Heddy M. Johannesen's Blog, page 16

The Healing Energy of Home

Merry meet all,

The moon’s waxing in the night sky. There is a nature trail behind my apartment. I went for a walk on the trail. I enjoy the walk because I can relax and release stress and connect with Spirit and nature. I love that I can destress and connect to what speaks to my heart so close to where I live. I also had a meditative soak and I feel so good. It’s important to relax and open ourselves up -and not just exist on the Internet. A computer has no soul. A tree, the wind, the water, a flame is Life. That will always help you in what you need to do and to find and what you need to heal.

You can heal here. Nova Scotia has an awesome energy here. By energy, I mean what I feel in the air and the whole feel of the place. It is in the ocean and the trees. It is in the different cultures and communities- Africville, the French Acadian culture, the Gaelic community and revival, the Native American, and everything else. Nova Scotia is a peninsula with two big areas- the mainland and Cape Breton. But even in Cape Breton, the other half of Nova Scotia, you have a mix of the above cultures and communities. Its amazing. There is the Buddhist community, the Witch community and a strong French culture, and the Gaelic culture. I love it here because with this totally separate yet connected community of cultures, there is such a diversity. I believe the diversity defines this place.

The other way Nova Scotia rocks is that the pace of life is different here. I love the pace and lifestyle. We are laid back about things and its ok if something takes a long time to happen, because it will. Stores open at 10 am not 9 am- well, some do. There is a strong love for nature. Nova Scotia is nature. A lot of people move here to retire because Nova Scotia has a quiet energy that sneaks up on you to ensnare your heart without you knowing it. You can easily lose track of time and lose yourself wandering among trees on a hiking path or find yourself reading a book in the Public Gardens. Hours pass.

With that part of you falling in love with the picturesque scenery here, comes the healing of your heart. I felt it too. Yup I am and have been for years in love with Nova Scotia. It cast its pin into my heart and it is there for good. I am home. Oh come on, who can resist strolling along the harbor front watching the ocean waves roll back and forth or stroll along the sea shore by a beach? I don’t understand how some can move away and leave this.

In some parts of Pleasant Bay, in Cape Breton, I walked in the trees and on the paths. I felt the energy there. I felt it in my bones. By the main house, there is a copse of trees. I walk in that copse of trees. It is dark and cool. The trees arch overhead, casting shadow. The roots protrude from the thicket of pine cones and twigs underfoot. The whole place reeks of spiritual energy. I believe that is what attracted the Buddhist community to build their temple there.

Pleasant Bay is an old and magical place. It is steeped in magick. I wouldn’t be surprised if at one time long ago, elves and Ents lived here. I believe I see fairies flitting like lights among the trees. I have sensed their presence when they lead me to a clearing or a path. It did happen once. They were invisible but they tugged me by the hand and led me to a spot where birds chirped on the ground. I tell no lie. I have seen the Northern Lights, blue lightning flash over the ocean and witnessed the changes of the seasons. Snow or autumn leaves, the place manages to remain constantly picturesque perfect. In the summer, the sunsets are more beautiful than the previous evenings. The air is alive with the humming of bees. The air is also fragrant with the potent scents of wild roses, spruce and pine, and the ocean scent. So that takes some beating. I haven’t been there in months and I don’t know when I will return. However, in the mean time, I am content with the nature trail and my garden. It is a great way to escape and relieve stress and remember myself. It speaks to me and to my soul.

Nothing else could make me as happy the way this place does. Nova Scotia is heavily steeped in spiritual energy. That may be due to the powerful ley lines here. You can see them in the photo below. The ley lines run through where I live and in Cape Breton.

I think it’s easy to see why I love it here so strongly. The potpourri of culture, community and Spirit together make up what this place is and what it means to me and to many others.

Blessings Lady Spiderwitch

 

Accepting Death

Merry meet all,

Death. A door we must all pass through when our time comes. Only the kicker is, we never know when we are going to die. Yes I will write this here. Yes I will be this bold. 

I contacted a local witch shop here and I couldn’t believe the response when I asked for Dittany of Crete. This is a problem I have run into a few times since accepting and studying necromancy. It is not accepted here nor barely practiced. It is treated like it is evil. It is a dark art of witchcraft. So I have to now order herbs from a store online like Hex: Old Word Witchery. I don’t think I will bother fighting for the acceptance of it locally here, just keep practicing it for myself. I also like black candles and to honor my ancestors. 

When I told a friend about it, he told me it was the pentagram pointed downwards. I disagreed with him and then saw that I couldn’t change his mind. Why is what I do seen as a such a bad thing? I don’t understand it but I do understand that most ‘pagans’ would rather practice cute fluffy bunny Wicca. I don’t see that being the same as traditional witchcraft. 

So I did some reading and research. I was surprised to discover that in traditional witchcraft, you don’t have to cast a circle. I guess that what I do is a blend of both traditional witchcraft and a type of kitchen witchery and Wicca. But I like traditional witchcraft because I think it speaks more to me. The more I get into it, the more I once again seem different from those who practice earth worshipping Wiccans. I have nothing against caring for the earth but using a skull, pricking your finger, and burning black candles resonates to me on a deep level. 

I want to find out how to make my own black candles. I want the black wax. I may have to just buy it. I found out that Hex: Old World Witchery located in Salem and New Orleans not only embraces necromancy but sells products just meant for practicing that very type of magic. So I shall save my pennies and stock up on …. provisions. At last, I feel understood. I searched for something different and what truly resonated with me and I found it. I am just at odds with those here who outright criticize me for what I do. 

Let them talk. I will do what I truly feel I should do. I have heard people say that they don’t like tarot or occult decks portraying the darker gods/ goddesses. How awful. You can’t have the light without the dark and vice versa. Or that poetry can’t be about the Goddess Morrigan. I love Hecate, Kali, Persephone and the Morrigan. You may as well diss the Crone! She connects to and is the threads of the dark half of the year. How can you not acknowledge her or the other goddesses? So I shall call on and I do call on Hecate for protection and the Morrigan for strength. I have tried to be in the coven here but I am at odds with that. They do what they do in their way and nothing wrong with that. But I like to do this and if it means going it alone, fine. 

I heard that two young people used an Ouija board and one of them called the spirit a- I apologize for this language, they called it the b-word. I never disrespect the dead. I have a deep respect for the dead. I cleaned up litter in a cemetery. I never stomp on graves. My respect for the dead runs deep inside me. They were misguided and inexperienced. It only comes with experience. And they give me a hard time. 

I love wearing dark romantic clothing. It empowers me. It is also related to why I do what I do. I love wearing black and purple. The color black draws in energy. Purple I see as also a dark romantic powerful color. 

I have only ever just always wanted to be accepted. Now I shall take the next step and accept myself and claim my power. Strength comes from within. Only there shall I find it. Only there shall I find the acceptance I crave. 

Blessings, Lady Spiderwitch )O(

 

Spring

Merry meet all,

The Wax and Wane anthology has been released to a chorus of fans. I am so happy to be published!

The Spring Equinox is coming up soon. Already, sprouts are showing in my garden. Spring is all about new growth, new chances, new everything. It will be fun to get to work on my garden again.

Now’s the time to plant those ‘bane’ seeds! Grow herbs that correspond that are witchy, magickal,  and dark, such as mandrake, mugwort, rue, parsley, moonwort, and moonflower. Spring doesn’t have to mean forgetting the dark stuff entirely. By the time fall returns, you will have a whole abundant harvest of herbs for your magickal workings. What could be more exciting than that? Check my previous posts for more information on witchy herbs. 

Tonight is the Full Moon. The incense for today is marjoram. When you do the esbat working tonight, ask the Goddess to bless seeds for new growth and abundance in your life and plants  or garden, if you have one. Ask for positive change this spring and summer. 

This Full Moon is specially marked by an eclipse. The Full Moon of March is known as The Hawk Moon and Storm Moon. The 2nd moon is in Scorpio and changes to Libra. The Lunar Eclipse occurs at 7:74 am. I didn’t see it because today is rainy and overcast. 

So get your gardening tools out, clean the yard, do a spring cleaning of your home and remember to keep the critters off your pets!! Embrace change. Embrace spring. 

Blessings, Lady Spiderwitch 

 

10 Irish Horror and Dark Fantasy Authors You Should be Reading

Flynn Gray

In Honour of St. Patrick’s Day, here are some great Irish horror and dark fantasy authors you should be reading.

Bram Stoker (1847 – 1912) – Classic gothic horror author.

Best known for: Dracula (1897)

Caitlín R. Kiernan (1964 – ?) – Multi-Award-Winning Author of various horror, dark fantasy, science fiction and weird fiction.

Selected Bibliography:

Novels: Silk (1998), The Drowning Girl: A Memoir (2012), Threshold (2001), The Red Tree (2009)

Short Story Collections: Two Worlds and in Between: The Best of Caitlin R. Kiernan (Volume One) (2011), Tales of Pain and Wonder (2000)

Charles Maturin (1782 – 1824) – Gothic author and playwright

Known for:Melmoth the Wanderer (1820)

Darren Shan (1972 – ?) – very prolific and well known writer of multiple series, including The Cirque du Freak Series (which includes the Vampire Blood Trilogy, the Vampire Rites Trilogy, the Vampire War Trilog

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Romancing the Dark Side- in defence of the “Dark Arts’.

Merry meet all,

I explore graveyards. I worship my ancestors at my ancestors altar. I read dark fiction and hold a fascination with the paranormal. I love bats and cats and the moon. I own a ghosts and spirits tarot deck. I go where few dare to tread. Yet I see nothing wrong with writing horror. My mother doesn’t like it even though she supports what I do. She knows why I do what I do but she has her own opinions, which she is entitled to. 

Most Wiccans, ok some, are the fluff bunny type. I’m going out on a wire here and dare to cross a line. I am all about honouring nature. I own a garden where I grow herbs and flowers. I am aware of the environmental issues and I do my part as best I can. There is only one planet Earth. We should take care of her or we will have nowhere to practice our craft. The moon is a poor replacement. Seriously. 

I love to burn black candles, wear black nail polish and black clothes. I read the book Memento Mori yet couldn’t drum up the same enthusiasm from others and wondered why. I was called the Grim Reaper for wearing a black cloak- in my defence, I was cold! I like to include the darker gods and goddesses in my practice and my writings. I own skulls and don’t shy away from the darker herbs. Skulls don’t scare me. Crows have warned me of a death. I don’t hurt spiders and can’t fathom why some people sprinkle spider killing powders in their homes. They are the world’s best insect predators. Where would we be without them? I am one of the few grey or darker witches in Halifax. 

But it all started when I found out about necromancy. I finally found my calling. I plan to perform the pact ritual where you basically sell your soul back to yourself. You reclaim your power. I just need to obtain a few ‘provisions’, such as a lancet, herbs, a skeleton key, a mirror, a skull. Once I have everything, I will be able to perform the ritual. I finally found something deeper- and darker, but I was searching for that ‘deeper something’ and found it. I think this truly hearkens back to the Witches of Olde. 

If this is my calling, I don’t mind. I revel in it. I get odd looks when I walk out in public, cloaked. I am one of the few who do. I see it as something with substance. I mean honouring a flower is all good and well but not the same thing. Ancestor worship should be done all year not just on October 31st. So it comes as no shock to know I perform an ancestral supper on October 31st, on Samhain eve. 

I just completed a 5-day Tarot plunge course. The course was offered online. I enjoyed the course and learned new things and was reminded of what I already knew. It was fun to do. I plan to finish my paranormal novel and send it off to editors. A friend is reading it right now. I might write a chapbook of horror themed poetry. I applied to attend the StokerCon festival hosted by the Horror Writers Association. 

Black roses unfurl! Show us your glory! Let bats swoop through the nights and owls pursue mice. Black candles burn, their flickers whisper secrets to the moonlight. I may be alone in my deep plunge into this darkness but it is oh so satisfying, more than just plain old navel gazing. I keep a photo of my grandfather on my altar. I loved him in life and honour him in death. I am sure he watches over me. I want to learn all I can about it. 

So to those who are like me, you’re not alone. Blessings to you!

Lady Spiderwitch )O(

Horror and Religion )O(

Merry meet all,

The long-awaited news!!! The anthology Wax and Wane: A Gathering of Witch Tales is finally released!!! You can  find the link to Amazon in the previous post. Fly on your broomsticks and buy a copy!!! Let some magick into your life with these spell-binding stories. The book is also available on Kindle, Mobi and ePub.

I saw The Witch movie recently. At first, the movie frightened me so badly I crashed at my Mom’s. Now that I think about it, I don’t hate it and I also initially didn’t believe that Thomasin, a character from the film, was liberated by joining the diabolical Devil’s coven but if you look at it from that context, she was liberated. There are a few ways to look at this. But mainly the movie was from the mindset of the Puritan Calvinism back then. If they actually believed all that stuff, then I think they were mentally fucked. Sorry for the language. I found parts of the movie disturbing and upsetting. I did enjoy the authentic cinematography and the black goat stole the show. When I shifted my perspective of the movie, then I decided that I enjoyed it.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/black-phillip-real-story-behind-871974

http://www.salon.com/2016/03/06/a_final_girl_who_gets_to_get_off_the_witch_proves_nothings_scarier_than_an_unapologetically_liberated_young_woman/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

I hope you enjoy the above links.  The Witch movie raises the bar for horror movies. Religion and horror have always worked together well in movies and fiction and will continue to in the future. Take The Exorcist or Rosemary’s Baby as examples.

To be a Witch is to be liberated. So now I don’t hate the movie. It delivered a potent message. But we don’t worship the Devil. I don’t anyway. I own an animal skull and I do admit I want to own a real human skull but I might buy a resin skull (within my budget). I can program and empower it to do things for me. I honor my ancestors but I don’t take it to a negative level. I practice in my own way and feel comfortable with that. It’s important to maintain a balance in life.

Blessings, Lady Spiderwitch

Two days until Release: Wax & Wane: A Gathering of Witch Tales )O(

 

Merry meet all,

Only two days left until the March 2nd release date- have you pre ordered your copy yet?

A Gathering of Witch Tales- 30 spellbinding stories

Available from Amazon – http://tinyurl.com/jnwsrmu

“Whether wicked or whimsical, few folkloric figures are as iconic as the witch. Wax & Wane: A Gathering of Witch Tales serves up 30 spellbinding stories of witches that are enchanting and terrifying, amusing and enticing. Classic or eclectic, fantastical or historical, these witch tales are a literary incantation to delight any fans of witches and witchcraft.”

Buy your copy today!

Blessings, Lady Spiderwitch )O(

Tarot Magic

 

Merry meet all,

Spring is in the air. We depart from winter’s dark cold hold and are ushered into the joys of spring. Today is my adorable familiar cat’s Adoption Birthday. Penny is now six according to her adoption birthday date. Penny would now be six years old. Little rascal.

While I revel in the dark half of the year, I can’t help but gawk at my garden, impatiently waiting for the heart stirring signs of spring. The daffodils, hyacinth, tulips, snowdrops and crocuses herald spring in my garden.

Some things won’t change. I still honor my ancestors, I still wear black a lot and black nail polish- well, not as I type, and I still want to burn black candles. But there is a purpose behind what I do. Black is the ultimate color to me that draws spirits or energy towards me. Black holds energy whereas a white candle releases it. But I am not one to argue with a warmer season. It gives you so much freedom. But black also looks cool. I am so in the habit of it I barely even think of it anymore. I wear jeans for twenty minutes before I have to put on my goth witchy garb. The image I show is what I want others to see.

I have been trying a new method of reaching out to spirits that I found in the newest issue of Witches and Pagans magazine. They published my poem! You need a simple tarot cloth, a tarot deck, crystals, a candle- and you can choose the colour or shape of the candle, and incense if you prefer. You have to ground and centre yourself then pick a significator card that represents the spirit/s you wish to reach. You think of a question then pick cards till your questions are answered. When you sense it is over, then you ground and centre again. Clean the area up and let your candle and incense burn down. The candle and incense follow your intent so it is good to let them burn down to avoid confusing them. Choose candles and incense that correspond to contacting spirits. I am sure you will enjoy performing this type of necromancy.

The next turn in the Wheel of the Year is Ostara, the second Spring Sabbat. A solar equinox occurs soon. The Full Moon just passed and now the moon wanes, till it turns to new moon.

Blessed be, Lady Spiderwitch )O(

For your viewing pleasure!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9kbj_aeO2k&ebc=ANyPxKoKbcR10-RCPLZS

 

 

Magic Gown

Merry meet all,

I have sewn myself a gorgeous stunning black gown. I am so proud of it. I love the gown. That’s a good thing because it was so much work to sew. The pattern I used is the Arwen gown. I have a Simplicity pattern that I have used before. I donated those gowns to a local thrift store. There’s no way I would donate this beauty. Oh no. She’s a beauty.

I bought the material for it back in October. That is how long I have been working on the dress. I sewed the gown with painstaking care. It shows that I took gentle and loving care sewing it. I wanted the dress to have an appearance of mystery, magic and something ethereal. The devil is in the details, they say.

Yup. Truth. I wore the dress a lot, showing off my prowess, or so I thought. It turns out that the centre back section was at the front of the dress and the centre front section was at the back. I told myself I would get a tailor to do it. Nope. Guess what? I put my seam ripper to work, spending an entire weekend switching the front centre and back centre sections. The change is so amazing. Then the collar was twisted because I switched the sections. I fixed that and added a strip of black lace to the black lace collar. I stitched on a ribbon underneath the collar to conceal the interfacing. The back centre sections is where the zipper would go so I had to seam rip it and sew it on the back of the gown. It was just so much work.

Shown: early stage of gown construction-

I bought some wide black velvet ribbon and thin regular black ribbon. But I had a problem with the sleeves. Ugh. The upper cap sleeve is covered in black lace (which actually looks grey), and had to be eased in to the armhole. I stitched between the notches on the cap sleeve and pulled the thread tails. Mercifully it went well. I took my time and did it with care. It was the lower sleeves that would give me grief. The upper part of the lower sleeve has to match up correctly with the notches and markings. The long arch of the lower sleeve always points to the floor. The short part is up. You can see the dress in the photo. Also, I added a second sleeve that is hidden. The hem of the lace sleeve is what my arm goes through and the first initial sleeve is the over sleeve if that makes sense. The first initial sleeve that I worked on so laboriously has a ribbon casing. I worked in ribbon casings so I could draw the sleeve up if I want to. It is lined and edged with lace. On the outside, at the part where the lower sleeve meets the sleeve cap, I added tulle edged with black lace seam binding. I hand stitched the tulle to the upper sleeve cap to give it the look of the tulle being attached to the black lace sleeve cap. The tulle conceals the stitching of the lower sleeve to the sleeve cap.

I spent an entire day seam ripping the lower sleeve from the sleeve cap. I didn’t plan on having to seam rip through so many fabric layers- lace, lining and sleeve. Then I had the headache of creating the sleeve casing for the drawstring cords, which on one side was too narrow to fit a pin through. Then the cords were long on the wrong side- toward upper sleeve. Then the casings weren’t open enough. Then I had to reattach the layers of fabric together, underestimating that the sewing machine of course would make it too hard to do by machine- by hand. Then the edges wouldn’t meet up evenly. Anyone else surprised I had a break for a delicious grilled cheese and garlic sandwich and tea and then once done sewing and all tidied, I had an Epsom salts and lavender soak?

Good thing the whole sleeve still lines up and that the cords work and I could gather up the lower sleeve on the black fancy gown if I want to. I also inserted an extra hidden long lace sleeve from the sleeve cap.

I had some black velvet ribbon left over. I stitched a regular strip of black ribbon to the remnant of the velvet ribbon as well as on the regular ribbon, I stitched on a strip of the black lace seam binding. I stitched all that together than stitched it to the dress. The idea is that it looks like it has detail, it is a witch gown after all. Then with the ends I seam ripped the bodice on the sides, tucked in the ends of the ribbon, then slip stitched it closed again and on the wrong side of the gown, I trimmed the ribbon ends.

I stitched the wide black velvet on the collar to make the collar appear like the velvet overlaps the whole upper area. They did that on the Arwen gown and I finally figured out the trick to that. The black velvet ribbon is the same colour as the body of the dress. The actual collar is a lighter blackish grey colour, the same lace as on the sleeve caps. So the black velvet ribbon contrasts with the collar lace.

I want a tailor to do the hem though. I never needed to add a zipper to the gown because the knit material is so swishy. But the downside of that is that the material was too swishy in the sewing machine. It is hemmed but a tailor would have more control over that.

The dress shown below is the initial inspiration for my dress:

Sewing needles snapped, threads littered table and floors, patience expired and sanity was tested. But at last, the hard work is done. The gown looks beautiful.

Simplicity no longer sends patterns to Canada. I have the pattern and while I won’t make that pattern again. I have stored it away carefully. After all, you never know when you will be bit by the sewing bug and be your own fairy godmother and want to sew a witchy gown!!!!!!!!!!

Blessings, Lady Spiderwitch )O(

#amwriting: Evoking Atmosphere and Place

Life in the Realm of Fantasy

Several indie books I’ve read lately impressed me with the sense of atmosphere the author managed to pack into their work, and the sense of place.

The book I am currently reading  is a contemporary novel,  “A Girl Called Wolf” by Stephen Swartz. In the opening chapters, Swartz’s Greenland has a harsh, ethereal quality. The environment is shown as unearthly, beautiful, and deadly, as are the people. The story of his protagonist Anuka (later called Anna) and her early life stands out sharply against the nearly cinematic backdrop, yet Swartz shows it with an economy of words.

Later, when Anuka is forcibly taken to civilization, that village and its poverty, as compared to her prior life, is clear in the reader’s head. It is seen through her eyes, although the villagers themselves don’t see themselves as poor in comparison–just the opposite. Swartz manages to get that across without overstating…

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