Grimoirium Noctem

So my little sister is 6 months pregnant and not due until the end of August. At about 6 AM yesterday morning, her water broke, 3 months early. She went to the hospital and was then transferred to St. Louis yesterday afternoon. The doctors are having her stay in the hospital until the baby is born, whether that be Today, full term at the end of August, or sometime in between. As of right now, both her and my little niece-to- be are both stable but as I’m sure you can figure out, this is an incredibly sad and scary time for her and my family.

I would really appreciate it if you could send healing and protective energies and prayers her way. Her name is Brittany and she’s in St. Louis, Missouri and I believe she’s staying at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, but either way, I’m sure the gods and goddesses will know where she’s at.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated. 

Blessings to you and yours.

I love you Brittany and Grasyn!

I just received a wonderful Protection Amulet from WitchyWays!! I love it.

Ya’ll should most definitely hit her up and see if ya’ll can work something out. She’s feelin’ crafty!!

So yeah, go give her an ask @ WitchyWays!

404 - Sometimes the proper idiom of belief is the ineffable. 
However, that doesn’t really work very well for a website. 
Sadly, the page you’ve requested is not available on this server at this time.

Consider that there may be twelve elements to Ritual. For a Grand Sabbat, like Samhain or Beltaine, you might include all twelve.  For a Full Moon Esbat, you might perform eight. For a private devotional, you might do only four.

1. Purification of Self
   Take a Ritual Bath before you join the others. Ground and center before you join the others.
2. Purification of Space
   Be aware as you prepare your worship space, moving things about and collecting your props, of the work you are about to do.
3. Creating Sacred Space
   Here is where you cast your circle and invite energies from the four directions. Some are called to face outward and protect. Some are called to face inward and empower. There is much opportunity here for choice and symbolism. In a personal ritual, sometimes three quarters are acknowledges and only one is invited to participate.
4. Invocation of Goddess and God
   You invite either the Goddess or the God, or both, who are most appropriate for what you are about to do.
5. Stating the Purpose
   You really do have a purpose for this Ritual? State it with conviction and power.
6. The Work, the Magick, Ritual Observance
   Do your spell, your magick, your reverence for the season upon the Wheel of the Year.
7. Energy Raising
   Breath deeply, chant, drum. Connect with all that is within you and all that you have invoked.
8. Channel the Energy
   Visualize this energy before you. Perhaps it is blue light dancing at your center or fire spewing from your athame.
9. Releasing the Power
   Send this energy into the universe to make happen what you have envisioned: protection, strength, prosperity, connection.
10. The Feast
    Otherwise known as Cakes and Ale, in a large group, this is a sharing of symbolic cake and appropriate beverage. In a small group, it may be a true feast.
11. Thanking the Deities
    Be polite and dismiss the deities that have been good enough to join you for your magick.
12. Opening the Circle
    Dismiss the energies from the four directions that you have called. Send them on their way and bid them not to do mischief as they depart. Roll up your circle into your athame or see it evaporate: Poof!

Hug those around you. They are your fellow travelers.

*Trigger Warning: Self-Harm*

Do any of you all do bloodwork? Cutting? Or the like? 

What are your views on it?

Stick with your work.

Do not flinch because the lion roars.
Do not stop to stone the devil’s dogs.
Do not fool away your time chasing the devil’s rabbits.

Do your work.

Let liars lie.
Let sectarians quarrel.
Let critics malign.
Let enemies accuse.
Let the devil do his worst.

But see to it nothing hinders you from fulfilling with joy the work God has given you.

He has not commanded you to be admired or esteemed.
He has never bidden you defend your character.
He has not set you at work to contradict falsehood (about yourself)
which Satan’s or God’s servants may start to peddle,
or to track down every rumor that threatens your reputation.
If you do these things, you will do nothing else.
You will be at work for yourself and not for the Lord.

Keep at your work.
Let your aim be as steady as a star.
You may be assaulted, wronged, insulted, slandered,
wounded and rejected, misunderstood, or assigned impure motives;
You may be abused by foes, forsaken by friends,
and despised and rejected of men.
But see to it with steadfast determination,
with unfaltering zeal,
that you pursue the great purpose of your life and object of your being
until at last you can say, “I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do.”

- Anonymous

Time has passed, the Wheel has turned.
It is time for me to move on.
I will walk hand in hand with the Ancient Ones,
and with my ancestors who came before me.

Great Mother, welcome me back into your womb,
I come to you and know I am blessed,
for my life has been one I am proud of.
As I enter your world, wrap me in your loving arms,
and welcome me.

Lord of Death, I wait for you to take me,
I come to you willingly, with eyes wide open,
as my last moment approaches on the horizon.
May I look upon you without fear, without pain,
and knowing that those who walked before me,
await me on the other side.

O Ancient Ones, give me strength to take these final steps,
and allow me to do so with peace and dignity.
Let my family mourn my passing but not my loss,
and let them heal knowing I will see them again.
Time has passed and the Wheel has turned.
It is time for me to move on.

I used this prayer after my Grandma passed on to Summerland. I adapted it to fit the situation. This is the original. It was a very moving ritual. I was crying like a baby. Original is from PaganWiccan About site @ http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/prayersandincantations/a/Dying_Prayer.htm

I’m not quite sure who the creator of this survey is nor who I got it from, if someone could point me in the right direction, I will gladly link the source.

Please describe briefly your Path:

I’m a Ecclectic Pagan. I guess my ‘main’ influences are Norse and Wiccan. The other inspirations consist of (off the top of my head): Asatru, Celtic, Greek, Folk magic, Hoodoo, Voodoo, Shamanism, Native American spirituality, Buddha-dharma, and a good bit of skepticism and science.

Please describe briefly how you practice it:

I do what feels natural in the moment. My rituals are sometimes Wiccan and sometimes more Asatruic in nature. I try to reside in the present and commune with deity in every aspect of my life.

When did you first commit to your Path?

I’m going to say, about five years ago when I started following Buddha-dharma. I begin here and not when I started practicing Paganism simply because Buddha-dharma is still a crux of my practice.

How is your practice different now than it was then?

Well, as of about three years ago, I began on the path of Paganism, starting with Wicca (as so many do) and gradually becoming more and more Ecclectic.

Is your practice different today than how you thought it would be back then?

Absolutely. At the time, I thought the Teachings of Buddha would be my soul guide. But I gradually incorporated a nature-based outlook as time passed.

Does your Path and core belief system differ now than how it was when you first started?

In so many ways, it’s practically impossible to list.

What is your heritage and how does this inform your Path?

My maternal heritage is Irish and Cherokee. My paternal side is German. I try to incorporate aspects of Celtic, Native American, and Germanic Heathenism into the folds of my path in a multitude of ways. I centrally follow the Celtic Wheel of the Year (but am currently researching the Norse wheel as well). I definitely follow the Native American idea of Spirit Animals and Guides, and am looking into incorporating other aspects of the culture into my practice. I primarily work with the Germanic Norse pantheon and am hoping to learn much more about the Norse culture.

What are your main influences for your Path?

Norse and Wiccan

Which do you do more: practice or research?

Currently, Research. But I hope to eventually gain enough knowledge to begin practicing more. Although research will never cease.

Do you feel that one is more important than the other?

Practice is probably slightly more ‘important’, but both are completely necessary to have a fulfilling and honourable spiritual life.

What values and ethics are important on your Path and in your practice?

Honesty, Reciprocity, Love, Integrity, Trust, Courage, Open-Mindedness, Resiliency, Inner-Strength, Outer-Strength, Discipline, Balance…Just to name a few.

What sort of cycles do you feel your practice goes through?

Ebbs and Flows. I started off strong a few years back, then took a ‘leave of absence’ for a while, and then began again with a strong push a few months back. I’m learning more and more every day.

What is one of the greatest obstacles or struggles you have had to overcome?

The Will and Patience to deal with Willful Ignorance of Others, especially within our Community

How do you see yourself practicing in ten years?

Oh Gods, I hope to be on my own by then. With a whole room dedicated to my practice. A thriving garden. A stable career. Maybe even a mentee. And books, lots and lots of books. Oh, I love books.

How do you incorporate your practice into your life?

A very simple but fulfilling thing that I do, is kiss the moon twice when I greet her. I try to take at least a few moments each day appreciating nature. I like to meditate for a while each day as well, although I don’t always remember. I try  to live my life to the fullest, being a beacon of light for the goodness of deity.

Has walking your Path changed you as a person?

Immensely. It has given me one more thing I can be proud of. I believe it has enriched my character. I have turned completely from my keptomanic ways. I try to see the beauty in everyone and to never pass judgment.

Do you consider yourself to be a priest/ess? How so?

Absolutely not. I do not know nearly enough. I have never felt a calling towards priesthood. I am just a simple man, walking an extraordinary path.

A witch? How so?

Witch, Heathen, Seeker, Practitioner, Human Being. Why do we need labels?

A shaman? How so?

In no way shape or form. I would love to learn from a true shaman and delve deeply into the practices of shamanism. As of now, I know so very little about the practice.

Which matters more: getting the vocabulary right or the actual practice of what we are trying to define?

Vocabulary has its place, but for the larger part, the practice is of the most importance. Walk the walk, don’t talk the talk.

One of the most profound things anyone ever said to you was:

It wasn’t said directly to me, but it is the slogan of my favorite Pagan podcast, Another Pagan Podcast. “Don’t be a douche!”

A defining moment on your Path was:

Although I have a few qualms with his personality, I would say it was when I met “D”. He is the only Asatru I have ever met in person, and opened my eyes up in so many ways to the power and awe of the Norse pantheon.

Have you ever taken a “leap of faith”?

Isn’t religion in general a huge “leap of faith”? I am a skeptic by nature, but there’s just something about Paganism that I can’t shake. It’s a part of me to my very core!

Please tell us something stupid, reckless or embarrassing you did once in your practice:

Reading Solitary Witch by SRW as my first book about Paganism. Thinking that it was about Paganism in general, and not about the poor presentation of Wicca that it is. Taking it as “gospel”.

What is the most frustrating thing about your Path?

So, so much to learn and not enough hours in the day.

Have you ever been frightened?

In regards to my path? Not really. In general? I’m always a little frightened about my future, primarily because I can’t seem take university seriously. My gpa is fallllllllinnnngggg. I’m about to lose all financial aid. And I have no idea what will become of my life without a degree. Well, I really don’t even know what will become of my life if I do get the degree either.

Can you perform ritual without a script?

I think the intention is much more important than the words. But I do normally use a script. I would like to get to the point where I just KNOW what should be said according to the moment.

Have you ever preformed spontaneous magick/spellcraft?

When my grandmother passed on to Summerland a few weeks ago, the second I had private time, I looked up a general Crossing poem, lit some candles and incense and just went with what came natural. I have never cried so much as during the ritual. Very moving, and I definitely feel that it was my most powerful magick yet.

What are you still exploring or experimenting with?

Gods, so many things. I want to learn rune magick and divination, bone divination, herbology, palmistry. Along with everything I can about all the paths I’ve mentioned above and well, about everything I can.

What (or whom) are you the most committed to in your practice and on your Path?

Currently? I’m just committed to learning and knowledge. Eventually, I hope to find my patrons, spirit guides, familiars, and be able to rejoice in honouring them.

Ritual tools are …

Tools for focusing and directing intent. Can consist of everything from nothing but your body to a full alter of countless tools.

Magickal tools are …

Body, Mind, Soul, Nature, Correspondences, Elements, Deity.

The one thing you can’t do without is:

Community of Believers

Seeking personal power is …

Counterproductive

Politics and you Path are …

Unfortunately Interlinked. Religion should be completely and totally out of politics.

One thing you wish people would understand about your Path and/or practice is:

Spirituality and Divinity is Universal across cultures. Appropriation should not have a negative connotation. If every care is take to know the history and intricacies of another’s practice, melding it into your own can be a very rewarding and spiritual process.

Do you teach?

I can only claim to know nothing. Because something is never enough. I gladly share what I have learned and experienced; everything, even my words, must be taken with a grain of salt.

What do you feel is the role of clergy in modern Paganism and Heathenism?

Guidance, confidant, counseling, matrimonial. Never should them be looked at as enhanced or more vital that someone not in a clerical station.

When the Veil (or Hedge!) is thin, how does that feel to you?

Utterly magickal. A time to commune with the past.

What entities do you work with most? (ancestors, gods, fae etc)

Deity and/or nature in general.

What is your relationship with the Land?

I respect and honour it so much, in my head. In truth, I could do so much much much better. I don’t recycle. I do reuse quite a bit though. I have a bad habit of littering. I need to get a lot better.

The most important aspect of ritual is:

Everything? Oh you want my specifics? Well, I’ll give you a few. Grounding before and after and energy-building before releasing intent.

The main purpose of ritual is:

Honouring Deity and Nature. Reciprocity. Spellwork.

What is the purpose of divination/dowsing (or whichever form of augury you use)?

Obtaining a basic outline of how the future possibly COULD be.

What was the most difficult book you ever read? (Either difficult to understand or hard to face what it said or both)

I haven’t read as much of them as I’d like, but the Eddas are particularly strenuous to read but oh so fun and worth it.

What book do you recommend the most to others?

American Gods by Neil Gaiman. It’s fictitious, but so very pagan-y and makes you think, a lot.

What is you favourite podcast (if any) and favourite blog (other than your own)?

Another Pagan Podcast   …   And for blog, it’s a toss-up between nordenvind, fuckyeahvikingsandcelts, and transpaths; all of which are on tumblr.

If you could impart only one last piece of wisdom or knowledge, or share one experience with the world at large, what would it be?

Take life slow and rejoice in the beauty of your surroundings.

Is there an additional question you would like to see here? What is it? (please also answer)

I’m good.

Please finish this meme with a picture, image or photograph of some sort:

While helping my mom plant in her garden. I told her she shouldn’t be planting during a Barren sign. She didn’t care. 

First, I snap my ring, next her plants will probably wither. 

Gah, at least the rings are only like 4 bucks but I’d still like to be able to keep one for longer than like a few months. I’ve already snapped 2. They’re so brittle, but I just love em.

there is a pagan radio network. It’s called, wait for it, Pagan Radio Network. They can be listened to on the interwebz along with on iTunes under the Religion tab of the Radio section. 

It’s pretty good music. I’d say 20% of the songs are not in English, but that’s chill by me.