Hey Crystal! Hope you're enjoying the season.

The feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe I December 12. Every year I buy roses for her to honor her on her special day. She is very special to me and a big part of my Yule tradition.

Edit: I don't know why my pictures from photobucket are so large all of a sudden. I will repost the picture when I can figure out how to make it smaller. It was a picture of my altar.

I was handfasted to a practicing witch and learned ALOT in our time together. Just remember, if a spell is cast, expect and be prepared for the same 3 fold or more. My witch practiced white magic, and had no problems.

I have been practicing magic for well over 10 years and have never seen evidence for the supposed "3 fold rule". In my opinion, that was created to make witchcraft more palatable to Christians specifically and society in general. They feel better about it because it's similar to their own "if you do bad you will go to Hell".

That being said, spells can and do manifest in ways you do not expect. They change you and they change your world. And change is usually painful but necessary. Giving birth, growing pains, no pain no gain....it all applies to spellcraft and manifesting a new reality in your life.

Be careful what you wish for. There may not be a "rule of three" but you may be surprised to learn you didn't exactly want what you thought you wanted.

And welcome to Mingle.

Ruth!

Johnn!

Many people think that spellcraft is about getting stuff you want. While it does do that, I find the most important thing it does is help me clarify in my mind what is truly important to me and what will really make me happy. It's not always what you think it is.

http://us5.campaign-archive1.com/?u=01cc26246961a2ba77e6cb2ce&id=1b22b70957&e=67a5eeb2e0

For instance, I used to think that I wanted more money. What I learned from spellcraft was that it wasn't cash that I wanted. It was the feeling of security that came from money. So, it was a feeling I was after. The feeling of being at peace about an uncertain future. I wanted to be free of fear. And, ultimately, there is no dollar amount that can do that. Money comes and money goes and it's no longer the amount I have that gives me the peace I so desperately want.

Actually it's not about what you want, but about what you need. Which can be miles apart.
I once used that as a caption: I got nothing I wanted, but everything I needed


Would like to add that getting what you want by using magick is dangerously close to black magick.

I have to disagree with you on both points. I guess it partly goes to how you define "need". I don't "need" a loving, romantic relationship in my life. But I definitely want one. And I have no problem using magic to manifest that in my life.

I am a "Charmed" fan, but, in my opinion, the "not using magic for personal gain" is as fictional as their powers and weekly demon fights. Magic is as natural as the changing of the seasons and if you can't use magic to create a better life (which includes personal gain) than you can't cut down trees to build a house either.

Need as in what your Higher Self knows you need, not what you're ego thinks it needs. Hence it not always being pleasant, because it's not necessarily the same as what you want.
But basically the caption explains that in itself.

I've never really watched Charm. I read one of the books, just out of curiosity and I think I've seen some previews on an episode a couple of times. But I generally don't like witchy series as it's so over the top.
The only one I watch and do enjoy is "The Witches of East End".

I get what you're saying. But we will have to agree to disagree on this one.

I only mentioned Charmed because your statement about doing spells for what you want being close to black magic is the same message the show gives. And I don't agree.

Now I do believe that all spells (black and white) have consequences. Some good, some bad. Depending on your viewpoint. So, again, the phrase "be careful what you wish for" comes to mind.

Just wondering, you watch "Witches of East End" as well?

Just 1 more day to prep for the 21st. I intend to do a ... well, something. There's a portal activation to do with the feminine energies and you can tune in to a global meditation thing at 5.11 pm GMT.
I'm not sure whether I will join that one, but I do intend to do something.
I haven't done any real rituals for a number of years as my energy was needed to survive in a bad relationship and last year I didn't feel like it yet.
Must say you got me going in that sense as well. Suddenly I bump into ppl that are practicing witchcraft / shamanism everywhere. That hasn't really been part of my life for some 5 years (I was still busy with energy work but not really shamanism) Apparently I need it in my life at the mo. And with the importance of the divine feminine being brought back to earth and anchoring it, not really a surprise, as witchcraft / shamanism also embraced the divine feminine.
Plus it's very earth-based, which is important at the moment as well.
Anyway, long story short, I'm enjoying it again! I even emailed my former hedgewitch teach about something, haha.

I am very anxious to see it, but I don't have cable so I have to wait for it to come out on Netflix. I've heard it is really good.

I am so glad to hear you have started practicing again. When I was going through very difficult periods in my life, I would stop practicing as well. So, I get where you are coming from. Spirituality is something that takes a backseat to surviving.

I am going to try and go for a hike on the 21st and then I'll have a quiet ritual with a fire in the fireplace. It will be very low key as my daughters are here this weekend. Plus, I'm not feeling so well right now. I feel a Lupus flare up coming on. So, I will be sleeping a lot.

Hope you're going to be okay, from what I gather Lupus is pretty bad :(

I'm lucky in that it's never been life threatening for me. The Goddess keeps me safe.

Here are some great, easy Yule rituals. I am doing the "Welcoming back the sun" ritual with a yellow candle I made.

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/yulerituals/tp/YuleRituals.htm?nl=1

Haha, the broom and kitties is funny

I can't get myself to do a ritual, and as the portal activation that is at its peak today, has to do with the feminine energies, I decided to get all my goddess figurines downstairs, set them up and burn incense and candles.

So I got Gaia, Anuket, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Lilith, Lakshmi. Left back (tall statue) Aradia and right back (plaque) Hecate.
Two chalices, one of my cauldrons with )O( design, and three smaller pewter goddess figurines in the front.
I selected a few crystals to go with it and a pink and purple candle. Painting is mine and I noticed the golden sun & moon (wall) is in it too :) Happy coincidence.

Omg, Crystal!! I love that! Thank you so much for posting that. It literally made my heart jump.

Did you paint the painting?