Merry Samhain.. Happy Halloween

For many people Halloween is a night to dress the kids up in spooky or silly costumes and go round to their neighbors collecting goodies with a request of trick-or-treat. Others spend the night and creepy and spooky themed parties, dancing and drinking.

I have always celebrated Halloween in this way, and tonight is no different. I took my daughter out to gather candy and goodies at the local mall, and then went to the city park where there was a Harvest Party taking place. It was a great idea.. there were games and a huge drive up sized movie screen playing "Hocus Pocus"... The fire department was there with search lights waving into the night sky.

As we started our walk around the park we saw hundreds of people there in costume, most of them with children pulling them from booth to booth. Some were playing games, others were just handing out candy, or were they? When we looked around it was clear this celebration was sponsored by many of the local Churches, and they were using this night to hand out copies of the new testament and other literature.

When I got home with my daughter, I checked her candy, as I normally do, and reviewed the pamphlets she was given.

I do appreciate the community coming together to provide a safe Halloween experience, but my daughter will not be reading the literature. Not because I think Christianity is a bad religion, but because, the message being sent in these pamphlets was very false and misleading concerning the religion I practice (witchcraft).

Now that my daughter has gone off to bed, I will celebrate Samhain by reading tarot cards and honoring my ancesters. I would normally include my daughter in this, but she has school in the morning and I want her to have a good nights sleep. As she gets older I will continue to teach her what I believe, but I will leave her choice of spiritual expresion up to her, as I did for her older siblings.





Have a Wicked Good day!
Molly

Samhain altar

Here are some pictures of my Samhain altar. I set it at the Autumn equinox and will charge it again for my Samhain rituals.

Have a wicked good day,
Molly

What is a magickal name and how does one go about getting one?

For a long time I did not have a magickal name and I didn’t want one. I felt my birth name was magickal, I still do. My father chose my name before I was born and I’ve always felt my name was Magickal. I wasn’t seeking my new name when it was given to me. I was surprised by the voice and clarity of hearing it spoken to me. I was given my name in the fall I was starting to make new magickal connections and was working with a shamanic journey group. The group had been together for several months, and we were beginning to build rather strong bonds. I was also working with several new people in relation to the business I was in.

Although, the new energy associated with the new people and groups was what I needed for growth at the time, these new things ultimately came to an end and the endings were not as positive as I would have liked.  I believe the new name was given to me by the goddess Macha, as a protective identity. An identity I would be known by in Magick, and no other place.

Madame Molly AKA: Morrigue

It is a strong name and I’ve not shared it with very many people, because I don’t feel it is right for me to do that.

I commonly use Morrigue as a magickal name that can be shared with everyone. I have a strong affiliation for Horses and Ravens or Crows. There are several legends of the Triple goddess Morrigan, sometimes known as Morrigu(e). I relate to the Crone aspect know as Macha (pronounced MOCK-uh)

For some a magickal name is something given to them by a mentor, teacher, or priest(ess), during an initiation ceremony.  For others receiving a magickal name is something they receive privately in trance, meditation or a dream. This is how I received mine. I was in a meditative state when I clearly heard my new name. I also had the very distinct impression I should keep this name private and only reveal it to those I felt should know this name.

There are many who share their magickal names with everyone and anyone who will listen. Many of these names may “seem” cliché at first, as there are many grey wolfs and lady or lord so and so’s out there. There is nothing wrong with these names, and there is nothing wrong with sharing your magickal name if that is what you are comfortable with.

The lineage or tradition you have learned your craft in may also play a role in what type of magickal name you receive, when you receive it, who you receive it from and if it is appropriate to share this name or not.

If you do not have a magickal name and want one, you may wish to speak with your teacher and ask about receiving one within the tradition you are studying, or you may want to take this time, around Samhain (Halloween), to do some trance work and connect with your ancestors and guides. During this work you may wish to hold the idea that you are receptive to receiving a new name for your magickal work. Try not to have any ideas about what you think your name should be, just listen and be open to whatever name is revealed to you.

Have a Wicked Good day!
Molly

Pagan talk radio program

This is an interesting regular Pagan talk radio program.

Peruse the site  for upcoming talk shows and listen to past broadcasts. Some of the most prominent members of the Pagan community can be found speaking here and you will have the opportunity to learn about upcoming events and happenings.

 Pagans Tonight Online Radio by Witch School  Blog Talk Radio

Have a Wicked Good day!
Molly

Video

 

I'm working on some ideas for video comments. Video interaction is fairly new to me, so it may be a little bit before I figure out how to do it. But, keep watching.. ;-)





Have a Wicked Good day!
Molly

Animal Helpers

              When thinking about animal helpers or as some would call them, animal totems, often we think of Native American traditions. There is a lot of information to suggest most Native Americans work with totem animals. There is also a lot of information supporting the notion animal helpers have been an integral part of earth centered spirituality for a very long time.

                I think of the horse cults from the early Slavic tribes, the Celts who often worked with the boar, horse or other local animals. I am also reminded of the eastern cultures and their reverence for the elephant, tiger, monkey and others. These are only a few examples; there are plenty of resources available to shed light on any particular people and their interaction with animal spirits or helpers.

                Yesterday I was reminded, by one of my animal helpers, that I have not been paying as much attention to her as I could be. I have worked with Snake as a spirit helper for several years and I normally don’t need to be reminded to pay attention to the skills and talents my helpers bring to me. But, apparently I need to take greater heed to my recent pull to return to the healing arts.

                Every morning I walk with my daughter to the bus stop, yesterday was no different, except that on the way to the bus stop we encountered a dead baby snake. I considered picking it up on the way home and properly preserving the body, but chose not to. I put the incident out of my mind until last night. I went out the back door to find a huge rattle snake lying stretched out at the foot of my steps. It was a cool evening and the snake was sluggish. The dogs were literally stepping all over the snake and I was trying to get them to come back into the house before they aggravated the snake and got bit. All was fine until Bubba, my nosey gelding, walked right up to the snakes head and gave it a mighty snort.

                At this point the snake was moving and striking, Bubba didn’t seem to notice that with every snort, the snake came within millimeters of striking his muzzle. I scrambled into the house and found a pair of boots; I normally do a lot of talking to rattlers and coax them into a bucket or walk them off the property with the use of my voice and by thumping a stick on the ground near them.

This snake wanted no part of my conversation last night and found its way up under my steps. I tried for about thirty minutes to push the snake out from under the steps, but there was no way. Near the end of this I could hear the snake was still under the steps, but was no longer rattling enthusiastically. I decided to leave her there for the night and start our conversation about relocation over first thing this morning.

                After getting up and having a cup of coffee I went out to see if the snake was still there, and she was not. It appears that sometime in the night or early morning she chose to leave. This is what I was trying to get her to do last night anyway.

                Today I’ve been reflecting on the message brought to me by snake, two things come to mind. The first being a message of transmutation and the ability to shed our old skins as we out grow them. The other is the message to return to the healing arts. I haven’t been actively using healing energy for several years, and I recently, have begun thinking about getting a new Reiki table and sharing this part of myself again.

                I am going to take the snakes appearance in my life twice in one day to mean all of above and begin the process of reemerging in the Magickal community. Thank you, snake, for reminding me of who I am and where I am going.

Have a Wicked Good day!
Molly