My Spring Altar

I thought I would share with you all my Spring Altar

 Lace altar cloth I thought gave it a lightness that Spring brings to mind. The flowers in the bowl on the left are wild flowers and roses that my husband has gathered for me in the past and I have dried.
Fairies called out to me for this altar so they have a few items added. There is of course a picture of a blue fairy resting on and surrounded by bubbles or crystal spheres. The other fairy item is the wand on the right side of the altar - it is actually a pencil that came with my fairy journal and I thought it made the perfect want for me as I am a writer.
Other items on the altar include a small blue, glass chalice; butterflies, which you can read more about in my post on Found Objects; stones including Amethyst, Fuchsite, and Rhodochrosite; a photo of a statue of a woman that reminds me of the Goddess in her maiden form; behind the photo is a ceramic candle holder in the shape of a Doric column holding a lavender candle; and a crystal grid seen below.

The crystal grid is made up of 8 quartz crystals, 1 Alaskan Jade, 1 green Flourite, 2 green Aventurines, and 1 Citrine in the center. I did not choose these stones with any intent in mind. Instead, they called to me when I began to go through my crystals for my spring altar. The square design just felt right. above the grid you can see the larger quartz crystal point that I used as a wand to activate the crystal grid.

Spring is a time of new beginnings, rebirth, and especially when you're in Alaska, like me, it's a time of sunlight. The days will grow longer until I have almost 24 hour sun.
This is also a signal to start planting. I have a small indoor window garden that I will take pictures when they start sprouting.

Love and Light and Blessed Spring.

G is for Gold

Gold

Gold is Alaska's State Mineral.

It is the metal of the Sun and is therefore associated with the Sun Deities such as Apollo and Ra.
Gold still holds that place in the hierarchy of metals and their magickal properties. Not least because Gold is said to reflect and show the inner beauty of those that wear it.

Physically, Gold is said to stimulate both the skeletal and circulatory systems as well as being extensively used in matters relating to the skin.
Jewelry made from gold is said to bring pain relief, especially from arthritic or inflammation discomfort.

In magic, Gold is most known for its use in Wealth and Abundance magic. Even the color Gold is said to bring these energies into a spell. Gold also is associated with drawing in knowledge, represents power within, and is use in spells that effect authority figures.

Ordination Certification

I received my Ordination Certification Card from the universal Life Church in the mail!

I can take this card to the court house now and set up paperwork as an Ordained Minister so that I can legally do wedding in Alaska. 

Happy Ostara!

Happy Ostara Everyone!

Today is an especially wonderful sabbat for my family as it is the anniversary of the handfasting of Damon and myself.

For some reason we didn't get a really good photo of the blanket and altar set up but  you can see part of it in the background here - offering bowls, flowers, water, etc.

Me holding the chalice of milk

Damon in his rirual robe looking a lil pouty as he hates having his picture taken.

Ostara Correspondences
Incense: Jasmine, Rose
Decorations: Yellow Disk or Wheel, Coloured Egg's, Hare Decorations, Spring Flowers
Colours: Yellow
This marks the Spring Equinox. This is the Pagan "Easter" - or rather, this is the day that Christians borrowed to be their Easter. It is traditionally the day of equilibrium, neither harsh winter nor the merciless summer, and is a time of childish wonder. Painted eggs, baskets of flowers and the like are generally used to decorate the house.
For more information about the Wheel of the Year and how Ostara plays in it check out my essay HERE.

For more information about Eostra Eggs and Egg dying, see my Pagan Blog Project post - E is for Eggs.

F is for Found Objects

Tinker Bell and the Fairies call them Lost Things, the Correllian Tradition calls them Found Objects.

In Lesson 4 of the First Degree program at Witch School, Found Objects are explained:

"Found Objects are lucky in general and are always appropriate for your altar. They are symbolic messages from Spirit, and knowing their meanings is an ancient art. This can be an excellent way of receiving spirit messages, or omens, and you will lean more about it in Lesson XII. This doesn't mean just anything you find, of course, but rather things you happen across in unusual ways or in unusual places or that "speak to" you. Putting found items on the altar helps to strengthen your bond with the altar."

Here are some of the Found Objects I've collected over my years of practicing witchcraft:

These two beautiful butterflies I found in the same month. Both were dead upon finding them and both I nearly stepped on when walking around our old house. I was so amazed at how in-tact they were and have kept them in a jar on my altar to Deity ever since.

I found this Hag Stone on the beach last year. Hag stones or holey/holy stones are said to be gifts from the Fae and if you look through the hole, you can see through the veil between worlds.

There have been many other found things in my life not shown include crow feathers, bits of quartz imbedded in river rock, various beads and fake flowers, etc.

I hope this blog post gives you a new perspective - especially if your a parent whose child has a tendency to show you "junk" that they've found. It could be special to them, or a message from the Divine.

Gem and Crystal Haul!

I went to a place in Anchorage called Grizzly's Gifts with my buddy visiting from KY over the week and got a ton of crystals and was so excited I had to show off. I'll be using some of these in the Free Group Reiki Healing Session tomorrow (if you want in on this, send me your name to add to the list of those receiving healing energy HERE)
Some of these I had only heard of in passing so I'll share a lil metaphysical info with you all about each of them and maybe some insight on what I will be using these darlings for.

 Fuchsite

This photo does not do this stone justice. It is an emerald green color with metallic look so that is flashes in the light. I was drawn to this piece almost immediately upon entering the store even though I had never heard of it before. I later learned that Fuchsite is a stone for healers as it helps remind them to care for themselves rather than focusing on others all the time. 

Other properties of Fuchsite:

• Provokes the joy of the inner child in us
• Focuses its action on the immune system. 
• It is a stone of protection
• Leads our health into improvement and our material situation into abundance.

 Black Kyanite Wand

I was really excited to see this wand. I had worked with blue kyanite before but never seen black. The reason why I think that this wand is so cool is that it is actually 2 black kyanite fan formations that have grown together to form what almost looks like a double terminated wand! 

Black Kyanite's metaphysical properties include:

• Works with all Chakras, focusing most on the Root Chakra. 
• Is both Grounding and Energizing
• It is often used to also explore past-lives, and also to anticipate how current actions effect future lives.
• Helps to open the lines of communication between people
• Aligns all layers of the aura
• Kyanite transmits and amplifies high-frequency energies, making it a great stone for attunements, meditation, and dream-work.

 Amethyst cluster and tumbled

I am sure most readers are aware of Amethyst. I will be using these two particular stones in March 16th's Reiki Healing Session for its healing properties as it has always been a fantastic general healing stone for me, especially when it comes to healing through natural or energetic means. 

 Blue and Gold Tiger's Eye

Tiger Eyes are stones that I've had my own eye on for a while now, since dedicating myself to Sekhmet as my Matron deity. These are stones that associate with her - gold or red tigers eye for her wrathful nature or red magic and blue for her healing nature. 

 My New Chakra Set 

From Left to right (top to bottom) Amethyst for the Crown Chakra, Sodalite for the Third Eye, Blue Lace Agate for the Throat Chakra, Green Aventurine for the Heart, Yellow Jasper for the Solar Plexus, Orange Carnelian for the Sacral Chakra, and Hemitite for the Base or Root Chakra. 

 Hemitite

Another common stone in the realm of magic, I collected these Hemitite pieces to help me with some Root Chakra healing/opening/grounding and plan on working with them in some Chakra crystal grids. 

 Rough Rhodochrosite and Tumbled Rose Quartz

While Rose Quartz is well known in the world of crystal magic for its properties of love and compassion, I was excited to come across Rhodochrosite! This is a stone that has many similar properties to rose quartz and makes an excellent companion or substitution if need be. I especially like Rhodochrosite's ability to aid in matters of self-love and self-worth. 

 Blue Cat's Eye 

Much like the blue tiger's eyes, I bought the blue cats eye for its connection to Sekhmet and particularly her healing energies. Cat's eye is a traditional a good luck stone. It is associated with intuition, awareness, optimism and confidence. Cats eye is also believed to turn negative thoughts into positive energy. 

Goldstone

While not a mineral or gemstone in the natural sense, goldstone is actually man-made. However it is beautiful, one of my favorite 'stones' to look at and it does had metaphysical properties. Because of its man-made nature it is a stone of Alchemy and used to represent the process of turning lead into gold.

 Alaskan Jade

Alaskan Jade is a darker green stone than Chinese Jade. I think Metaphysically the only differences are that while both are used for the Heart Chakra, Alaskan jade for its darker and denser nature might be better used for physical imbalances of the Heart Chakra while Chinese might be better for emotional imbalances. 

 And here's the whole set! 

I had so much Fun! Be sure to check out my new website North Star Attunement March 16th for pictures and video of my Crystal Grid for the Free Reiki Group Healing Session.

Love and Light and Crystal Blessings!

E is for Eostra Eggs

Hello my Pagan Blog Project readers!

Ostara, one of my favorite sabbats, is coming up soon so I wanted to dedicate this post to one of the most popular activities of this holiday - Egg dying and other Egg projects.

Why the Egg?

Eggs are a symbol of life.
For humans, we can't really see a child in the womb. We simply see the mother growing larger as she creates the child.
In an egg, however, birth looks like a miracle. The mother doesn't nourish the fetus like with mammals. One can only imagine what early man thought when comparing human and mammal birth to birds and reptiles as he watched a baby duck or snake hatch from an egg.

Eggs in Myth

In Greek Orthodox Christianity, a legend of Christis resurection involving Mary Magdalene explains the origins of the Easter Egg: Mary Magdalene went to the emperor of Rome, and told him of Jesus' resurrection. The emperor's response was along the lines of "If he has truly risen, then these eggs are red." Suddenly, the bowl of eggs turned red, and Mary Magdalene joyfully began her ministry of Christianity to the emperor. (Patti Wigington)

This story is interesting when considering older uses of Eostra Eggs.
In England and Northern Europe, eggs were often employed in folk magic when women wanted to be blessed with children. Spring is a time for fertility and its magic not only upon the land but among the people and animals that live in that land.

Egg Hunts

Some believe that Egg Hunts have a darker connection to the Witch Hunts in England in which children were paid in candy or coin to look for eggs in spring that were decorated and hidden and the owner of the property on which that egg was found was put on trial for witchcraft. (wickedbones)

I cam across a ton of amazing ideas for egg-dying this year.

Silk Tie Tye-Dye
This idea can be a little pricey unless you luck up and fin some silk ties or scarves at the thrift store. However, the outcome can't be beat - the designs on the these eggs are fabulous!

Leaf Dye-Eggs
I have no clue as to what this website says or even what language it is in...but the eggs are adorable!
This is also a great alternative to artificial dye and colors and a way to do Ostara/Easter organically.

Lavender and Lilac Eggs
While not a how-to dye eggs, this blog post (also in a language I cannot understand) gives me a great idea for Ostara decorating. I would love to create a lavender and lilac altar for the day. Beautiful!

Marbled Eggs 
A how-to marble eggs with shaving cream! Genius and this blog shows that even kids can get in on the fun!
I'm just thinking of all the color combinations that could go on with this - orange and yellow and red for the spring sun; pinks for the maiden; and of course, my favorite purples!