This is the beginning of my witchy corner of the world! :)

I’m really excited to have started this blog after a lot of internal debate about it, and hope that I can help other people as well as myself work through being pagan in a time where that’s still not really accepted! I have been practicing for about five years and am just finally coming out of the broom closet at age 18, so I know how hard it can be.

This blog is basically going to be a summation of random bits and pieces of Wicca, Paganism, and other religions to help anyone who needs it on their journey. I’m mainly planning on focusing on the practical ways to live as a witch either in school or at work where you have confined space, money, and solitude much like every average college kid! Along with my own blunt opinions (and this is the formal warning, they can be blunt) I’m hoping to post everything from pictures to book reviews and everything in between!

I really hope you like my blog and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

Blessed Be!

Amber Moon <3

Hey Witchies! :)

Okay so for my first post I’m going to start with a book I’ve found to be pretty useful. I know some people in the pagan community don’t really like her, but I’ve found Silver Ravenwolf to be a decent place to start for beginners as far as becoming familiar with terms, practices, beliefs, and an assortment of other things. So the first book I’m going to review is “To Ride A Silver Broomstick” by Silver Ravenwolf. Generally speaking, the book covers most of the basics of Wicca and Paganism. Keep in mind that this review is from my own experiences so they’re definitely not from any type of expert opinion.

The book is prefaced with the Charge of the Goddess, which I found to be only appropriate for new comers looking to discover Wicca. Ravenwolf notes, after the story, that the original Charge was written by Doreen Valiente for Gardnerian rituals and has been adapted in this book into story form. I thought this was a good way of going about it, because it allows the reader easier access into the story. This is especially good for newcomers.

Section One: Background Shadows starts the book off with a chapter on “Picking Up The Broomstick” and devotes a whole chapter to magickal jargon, the sabbats, and defining all the gods and goddesses. This is a great way to start off for beginers, especially since these are the major things that come with practicing the Craft. In my own journey, being able to learn the jargon was one of the first things I wanted to do. What better way to learn than to learn to terms?! Putting the sabbats and the different pantheons in the first section is also helpful for those who don’t have much knowledge of the Wheel of the Year and the different deities.

Part Two: Building Shadows was one section I found to be a little out there for those just starting out. Although the first two chapters on magickal names and meditation are useful (as meditation is a big part of my own practices), the chapter on stocking your magickal cabinet seemed a little too much because young witches will assume that to practice Wicca you need these items. You don’t need all sorts of tools or herbs or whatever to be spiritual and to practice Wicca. Practicing your faith is not about having tools and supplies, it’s about what you feel in your heart and doing what your heart tells you to.

Part Three and Part Four are informative in some chapters such as divination and drawing down the moon. Chapters 17 and 18 are good for reference since they cover color, candle, and sympathetic magick, and gems, herbs and healing. These are all good to have especially when forming ones Book of Shadows. The very last chapter of the book is about coming out of the broom closet. This is especially important for young witches looking to come out to their friends and family about their faith. This has taken me far longer than it really needed to, and even though I was terrified that people wouldn’t accept me, I haven’t been met with a disagreement yet. Coming out of the broom closet is a big step on the pagan path and is well worth taking.

Hope this helps! I’ll be reviewing other books as time goes on (and as I read them!) so look for new reviews! Any questions at all, don’t hesitate to ask :)

Bright Blessings,

Amber Moon )O(

Question One: What’s your witchy background?

Where does my witchy story begin? Well, I believe it begins in middle school. When I was in middle school I had an infatuation with faeries, and always wrote stories with faeries in them. Then, I got around to reading the Sweep (Wicca) books by Cate Tiernan, and the Circle of Three series by Isobel Bird. I knew there was something about them that I liked. Now, by this time, I had already come to terms with the fact that I was not Catholic as I’d been raised. So I started looking into this mysterious new faith more, and before long I’d realized that I connected with it well. By the time I made my conformation that year, I’d already known I was not Catholic, but my parents wanted me to be confirmed. To this day I’ve never told them of my beliefs.

After that, I went to Catholic high school. It was the hardest four years of my life, but solidified my beliefs in a way I could never thank it for. Although, I spent four years forced to take Catholic theology where one teacher actually did a lesson on Wicca (which told the entire class the WRONG information) I found now that I’m in college that the time I spent there really solidified my beliefs and made me realize who I am. I started to learn more, read more into Wicca and Paganism, study Buddhism and Hinduism and eventually started to really practice in a way I couldn’t before.

Now that I’m in college, I have more time and space to practice, and I love it. I’ve found that I’m a really spiritual person on the inside, and that all that time I spent trying to fight the religion being forced down my throat in all those mandatory masses in high school really shaped who I am. I’ve now got my own space where I can openly have my books, my Book of Shadows, my Buddha and anything else I want without being judged. I’ve also started belly dancing and yoga, because I found both to be spiritually helpful. I also meditate now (or try to in the noisey dorm) which has helped me immensly on my journey. That’s why I created this page really, because I know that out there, there have to be people like me who are having just as hard of a time trying to practice as I did. All I have to say is stay strong, stick to your beliefs and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Day Two: A Myth Or Story From Folklore

Wow, I have so many favorites in this category. This is the story of Thoth, one of my patron gods of the Egyptian pantheon. :)

Thoth (pronounced “Toth”, rhyming with “both”) was one of the most important deities of ancient Egyptian religion and worship. Typically portrayed with the head of an ibis (a big, sacred wading bird), Thoth was known as the tongue of Ra, who had cursed him, and often spoke on Ra’s behalf. Because his job was to speak the words that fulfilled Ra’s wishes, Thoth is credited with creating the heavens and earth.

Although he is referenced in some sources as being Ra’s son, there is also a theory that Thoth managed to create himself by using the power of magical language. He is known as the creator of magic and the messenger of the gods. Thoth is also referred to in some stories as the keeper of divine records, advisor to the gods, and mediator in disputes. He appears in a few legends as the god who weighs the souls of the dead, although many other stories assign that job to Anubis.

Because Thoth is a lunar deity, he is often portrayed wearing a crescent on his head. He is closely associated with Seshat, a goddess of writing and wisdom, who is known as the scribe of the divine. The Greeks saw him as Hermes, and so the center of Thoth’s worship in the classical world was found in Hermopolis.

Thoth appears in a significant role in the legend of Osiris and Isis. When Osiris was murdered and dismembered by his own brother, Set, his lover Isis went to gather up his pieces. It was Thoth who provided her with the magical words to resurrect Osiris so that she could conceive his child, Horus. Later on, when Horus was killed, Thoth appeared to help in his resurrection too.

Thoth enjoyed a bit of a resurgence in popularity when Aleister Crowley published The Book of Thoth, which is a philosophical analysis of the Tarot. Crowley also created a Thoth Tarot deck.

Thoth is sometimes called upon for workings related to wisdom, magic, and fate. He may also be invoked if you’re working on anything to do with writing or communications — creating a Book of Shadows or writing a spell, speaking words of healing or meditation, or mediating a dispute http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/godsandgoddesses/p/Thoth.htm

Thoth is one of my patron gods for soo many reasons. He is associated with writers and scribes, the moon, magic, and nature, all things which are important in my life. To find that he was one of my patron gods I did a simple meditation I found on CharmingPixieFlora’s YouTube channel. If you haven’t heard of her, she is brilliant and has a lot of great instructional videos on nearly everything so check her out!

Day Three: Witchy Tools- Athame

I personally don’t have one so I really don’t know anything about the athame other than that it’s a common magickal tool among witches.

 However you refer to it, athame, yag-dirk, witch blade, seax or the like, the athame is a witches primary tool for rituals and circle magic. It is the instrument we use to draw magical circles and other diagrams. Once consecrated, it is an extremely precious tool in Wicca and Witchcraft. We offer a wide selection of many types of athames ready for consecration and use in your sacred space.
http://www.witchstore.net/athames.html

If anyone has any good sites about athames and their uses feel free to add to the information I have here. I’d love to build a foundation that covers all the basics in Wicca and paganism! If you have anything, message me and I’ll be sure to add it in!

-BLessed Be-

Amber Moon )O(

Okay, I know this has zero to do with what I normally post on this page, but I’m curious. As pagans, Wiccans, and witches, I’d like to know everyone’s opinions on this movie. I saw the trailer for it the other day and sat there wondering what to think. Although it looks like a decent movie (not to mention I love Nicholas Cage) the idea of the witch in the trailer and even on this movie poster is slightly disturbing. Notice in the poster that behind the girl portraying the witch is an inverted pentagram made of flames and the inscription that reads “not all souls can be saved”. I’m wondering what kind of message that this is sending out to people in a day and age where paganism is becoming increasingly more popular especially among teens and young adults. So, tell me your thoughts. I’m really curious as to the opinions of others on this one because as many times as I watch the trailer, I can’t wrap my brain around this one. The link to the trailer is below if you haven’t already seen it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6QY5LOa6MM

Bright Blessings,

Amber Moon )O(

Day Seven: Air Element

Wildberry Incense! I love this stuff. I know it’s not exactly the same as making it yourself, but I have a ton of this stuff and it comes in the most unique scents which are both good for magick and just for fun! One of my favorites being their “Fizzy Pop” incense which smells incredible and like soda :) Wildberry incense is also great if you don’t want to burn it for that long because they make short sticks as well as full size ones. They also sell cones, oils and candles which makes them really versatile.

Blessed Be <3

I’m sorry I’ve been a bit MIA recently but I’ve been so busy! Just want to wish everyone a merry solstice and hope that it turns out to be a wonderful sabbat for all :) I hope a lot of you got to see the eclipse last night, sadly I didn’t. My ability to stay awake that long has been hindered by a third round of mono so I didn’t get to see it. I hope everyone has a lovely day!

Love and Light )O(

Amber Moon <3

This is probably one of my personal favorite myths in all of paganism. I read it in a book somewhere a long time ago (probably in a work of pagan fiction) and it’s stuck with me ever since. I’m going to try to find the entire myth in detail to post but for now this is a small overview of the tale for this lovely Midwinter’s day.

Love and Light )O(

In many Celtic-based traditions of neopaganism, there is the enduring legend of the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King. These two mighty rulers fight for supremacy as the Wheel of the Year turns each season. At the Winter solstice, or Yule, the Oak King kills the Holly King, and then reigns until Midsummer or Litha. Once the Summer Solstice arrives, the Holly King returns to do battle with the old king, and defeats him. The Holly King them rules until Yule.

In some Wiccan traditions, the Oak King and the Holly King are seen as dual aspects of the Horned God. Each of these twin aspects rules for half the year, battles for the favor of the Goddess, and then retires to nurse his wounds for the next six months, until it is time for him to reign once more.

Often, these two entities are portrayed in familiar ways - the Holly King frequently appears as a woodsy version of Santa Claus. He dresses in red, wears a sprig of holly in his tangled hair, and is sometimes depicted driving a team of eight stags. The Oak King is portrayed as a fertility god, and occasionally appears as the Green Man or other lord of the forest.

Ultimately, while these two beings do battle all year long, they are two essential parts of a whole. Despite being enemies, without one, the other would no longer exist.

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/yulethelongestnight/p/Holly_KIng_Yule.htm

fuckyeahaltars:

via elfmage.files.wordpress.com

 I know that today is Yule and therefore I should be blogging my Yule alter, but I couldn’t resist the urge to post this on my page. I love Buddhism and Buddha and thought that this was one of the most stunning alters I’ve ever seen. As an Eclectic, I do take a great deal from Buddhism and will go into that in a later post.

love & light

Amber Moon<3