Merry Imbolc

Merry Imbolc my Witchy Readers 

Imbolc

Celebrated on February 1st or 2nd, the pagan holy day of Imbolc may seem to the common person to have very little to do with the modern day celebration of Groundhog Day in which a groundhog is watched as it comes out of its winter home, tests the air and returns and those watching debate on the earliness or lateness of spring depending on whether the creature saw its own shadow or not. However, the student of history and of witchcraft can easily see the connection.

Imbolc, also called Oimelc or Candlemas, is a Greater Sabbat that celebrates the fading of winter and the first glimpses of spring. Imbol or Oimelc is a term meaning the “Lactation of the Ewes.” This is in reference to the herd animals kept in the barn or closed in during the winter being pregnant and lactating at this time.
The term Candlemas is in reference to the man candles and fires lit on this holiday to encourage and aid the Sun in its bringing of warmth and spring to the world. These candles are also burned in celebration of the Maiden goddess, Brighid who is the goddess of sacred fire. For Her, this holy day is also called La Fheile Bride or “Feast of the Bride.”

Other activities of celebration, other than the lighting of candles and fires, included consecration of agricultural tools as farmers and gardeners prepare for spring planting. The fashioning corn or straw dollies as well as clothes, beds and wands for them is done now in honor of the Maiden.

Correspondences for Imbolc
Deities: The Maiden goddess known as Brighid, Eos, Aradia, and Vesta. The Young God known as Eros and Aengus Og.
Herbs: Angelica, Basil, Bay, Benzoin, Blackberry, Celandine, Coltsfoot, Heather, Iris, Myrrh, Tansy, Violets
Stones: Amethyst, Citrine, Garnet, Green Tourmaline, Ruby, Turquoise
Foods: Those that honor the hearth and the fire within including most breads, preserved foods, and dairy products.
Libation: Fresh milk, Dandelion wine, mead and ale.
**From my Wheel of the Year essay**

It's not too late to join myself and my friend Priestess Maighread Birdsong for our online Imbolc ritual. Maighread is also offering Brighid Flame attunments to attendees.
Learn more and sign up HERE
Ritual is at 8am PST (or 7 am Alaskan time)

Love and Light,
HedgeWife

Free Reiki Attunement Video

Last night, I came across a video that I wanted to share with you all.
First, some background.
Sherry Andrea runs a site in which she offers Usui Reiki I, II, and Master levels, Kundalini Reiki, Ethereal Crystals, and Fusion Reiki for free - she only asks that you purchase the manuals at $5 each on her site - a steal when I've seen just one level of attunement go for $300 before.



The video is short and concise and afterwards you might remain in meditation for sometime, or go to sleep.

I remained in meditation for about an hour but I did pause to switch the videos to one found HERE that helped me stay in meditation and ignore the night sounds around me of running cars, people on the stairs, etc.

Shery Andrea also has a video on YouTube that explains Why you should be attuned to Reiki HERE.

Now I normally try and veer away from describing my experience of an attuenemnt here in full as I do not want to influence what anyone else sees or feels but since I was skeptical of this attunement (I always am of a good thing) I thought sharing my experience might help.


I was surrounding with empty space and my hands were vibrating with energy
I was given a given an orb that looked like Earth, then turned into a clear crystal point which raised up above my head then came down through me through my crown and out my base into a deep spiraling abyss below. There, it rebounded and returned to me through my throat. 

My throat felt full, as if I would burp or gag. I began breathing out hard, expelling blue black air that entered the space void and dissipated. This continued until the feeling of gaggin was gone – a throat chakra block was being cleared.

The next crystal was violet and entered my third eye – I was told by a soft voice that I would see now, I would see what ailed people in order to heal them
The next was a pink crystal quickly heading towards my heart where it shattered and suddenly I felt small bits of energy hit my heart, lungs and rib cage where they melded into my very cells. 

I then saw the earth as if I was floating in space and I was told “Heal Her” I directed my still tingling hands downward to her core and filled her with energy that came at me from all around. The voice said "As Above So Below."

The next crystal was orange and came up through my base into my womb. I felt like this was appropriate as I was helping heal our Mother Earth, the physical of the creating force.
The next was a red crystal that hit the base of my spine and I saw a very small red dragon there, coiled and ready. 
The next was bright yellow and it hit my solar plexus with force and ignited what looked like a small sun. 

Before I could react I saw a white dragon rise up form the abyss. I thought it was my dragon guardian, Akh, but he was here with me and denied that this white being was him. He told me that this white dragon would be with me to guide me as a Healer – a new spirit guide.

Then I saw a great turquoise eye that examined me. It asked if I wanted to SEE and I said yes and two eyes overlapped mine, both turquoise and gold and I was told I would now see through the veil and through the body. 

When I finally laid down (I was sitting the whole time prior) I saw a great Buddha that turned into Quan Yin that turned into Yemeya all with a silvery white star in the middle of their forehead. I was in awe and in peace at the same time. 

Finally, I slept and before dosing I gave permission that the Reiki empowerment would continue as I slept. 
This morning, other than my arm being asleep from where I had laid on it, I felt rejuvenated and replenished – my sleep was deep, my energy is high, I feel great. 

And because I was still wary and it is always good to check yourself...I did a pendulum reading on the reiki attunement. The reading affirmed that I have been attuned to Reiki levels I, II, and Master level and that I am now a Reiki practitioner.
(for those of you who are curious I use an ametrine pendulum on a silver chain).

Does this mean I will discontinue my studies with the Reiki school linked to Witch School? No, because it is always good to re-attune and learn more (just like the above video says.

Love and light,

HedgeWife

Choosing an Attunement

Over the next few days, along with my posts about magical herbs, spells, and whatnot you'll probably be reading some posts about the attunements I will be receiving from various mentors and guides.
For those of you that do not know what an attunement is -

Attunement is a ritual in which a teacher/Master/mentor/guide initiates another into the energy system usually after study of manuals explaining how and when to use the energy. This can be done face to face usually during or after a cleansing using that system or long distance through meditation and the receiver connects to the energy through a chi ball or by accessing the Cosmic Healing Bank (I'll talk about these things later).

I thought, since I'll be talking about it, I'll tell you all how I choose what attunements to take out of the MANY that are available in the wide world.

First off, 
I listen to omens and intuition. If something keeps coming up in my life, I have made note to pay attention.
It happened with my studies of Orion, the same with the need for stones like fluorite (it wasn't until I had a whole bundle of them on a whim that I learned they were the exact energy I needed for the emotions I was dealing with at the time). Lately, this has happened with an attunement I will be talking further about in later posts - Sekhmet Sekhem.
The lion-head goddess Sekhmet has been coming up in a lot of my readings lately. Everything from my First Degree lessons to my readings in Pagan Polyamory. So when I was offered a Sekhmet Sekhem attunement by donation I jumped on it. There is a reason she has chosen to make herself known in my life (even though I have always held little interest in Egyptian mythos).

The second reason is monetary.
This may sound overly mundane in a discussion about metaphysical and magical attunements but it is a necessary consideration. In the world of attunements, cost varies. Some are free, some are for low prices of $5-15, and others can go as high as $600.
I am currently self-employed by offering my services as a tarot reader (HERE). Other than that I am a poor student and housewife who's husband and girlfriend work to keep bills paid and food in the pantry. Things like pricey attunements and books on advanced forms of magic and healing all go to the back of the broom cupboard for later dates.
That being said, when an attunement is standing right in front of me, screaming at the top of its lungs, waiving its arms, and telling me that I NEED it NOW...it still isn't going to work out if its price tag is no where near what I can afford.
If the universe and my life path dictates that I am meant for this attunement, then it will come to me at a time in which I will be able to afford it and accept it readily. This was a lesson that a friend taught me when we were discussing costs of lessons and attunements. It was a good lesson to learn and one I have kept.

Thirdly, and this is no list of importance, all three of these things are taken equally into account when I decide on an attunement, is the question
"Is this legit?"
While I like to think the best of people and their magical work...I have been taught a few lessons that some people and spells and whatnot can be coated in honey so thick it easily conceals bitter wormwood beneath...that is, until it hits the stomach.

What do I look for in a legit attunement offer?
Is the teacher making an effort to look presentable online? This sounds a little shallow but representation shows that this person cares enough about what they're doing to create an online space that is comfortable to be in, easy for seekers to navigate, and also easy to contact them.

Another thing I look for is information about the energy they are offering to attune me to. Are they the one and only master of this energy they found a week ago and no one else has ever heard of it? I give them a nod of encouragement and usually move on until I can learn something else about them or their teaching - this is not something I recommend, I'm sure that other people felt this way about Patrick Zeigler and look at him now! I'm just saying that this is my own choice of wariness.

Do they have manuals? Is there an actual lesson to the attunement with information on how to use the energy and pass it along to others? Without this information, I feel a little lost on the point of the attunement. I can be given all the energy in the Universe but without at least a little knowledge of how to use it, I don't feel like its work a grain of sand.


Well, there it is readers. I hope that this helped a little in your own searching on attunements.
If you have any other tips or advice, please share them.

Love and Light,
HedgeWife

Ethereal Flowers Attunement

Hello Everyone,

Today I received  a very special attunement - Ethereal Flowers 1-2.
This attunement allows me to create energetically infused flower remedies - very similar to Bach Flower Remedies - for a variety of needs like fear, fatigue, jealousy, and even a Rescue Remedy.

The attunement was given tome by Priestess Maighread Birdsong of Phoenix Rising Reiki. The lineage of this attunement is Pamala Caddy to Luci Jonston to Maighread Birdsong to Me!

I'm very excited to have received this attunement and have been using it for myself, my family, even my cat.

In other related news:

I have recently signed up for another attunement, also through Phoenix Rising Reiki - this one is from Luci Jonston who is offering "Egyptian Reiki/Sekhem/Seichim Series by donation!" You can view this offered event at their website Phoenix Rising Reiki.
I hope you will join us!

Love and Light

HedgeWife