your magnet to be a different shape or smaller than the original card stock, this is the time to cut the card stock.  This shape or size can be something that is pleasing to you or there may be a limitation on how much room is on your refrigerator.  I cut mine in a circle like the border.

Once you have your painting cut, measure and cut out the magnets.  This could just be on strip of magnet down the center or you might want two smaller strips across the top and bottom.  The choice is yours.

   

Attach your magnets with glue or if you purchased the kind with adhesive, attach them.  Once the magnet is attached, place a heavy item like a book over them to make sure that the magnet adheres to the card stock.

Step 6: Energy Releasing

While you have been painting your magnet, you have built up the energy in your spell.  Now it needs to be released.

Once the glue has dried, you will need to say your spell chant over your painting three times and put the magnet onto the refrigerator where you will see it every day.  Once it is on the fridge, place your dominant hand onto the magnet.  Visualize the spell energy that has built up being released into the magnet.

Then say a brief thank you to the deity (deities) that you called on. This can be as simple as “Thank you my Lord and my Lady for your help with this spell”.  Or you can write something more elaborate.

Step 7: Daily Renewal

Once a day, you will need to renew the spell to keep the energy flowing.  To do this, simply place you hand over the magnet and say your chant.  Then thank your deity (deities).

The spell magnet is complete and the energy has been channeled into the spell.  Know that the positive energy that you have sent out will come back to your threefold.

If you would rather buy a spell magnet instead of making one, I am selling them in my Copious shop for $3.00.  Click the pictures below to purchase that magnet.  Instead of a specific chant for that particular spell, I use a general chant requesting my deities to help bring a positive outcome to your spell.  Each magnet comes with a simple ritual and spell chant that can be used with that spell magnet.

             

Spell Chants: Volume 1

I am so excited!!!  I have published my first e-book.

For the most part, I want to keep the information on my website free, but I need to make enough money to pay for the site overhead.  I also want to make this site grow which includes paying others to write articles, adding a database and a forum.  All this costs money.  I already have ads on the site, but I would love to get rid of most of them. (I would still have a few specific ads that were geared towards Pagans and Wiccans.)

To make money, I know that I wanted to write a book or twenty and I didn’t want them to cost a lot.  I had already decided to write them as e-books, but I didn’t know which subject I wanted to write about.  Most of the subjects I write about, I write as posts on this site.

The idea came to me in a flash a couple of weeks ago. Spell Chants.  We all need a way to request help, whether it be calling the four quarters, asking for our deities presence or the main spell itself.  These chants or prayers let us focus the magickal energy for our spells.  Anyway, I was lying in bed a while back and jotting down notes about a ritual I was writing (see the ritual by clicking here) and wrote a chant to be used in that ritual.

Now, I have been writing poetry for years and I combined that with writing a few chants, well 17 that night before I went to sleep several hours later.  I wrote a few more later in the week and the content of the book was coming along.  I wrote a short essay as an opening and the book was complete.  It isn’t very long and I’m not charging a lot for it.

Please help support this site by buying it either for the Kindle by clicking here for $1.00 or as a physical book by clicking here for $5.00.

Thank you for all the feedback that I have received about this site.

Kat Sanders

PS: If you are looking for this e-book outside the USA, then you can find it here by clicking UK, DE, FR, ES or IT.  However, it is only in English.

Wiccan Video Resources: How To Make Your Own Offering Stones

When you take from Mother Nature, you need to give back as well. One simple way to do so, is to make offering stones. Here is a video from Krazyboytx about how to make them:

If for some reason you can not view the video, here is the recipe:

2 Cups Flour

2 Cups Water

1 Cup Salt

2 TBSP Oil

1 TBSP Cream of Tartar (optional)

A variety of glitter, beads, food coloring, paint etc.

Cook on low heat until the consistency of dough. You should be able to knead it without it sticking to your fingers.
Let it cool. Store in a plastic container so it doesn’t start to dry out. If it does start to dry out, add a little water.
Shape and add you assorted glitters, paints, food coloring, feathers, items, etc. depending on how you want it to look.
Let it sit out for several days until is hardens into a rock. If you live somewhere that is humid, then you could heat them in the oven on low until an outer shell hardens. Then let them sit for several days.

If you have any questions, please let me know.  If you would like for me to share pictures or videos of your offering stones, then please email me at katsanders@howtowitchcraft.net with a subject line of “Offering Stones”. I would be happy to add pictures to this post.

Elder Futhark Runes: Ken

The Elder Futhark Runes were made up of 24 basic runic letters. There were more added at points in time. The basic 24 are the runes that are normally used in divination and runic magic. The Elder Futhark alphabet starts with Feoh and ends with Dag. Each letter has its own meaning and correspondences.

The sixth letter is Ken which stands for knowledge and transformation. This is the rune that brings us light into the darkness. It is represented by hearth fires and the forge. This is also the rune that generates and channels protective energies and regenerative powers.

The tree that represents Ken is the pine tree. The pine tree is the tree of illumination and the torch of knowledge. Pine also has a resin that makes an incense that is good for magickal works specifically to gain and remember knowledge.

Some Correspondences

Number: 6
Color: Light Red
Tree: Pine
Herb: Cowslip
Gender: Female
Element: Fire
Deity: Heimdall
Wind: Favonius – West
Essential Oil: Pine
Time of Day: 17.30 – 18.30
Half Month Begins: 13 September 06.00

For more information, try these websites:

Runes, Alphabet of Mystery

The Oracle Answers

To purchase a set of runes, click the picture below:

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