B is for Book of Mirrors/ Shadows

B is for Book of Mirrors (BOM) and Book of Shadows (BOS)

in

The Pagan Blog Project

   For the second week on the letter B I am going to talk about the Book of Mirrors and Book of Shadows. The Book of Mirrors is usually used as a journal type, or a place to take notes, though it can be used as any thing you'd like really! Some choose to combine their Book of Mirrors and Book of Shadows into one. For me I have a cute little book I had lying around that is full of information about Gods, Goddesses, plants, colors, stones, etc. It is mostly basic stuff since it was all when I started out in the very beginning. Now I have one that is just a red spiral bound notebook that I keep that is almost filled up. It doesn't have to be any thing fancy, it is all what you choose to make it. I have seen some that are absolutely gorgeous and some that are super basic like mine, some home made and some bought.

 My first BOM

My Second BOM

   If I had a printer or could draw worth a darn it would look a lot more pretty!


   As for the book of shadows, this is usually where you write out your spells and write out what you used, when you did it, what phase the moon was in, what sign the sun/ moon was in, time, colors, intent, etc. I actually made my own BOS by using cardboard, extra cloth I had lying around, glue, ribbon, and computer paper where I just hand sewed it all together and glued some things for extra sturdiness. It turned out a little sloppy, but it was made by me and I love it all the more for it. I actually haven't written much in it yet though and one day I plan on making sections and combining all my BOM and BOS together in this book. That way I can just flip to a tab on gemstones, or deities, or a spell that I would like to use and it is all in one handy book. I actually tried typing up my BOM and putting it in different sections and I had a lot of work done, but I was using an old computer with all my stories, pictures, files and what not on it and I planned on printing it out at my fam's house, but it ended up crashing while I was in the middle of updating my BOM. I was really upset, but then again... they do say that when you write it out with your own hand it commits to memory better, plus it is a lot more personalized I suppose.

My Home-Made BOS

   Bright Blessings!

~FaeriesWheel☼

B is for Blue!

B is for Blue in

The Pagan Blog Project

   So originally I was planning on doing birth and babies this week, but I decided since I have not yet given birth myself (though any day now!) that I couldn't put quite the right touch to the blog. So I decided to do some thing simple at the last second and go with the color blue and it's correspondences!


   Blue, as I am sure most know, is associated with the element of water. Water is a very magical element, from the water we drink to the vast oceans to the cool rain that lightly falls on our faces. I remember reading in a fantasy book once, though I cannot remember which unfortunately, but they recognized a big wave of the ocean washing over you as being blessed by the goddess and I feel like that is a good way to cleanse yourself. Not that a lot of people can just go out every day and be swallowed up by a wave, I know I can't, living in the desert and all! When you get the chance though and obviously can be safe about it, try it out yourself!

   Things that the color blue represents: healing, communication, calmness, cleansing, creativity, the sky, peace
You can use blue candles for these correspondences as well.

Chakra(s): Throat

Some Different blue stones: Blue quartz, dyed blue howlite, sodalite, angelite, lapis lazuli, blue lace agate, blue beryl, celestite, chrysocolla (can range from greens to blues, same with drusy chrysocolla), blue kyanite, blue topaz, blue saphire, turquoise (ranges from greens to blues), and many, many more!

 

Dyed quartz

~FaeriesWheel☼

Baby Shower and big Andrew's Birthday

   So we had our baby shower on Sat, Jan 14th and it was a lot of fun. My husband and I decided we wanted to do a coed baby shower and it made it awesome for both of us. A lot of people showed up, though I thought more family would, though I am not really surprised. I hardly ever see my dad's side and the only one who showed up was his parents; my granny and grandad. My dad and step mom wouldn't even show up. They pretty much declined as soon as invitations were set out and I am not surprised at that either. Oh well, what ever.


   The party was awesome and we got so many great things that are going to help out so much with our little baby boy. Some things we got that I absolutely LOVE was a blanket made by my Nana (Mom's mom) and a quilt made by my Granny (Dad's mom). Things like that are so precious to me, because they were hand made with care and they are things that can last a life time and I love that our little boy is going to have these blankets as memories of two of his great grandmothers.


   My mom and mother-in-law did a lot of work to get the party together and my sister-in-law got us such an awesome cake and made her own really cool cupcakes which she was really upset about because the cake got a little messed up and then my father-in-law made the cupcakes roll in their container and it ruined some of them. I told her not to worry about it though and they were still super awesome! We joked the whole night about the cake going through a cannon fight on its way over here.

My husband and i cutting the baby cake!

      Also today is my brother-in-law, who passed aways 21st birthday. So today we are going to celebrate his life. We were supposed to go to Vegas (well maybe not me, being this prego) for his birthday this year. Man, do we miss him, but we know he is doing good where he is and we know he comes and sees us all the time. I just wish he was here to hold and know his nephew. He was so excited to meet him.

A is for Artemis

I knew very little about Artemis before doing this, so please bare with me if any of my info is incorrect, this is just what I have gathered over the past few days.

~Greek Goddess of the moon Artemis~

It is likely that her name is derived from the Greek word árktos, meaning ‘bear’

Roman equivalent is Diana.

Celtic Equivalent is Artio

Said to be the child of Zeus and Leto and not only the twin of Apollo, but the mid-wife for his birth.

Artemis is known as a fierce hunter and protector, the goddess of the night, protector of children, fruitfulness, childbirth, lady of the wild beasts and birds, the woodland and wilderness, marshes, lakes, the embodiment of the moon, and the eternal virgin, she is also a goddess of plague.

Call on her for Judgment, healing, temperance, music, transformation, natural law, psychic abilities, action, growth, passion, creativity, hunting and game, successful deliveries, and health.

She often was represented as a huntress carrying a golden bow and arrows and as a Goddess with a crescent moon on her forehead and some times identified with Selene, who is also a Greek moon Goddess, and her chariot being drawn by four golden horned dear.

Pan gave Artemis many hunting dogs and she always chose to hunt with 7. She also asked her father Zeus for 20 nymphai as handmaidens to bring along to tend to her shoes and her hounds.

Deer, bear, boar, guinea fowl, palm, cypress, amaranth, walnut tree, almond, cedar, honey, mugwort, willow, amethyst, moonstone, pearl and asphodel are sacred to her

She was said to be very possessive and would punish any one who went against her will, especially if it was against any of her sacred animals. She is also very protective of her virginity and would severely punish any one who would disrespect it.

References:

Photos found on google

http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/artemis.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis

http://www.theoi.com/Olympios/Artemis.html

http://www.teenwitch.com/divine/greek/artemis.html

I've Been Tagged!

I don't usually do these, but I thought it would be a fun way to get to know more people around here since I am still pretty new to the blogging community. For all those I tagged, feel free to do this or not, your choice of course! c:

 

Tag! I'm It!

Here is how it works:

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Rules:

1. Post these rules.

2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.

4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

5. Go to their blog and tell them that you have tagged them.

6. No stuff in the tagging section about ‘you are tagged if you are reading this.’ blah blah blah, you legitimately have to tag 11 people!

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11 random things about me:

1) I am 22 years

2) I am still pretty new to paganism, between 2-3 years studying

3) I like video games.

4) I've got 7 piercings, labret, nose, and 3 in the ears

5) I've got 3 tattoos, a patchwork heart, a heart design on my ankle, and a tree that takes up over half my back

6) I'm a Leo and I never felt like I had the qualities of a Leo, except now they seem to be creeping up more.

7) I've been with the same guy for 7 years in May and we will have been married 2 in June

8) I love art of all forms

9) I love to sing though I am probably horrid at it.

10) My natural hair color is an auburny-copper color

11) I have 16 siblings: 1 older full blood brother, 7 younger half siblings, 4 step siblings, and 4 in-law siblings.

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 11 Q's for me to answer from Kourtney

1) If you could transport yourself into any book, which one would it be and why? 

      -Probably a book like In Camelot's Shadow, I love the medieval era.

2) What did you want to be when you grew up?

      -The VERY first thing I wanted to be I think was a singer, I wanted to be a marine biologist in my jr high years, a photographer in my highschool to now years, and I always loved writing my own stories since I was little and still would love to do that for a living.

3) If you could go anywhere, this world or beyond, where would it be and why?

     -Norway, it is absolutely beautiful and I love it's history. Same with Ireland.

4) What decade or era do you think you belong in and why?

     -Medieval, because I always have had an obsession with that time period and before I was obsessed with that, I loved Ancient Egypt, but I don't think I would like living there.

5) Who inspires you in life and how?

     -My baby in my belly and my husband. My dogs inspire me to be more loving.

6) What is your greatest accomplishment? 

     -Losing 110 pounds and becoming a spokesperson for the diet I went on.

7) What is your most prized possession, holds the most memories or means the most to you?

     -I really value some of my books, my wedding ring and engagement ring are probably my most valued though, because they mean so much to me. Not because they are jewelry and expensive, but because of what they represent and that they are a precious gift of love and promise from my husband.

8) Do you have a favorite quote or mantra? What is it? 

     -Live and let live, because I am surrounded so much by people and family that just are very closed minded.

9) What is your favorite movie?

     -Beauty and the Beast and Ever After, I know... I'm a nerd, but I don't care!

10) What is your favorite mythical, fantasy type creature (i.e. vampires, unicorns, etc)

     -Probably hippogryphs, thanks to world of warcraft, lol!

11) If you had to debate one or the other... would it be politics or religion? 

     -I don't know much about politics, so probably religion. I enjoy debating religion as long as all are open minded when it comes to it, I like to hear other people's views and stuff on the matter.

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My 11 Q's to those I tag...

(I really suck at these lol)

1) What is your favorite animal?

2) Do you have a totem animal, if so, what are they?

3) What is your favorite stone(s) to work with?

4) What are your favorite plant(s) to work with?

5) Do you have any patron deities? If so, who?

6) What is your favorite holiday?

7) What is your favorite fantasy book(s) or movie(s)?

8) What is your favorite pagan related book(s) or movie(s)?

9) What is your favorite number?

10) Do you prefer to work with a certain number?

11) How many pet's do you have? What are they?

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Who I tagged, if you wish to participate:

1) A Broom and the Moon

2) *The Witch Inside*

3) The Cunning Crone

4) Dusken Path

5) Bella_Moonhunter

6)Birch Goddess

7) Faery Tale Addict

8) Freckles: The Happy Heathen

9) Frosted Petunias

10) Major Arcana

11) Randomly Witchy

Thank You/ Update

   So I just wanted to thank you to all who have come and followed my blog as of recent. I think I gained most of you from the Pagan Blog Project, which is awesome! I've added a bunch too and I love reading every one's posts!


   On another note, last night I thought I was going into labor because I was having some really weird pains, but turns out I wasn't, which I was some what hoping I would be, but I still need to let the baby grow some more since I am at 34 weeks. I am not a very pain tolerant person so I am a little nervous, but at the same time I just can't wait for him to be here and I am not the most patient person! Our baby shower is this Saturday, so I am super excited for that! We have, for the most part, the big necessities now or on their way so that is a good thing!

   Oh... also I am a bit sad, because I had a little velvet pouch with stones in it and it seemed to just disappeared and it's been over a week since I've seen it. I know that stones some times move on if they have finished their purpose with you, but a whole bag of 7 stones and my first and only pendulum? So that makes me a little sad. I don't have many stones and some of them were the only ones I had of their kind. It was a bag with ametrine, my amethyst, blue quartz, my only citrine, my only clear quartz, a rose quartz, my favorite smokey quartz, and my amethyst pendulum. I've looked absolutely every where for it and I stopped looking finally and just hope that it turns up some where. I go crazy when I lose things! I usually wont stop looking until I found it. The sad thing is that I was carrying the pouch around with me while I was looking for my magnetite and since we just moved I was looking through a bunch of boxes and bags all over the place. Hopefully I can find them soon, if they will it!


~FaeriesWheel☼


PS, I started an account on pintrest and I'm ADDICTED!
http://pinterest.com/maevean/

A is for Affirmation

 

 Day 1 of The Pagan Blog Project

 ~*~A~*~

   I have a little jar full of folded up tabs of paper with affirmations on it. I like to pull out one of these affirmations and read it out loud to myself. Affirmations are used to help you change your thought process usually towards yourself. Writing down a couple different things such as:

I am a smart person
I am extremely loving
I am strong
I am very caring
I am one with nature
Etc...

   You can pull out an affirmation daily or as often as you please and say these words to yourself over and over, however many times you choose. You can meditate on the words that you have chosen and see yourself as this person. Use any words you like as long as they are all positive words and do not include any negative, which would cancel out the positive.

~FaeriesWheel☼

Short Post

   I know this is a super short post, but we are planning out the baby shower  today! Yay, I can't wait! So far we have gotten a lot of main essentials that we need and I am actually kind of surprised by that since we are kind of last second people at times, which is not a great quality! lol We are going to plan out some fun games with fun prizes and do a diaper raffle where people bring in bags of diapers and each pack earns you one entry into a drawing where we will draw a name for a prize.


   Also I have been working on a scrapbook for the baby, I have never really scrapbooked before so I am still learning, but I think it is turning out nicely so far!

 

Yeeeah I couldn't line up the letters straight for the life of me.

Yeah, I'm pretty bad with lining things up, but I think it looks good any ways.

~FaeriesWheel☼

Books

   So I didn't realize that the book Inner Temple of Witchcraft was a helpful guide to a year and a day, maybe I did when I bought it, but just forgot about it since then. I am still planning on reading it through of course, but I probably will take just a little more time with it since it has a lot of exercises and every thing. So far I am really enjoying the book and one of the meditation exercises really worked well for me. I have never been the greatest when it comes to meditation. I can always get it going and every thing, I can see things, but I never seem to get in the right "state" if that makes sense, but this one really helped me get into the right place I think.

   I know Silver RavenWolf is a writer that a lot of people don't like, but I think I am going to reread her To Ride a Silver Broomstick again while I am taking my time on the Temple of Witchcraft. That was one of the very first books I read when I started out and I really enjoyed that one, so I figured, why not? I planned on reading it again eventually any ways and thought now would be a good time.

Hope you all are having a great week!
BB!

~FaeriesWheel☼

New Years

Happy New Years to all!
My hope for this new year is to be a good mommy, lighten up a little, fit back into my old jeans I wore before being pregnant, and to live a more magickal life! I want to study more, but also be more active. I would like to grow more plants and try to get them to live through our hot summers! Then I want to challenge myself to go as far as I can with these two reading challenges. OH! I would also like to figure out how to put these as buttons on the side instead of posting them in my blog every time haha.

 

Witchy Books Reading Challenge 2012 by Pagan Culture

and

2012 Pagan Reading Challenge  by The Domestic Pagan

 
I think the first book I hope to finish is The Inner Temple of Witchcraft by Christopher Penczak

Another book I am working on that has witches in it along with vampires, werewolves, and vampire hunters, but is fiction, is the Night World series. I am on the 3rd book which appears there are 4 instead of the 3 I thought there were. This collection is written by the same author of Vampire Diaries.

Night World No. 3: Huntress, Black Dawn, Witchlight