Merry Yule!

A shortie on Dream Interpretation

Dream Interpretation is something that believe it or not I get a lot of requests for. The only issue with that is the fact that the interpretation of the symbolism of ones dream will always have more meaning to the person that dreams it, than the person interpreting it. What I mean is that the process of Dream interpretation is about taking the symbols and events of the dream and finding out what they mean. The problem exists in the interpretation itself. For example, when a person dreams about something specific like a suitcase we would go about interpreting what the suitcase means. Now to me personally when I think of a suitcase I think of travel, business possibly. Maybe even keeping a secret. All of that is well and good but the dream wasn't mine. My interpretations carry no weight because I am not the dreamer. The person that actually has the dream has to be responsible for picking through the symbols and interpreting them with their own explanations. It's sort of a kick to the gut when I have to tell these people that they are going to have to do the grunt work, but there is an easier way.

After I have to break the news to people that they are going to have to interpret their own dreams, the next thing I tell them is to get Dream Dictionary. An easy process one may assume, but not as simple as going to the bookstore and picking the first one off the shelf, or the thickest, or the one with the prettiest cover even. The best way to choose a Dream Dictionary is to be sure that the interpretations within are going to match your own. Think of a few symbols, take the time to think about what they may mean to you and then look them up in the Dream Dictionary. If the interpretation there seems similar to your personal one, then you are off to a good start! I usually tell people to try at least three symbols, if all match up well enough with your own ideas then it will most likely be a good book to get you started off with. If not, pickup another and try again!

Now there are a few keys to Dream Interpretation that not many people are aware of. The first is pretty obvious, its about recording your dreams. Whether its electronically, or on paper be sure to record as much of the dream as you can remember. The faster that you do this after having the dream the better, as many times the longer you wait the more you forget. In addition to the dream itself, be sure to log the date, time, and your feelings upon waking. This can tell you a lot when you look back on your journal after a while. You can start to see patterns in your dreaming, like if you tend to remember dreams daily, weekly, monthly etc. The feelings are important as well and will always help with interpretation. No matter the emotion happiness, fear, sadness, write it down as it has a lot to do with the symbolism of the dream as well.

When interpreting your dream, use another paper and begin to re-read your logged dream. On this new paper write down key symbols that you feel are important. Maybe it's the place, the people, the items. Whatever you choose write them down, these are going to be the key factors in interpreting your dream. After you have it all down on paper go through each one by one and look them up in your Dream Dictionary. If there is something that you have written that isn't in your book, take the time to think about that symbol and what it means to you. How does it make you feel, what do you think of when you think about that symbol etc. When you are done with that its a matter of reading through everything together and figuring out what it is that the dream is saying to you!

Not as easy, and not as hard as you may have thought right? Following this guide will get you interpreting all your dreams in no time. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it either, though a symbol has importance to the dreamer it may take a little nudge from a friend to get the mind going!

Yule and the Winter Solstice

In the spirit of Yule and the Winter Solstice, let us focus on our new beginnings for the year to come. Here is a simple, fun and easy New Beginnings spell that you can do for the Solstice:

Materials Needed
- Plant Pot with soil
- Seed
- Milk
- 8 white, or blue candles

Take the cup of milk, seed, and pot with soil and place them on the center of your table or Altar. Surround it with the candles. Light the candles in a clockwise pattern. Take the seed in your hand and dip it in the milk, then bring it up to your lips and give it a gentle blow, breathing your energy onto the seed. Hold the seed outward and say. "As I plant this seed, so do I plant my new beginnings for the year to come. As this seed grows and matures, so shall I grow. The path may be hard and long, like the seed becoming plant, but in the end we shall both experience a new growth and new start." Plant the seed in the pot. Take the excess milk and pour it into the Earth as an offering. Take care of the plant through the year and as the plant begins to show life your new beginnings will as well. After be sure to snuff out the candles counterclockwise and pack them away for use next year.

How to Dispose of the Ouija Board

After publishing the article on the Ouija Board, I was approached with many different questions, one of the most commonly asked is how to safely get rid of a Ouija Board without harm to anyone. Now there are plenty of us that have used this board before, and even more that have used it without exploring the safer ways of doing so. I have heard many stories of the experiences that people have had, and even more that detail how hard people tried to unsuccessfully get rid of it. Now here's a kicker, if you have used the board before and are experiencing something strange, but the board is not yours it may prove a bit more difficult of course to be rid of it. On that same line of thought, it may not be the board at all that is causing your experiences, but that will have to be saved for a later article. What I want to focus on here are ways you can dispose of the board safely and without having anyone else pick it up and have to deal with the same issues that you have as the previous user. Between those stories and some good old fashioned searching, there have been many ways that people have attempted to get rid of their boards. First lets take a look at these and why, in an energy and spiritual sense they aren't the best ways of disposal.

1: Breaking the Board

One of the most common is to take the board and literally break it in half, or as I had heard from one story “nearly a million pieces”. The idea is that if the board is broken the connections that it has made are lost and therefore cannot affect the user any longer. It's a pretty common, and mostly fear based reaction. I've heard plenty of stories as well that talk about how they found the board in the house intact even after they were positive that they had broken it. Now validity of these of course is up to the interpreter, personally I can't make any assumptions as I wasn't present but true or not I listen. So the idea here is a good one, in theory at least. If the connection is broken, so are the consequences brought forth by the board. The only bad part here is how it's being done. By breaking the board you are basically allowing all the energy that has collected in the board itself by its use to be released. It's like letting out a bird from its cage without tagging it, the energy or spirit that was attached to the board is set free. You certainly don't want a chaotic energy darting about your home, especially after having other issues from using the board, so this idea isn't a good one.

2: Burning the Board

Another common one, and still another bad idea. In the same line of thought as breaking it, burning the board will destroy it completely breaking the connections made. I've heard people recount how after the board was burned and disposed of it was found intact again. I have also heard people say that no matter how hard they tried the board simply wouldn't catch fire. There were also a few that said the board caught fire well enough but didn't burn, or leave any trace at all that it had been set ablaze. So the idea behind this is twofold. One part of it has to do with destroying the board and breaking the connection. The use of fire has to do with cleansing the board as the connection is broken. A valiant idea and along the right lines, but what you are still doing here is allowing the energy to escape and giving it free reign. You may as well just keep the board if all you're going to do is allow the energy or attached spirit to roam around.

3: Throwing away or selling the Board

Sounds quick and easy right? Toss the board in the trash, or maybe on the side of the road or even at the dump. Maybe sell it at a garage sale and make a quick buck, or like some I've seen on Ebay, claiming the board is cursed or haunted and try to make a few hundred off of it from some gullible victim. So you've managed to get rid of it, and if it had something attached to it you've allowed some unsuspecting soul to now have to deal with what you had to. Not the best Karma there now is it? Needless to say this isn't the way to go about getting rid of your board, if you need it gone why allow it to cause any trouble for anyone else. Selling it causes an entirely different rant from me of course. Taking advantage of people is wrong no matter how you look at it. Whether or not the board is actually troublesome isn't the issue, fact is that you are trying to make a quick buck and may be harming someone in the process.

4: Burying the Board or tossing it in a body of water

Another idea that seems good at the time. Of course what no one thinks about is the fact that buried things become uncovered at some time, I mean just recently there was a time capsule unearthed from the 70's. There's no telling either if the items that are used to create the board are bio degradable enough to be safely buried anyway, but that's another subject. As for dumping the board into a body of water, river, stream, lake, ocean....all I have to say is don't you think there is enough dumped in the water as it is. Besides that you may be getting rid of the board physically by using this method but that doesn't mean that the spiritual parts of it are removed at all.

The list here does go on, and on, and on. There are many interesting ways that I have heard people try to rid themselves of the Ouija. These however are the most common that I have heard which is why I chose to use them here. Now that we know some of the ways not to dispose of your board, lets discuss the method used to do it safely. What you need to keep in mind is that not only do you want to break any connections to the board physically but you want to do so on a spiritual level as well. Let me explain a bit more. When using the board you are making a spiritual connection to it each time that it is used. That connection needs to be broken as well in order to be sure that anything brought in, or attached by or to the board is severed. The issues that many experience aren't caused by the board, but by the spiritual connections that are made when one uses the board. Energy, spirits etc. attach themselves to the item in order to continue to draw energy from the user each time the board is brought out. Every user that touches or plays with the board is making a spiritual connection with it. Now that doesn't mean that everyone will experience some sort of supernatural phenomena. In fact many stories that I have heard are one or two people out of the many that used the board that actually have any sort of experiences at all. When you look at this from a perspective of energy it could be that those one or two people had the strongest and most susceptible energies and that is why they are chosen.

Now what we are going to discuss here is not the end all do all by any means. I'm sure that there are other ways and opinions that are just as good what I can give you is the way that I would do it, and maybe from there give you an outline to work with if you go looking for other ways as well. We are keeping with the pattern here of focusing on breaking the spiritual connection to the board, rather than the board itself. You see the board itself is simply the tool, it's the item that is used in order to help facilitate the connection between you and the spirit world. The tool has nothing without the energy that you put into in in order to make those connections. When you use the board and make that call, your energy is then connected to the board that is, in turn reaching out to connect to a spirit or energy. Think of it like a psychic circuit, the board is simply an extra battery and not needed to actually make the connection at all, but there to give it a small boost. This doesn't mean that the board doesn't absorb some residual energy and retain it, just that the major connection that is happening in between you and the spirit world not you and the board. Now to reiterate from the previous article regarding the Ouija Board, if you were to use the board in a safe, psychically protected manner, you wouldn't have to worry about severing connections and getting rid of the Ouija Board. When using a protected space, only positive spirits and energies are allowed to communicate with you, and those that wish to induce any sort of fear, harm, or chaos are not capable of coming into the space. So where do we go from here? Well there are a few ways that you can sever that connection if needed. They are quite different depending on the severity of course of what has been occurring. In order to make it a bit easier, I'm going to list some ways here from least severe, to most severe.

1: Salt bath and Sage after use

After using the Ouija, if you feel that you may have made a connection that is not positive in any way, the easiest way to sever those connections is to cleanse yourself and space with some sage, and/or take a slat bath with kosher or sea salt. By immediately cleansing yourself and the space you are removing any negative energies that remain after use of the Board. Doing it so quickly leaves no time for the energies to find themselves a space to hang around and wait for another time. It's important to note here as well that when you are cleansing the space you should leave the board out and where it was when it was being used, this way the board gets a nice cleaning as well. Afterward you can put the board away, and I would suggest to use a protection next time you decide to have a little conversation. It would be a good idea as well to suggest it to any people that may have been with you during the session to, no need to allow others to have to deal with anything negative either.

2: Full Cleansing

If you have gone a while after using the board and maybe are just starting to experience things it would be a good idea to do a full cleansing of your home. Top to bottom, in to out be sure to sage and bless the entire home all the way through. Sometimes negative energies that are brought in through the connections that are made are not always as noticeable. Traditionally I tell my students and those that ask to do a full home cleanse at least once a month. This way you are continuing to add to the protection and cleansing space and are helping to add another barrier to allowing negative energy in the first place. If you are cleansing once a month, even if the negative energy is invited in there is little chance that it would be able to hang around because of being brought in to a clean space. If you aren't doing a cleanse on a regular basis, then the moment that you start to notice anything possibly paranormal it would be a good idea to do it right away. If you need a way to do it, see my previous article If a problem comes along...you must smudge it.

3: Cleanse, Protect, Bind

This is a three step process. The first step is going to be to do a full cleanse on the home inside and out. Be sure to get into all corners and spaces and leave no stone unturned. The next step is to preform some sort of prayer, or protection ritual. Once the space has been cleansed and negativity being pushed out, bringing in protection and positivity along with white light of the Goddess/God, Source, Universe etc. will keep that energy away while the next step is preformed. As for the prayer or protection, you can use anything that you are comfortable with. Suggestions could include the Prayer of Archangel Michael, The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, or any other prayer or protective chant that you are familiar with. After that the next step is to bind the board itself. In more serious cases its not just the attachment of energy that you make with the spirit world, but the energy that has accumulated in the board as well. Taking the board and pouring Kosher or Sea Salt over it in the box will start to form a protective and cleansing barrier. Sage the board as well if you like. At that point, you can either wrap the board in something white, like a sheet or pillow case or tie it up with ribbon. You can even add some Frankincense and Myyrh to the mix if you want. The focus you should be keeping in mind is binding the energy that is with the board. You can say another chant or simply focus on the goal if you wish. The final step is to then put the board away in a place where it will not be found. Don't bury it, toss it out or anything like that. Simply put it away, out of sight and mind and energetically bound.

4: Call a Professional

For the most serious cases, I suggest that you call in a professional. It can be a Priest, Rabbi, or Spiritual Adviser that you know and trust. Explain the situation to them and they can lead you in a cleansing of the house and possible remove the board as well.

After all of this, it should give you a safe idea on how to rid yourself of the board, should you be unfortunate enough to have suffered some paranormal experiences because of its use. The final way though would be to either not use the board at all, or use it in a safe and protected manner.

The Ouija Board: A Metaphysical View

 

Because of the recent popularity, and currently released movie I thought it time to take an old article of mine out of the files and repost it.

Simply saying the name ‘Ouija Board’ brings up a variety of mixed emotions in people. Many have had experiences with this talking board in their juvenile years, and many more refuse to even acknowledge the experiences that they had. In the metaphysical world, a world filled with future psychics and spirit mediums where does the Ouija Board stand?

The Ouija Board, as I have come to understand it is a tool much like any other. The Tarot Cards, Pendulum and Crystal Ball all have their purpose in the metaphysical world, so too does the Ouija Board. Before looking into the metaphysical of this fascinating board, we need to understand where it came from.
In the 1800’s the world saw a rise in the Metaphysical and Spiritual realm. People would gather for Séances and Table Tipping in order to once again contact those that had passed from this life. During the 19th century psychics and mediums alike began to invent different ways to communicate with the dead. Some of these were rather long and tedious like table tipping, while others bean to shape the instrument we know as the talking board. One of the first was an intricate pulley system that held a pendulum. The pendulum would hang over a paper with the letters of the alphabet on it and move in accordance to questions asked by the medium. The pendulum would then point to the letters and spell out its answer. Before long this instrument began to take further shape, and a moving planchette was created in order to hover over the letters of the board.
This form of communication with the dead was one of the clearest yet, and the form of the Ouija Board took shape. In 1892 a man named William Fuld took over a toy and novelty company. Seeing the popularity of the board the mediums were using he decided to create and patent it as a toy, a product that everyone could have access to. Fuld named it the Ouija Board and sold millions of the toys dominating the competition. After Fuld’s death in 1927 the family sold the patent to Parker Brothers, who still hold it and produce this talking board today.

From device to toy the Ouija Board has been around us for years. With its background and superstition it is no wonder why those in the metaphysical world feel strongly about it. The original purpose of the board was to communicate with the dead, and it seems that it has fulfilled its purpose of that even after being packaged as a novelty toy. In fact many people have their first psychic experiences linked to the use of the Ouija Board, though not all of them are pleasant. The metaphysical world sees this talking board as a gateway to communicate with the other side, just like any other tool or ability used within the psychic realm. As they say “With great power, comes great responsibility” and the Ouija Board is not left out of the equation.
One of the things that many psychics speak of when it comes to receiving future oriented information or communicating with the dead is the idea of psychic protections. So what is a psychic protection going to do for you and why is it needed to use the Ouija Board? Before we can understand the use of protections, we need to understand energy. Energy is around us all of the time and is neither positive nor negative. The actions that a person takes with the energy give it a positive or negative charge, forcing the energy to act in a specific way. That being said, it is important to understand that there are spirits that are both positive and negative. The idea of psychic protection is to create a sacred space. This space allows all energy and spirits that are positive to enter and pushes away the spirits and energy that are negative. From a spiritual standpoint this is one of the major faults of the Ouija Board. The board does not come with a protection to use; in fact it doesn’t even mention it. Without the psychic protection, the users are allowing any entity to communicate with them whether it is positive or negative.
If you talk to some of your friends and ask them if they have used a Ouija Board, most of them will tell you the strange and sometimes frightening experiences that they had. It is due to the fact that no protections are used that the negative energies are allowed in. These types of energies ‘feed’ on the emotion of fear and so cause fear in us in order to survive. On the spirit realm a medium or even a person using the Ouija Board look like a bright shining light. The positive spirits see this as a doorway to communicate and possibly re-connect with loved ones and pass along messages, the negative spirits see this as well. Any entity that is positive does not seek out to hurt, harm or scare anyone, they simply seek to communicate and pass along messages to their loved ones. However the problem arises when the negative entities get there first. When you use the Ouija Board, the planchette moves around and spells out the answers to your questions. Often times when a negative energy is attached it will start off by being kind, maybe even telling you the truth. Then it begins to scare you in order to gain energy from your fear based reactions. The psychic protection prevents this from happening, think of it like a bouncer at the door to a club, if your not on the guest list your not getting in…period!
These protections are done in many different ways, from white light to calling forth the Archangels every religion or spiritual path has a protective method with it. Some of the newer talking boards out there do come with a protection. The Psychic Circle for example is a board that in it’s instructions tell you to say a prayer of protection before playing. The metaphysical view on the Ouija Board and talking boards in general is a mixed one. Many feel that the board can be an important tool in connecting with the other side; however it should be done in a way that is spiritually safe for the players.

Next time your at a party or a friends house and they want to play with the Ouija Board or talking board, remember to protect your area. Allow only positive spirits to enter and give their messages and you will surely have a good experience with this psychic tool.

The Extra Large Medium - Charles A. Filius

Years ago I was introduced to a man with a large heart, and an even larger personality. A boisterous soul that had phenomenal gifts, this man was Charles Filius. I clearly remember at one point in meeting and speaking with Charles that this man must be a special kind of crazy, and for all intent and purpose he is but how many of us in the Psychic and Mediumship field aren't right? A Cartoonist who, by his own words was drug kicking and screaming into Mediumship was able to find himself within that field and in my opinion it is exactly where he belongs.

I have been lucky enough to know Charles for years now, and each time that I attend one of his sessions I am blown away, which is not an easy thing to do mind you. I had the pleasure last night to see him again as he made a trip to Florida to a small business in Sarasota called The Spirit University.  Charles had a Mediumship demo there, that when I found out that he was coming, immediately knew that I had to go. It was an evening that was not only much needed, but was met with much love and many surprises. I was greeted there by some of my past students from my time at a Metaphysical store that I had not seen in years, and then had the pleasure of once again seeing Charles at work. Charles is unlike any medium that you have ever seen, his mixture of passing along messages from Guides, Angels and Loved ones along with a hefty dose of humor is a combination that I think only this man can execute. There is a special event that occurs in every group session that Charles does, the fact that everyone there gets something out of it. No matter if you are read, or not each message that is brought through is for everyone in some way. There is a greater knowledge on the Other Side, an all inclusive effort brought on by all the Angels, Guides etc that when they find an open channel, they waste no time in passing along exactly what needs to be heard.

I brought my Mother along with me to his session. She has had a psychic reading before but has never seen a Medium. She, like most people that are new to this did not know what to expect exactly. She knew what Meduimship was, thanks to a certain big personality from Long Island, and no it isn't me I mean Theresa Caputo. She knew that above all else she wanted to hear from her parents who have both crossed over. Though she didn't get read she said something quite unexpected and wonderous to me on our drive home. She said that her heart felt better, that through the messages that were given to others she felt a sense of healing and of release. She said that through the session she was able to share in the joys, sorrows, loss, and reconnection that Charles was able to bring that night. All I could to at that point was smile, knowing that is exactly what it is about.

There aren't appropriate words to describe the senses, feelings, and emotions that are experienced through one of his sessions, so all I can say is that at some point I hope that you can experience it for yourself. Charles still stands to this day in my mind as an influential beacon of light, laughter, and love. Thank you sir, for the experience that you provide and the messages that you bring.

Charles A. Filius - The Extra Large Medium

C.A. Filius - Cartoonist

Astrological Signs and the Oils that love them

Astrology is probably one of the more popular things in the Metaphysical realm. Everyone is at least familiar with in in some aspect or another, and many of us spend time each day looking over our daily Horoscopes. There is much more to Astrology than can be seen by a simple article in the paper, in fact a true Astrological reading can delve into things about yourself that you may not have even been aware of from the start. That being said, this post, though not a strict Astrological one, will be of benefit to those both new, and old within the realm of Astrology. As the title suggests, we are going to talk about the Western Astrological signs and the Essential Oils that help to bring them out in us the best.

Let's go over Essential Oils a bit first. It's important to understand that these oils are not simply fragrance oils. This means that they are not scented to smell like something specific. Essential oils are taken specialized cells within the plants themselves. When using an Essential Oil, note that a little goes a long way, and 1 drop of it will have more potency than an entire bottle of a fragrance oil. Essentials can be warmed with an oil warmer, dropped into water of a bath or even worn on the skin. If you are going to wear it on the skin be sure to test a small amount of it first, some oils can be irritating to the skin and cause itching, or rashes. To be a bit safer if you like to can "cut" the oils. To do this you would need Olive Oil, and combine 1 part oil to 2/3 parts Olive Oil.
So what I am going to do here then is list each Astrological sign, as well as some information about in in case you are unaware and then list the Essential Oils that work best. Don't forget either that just because you are say a Taurus, doesn't mean that you can't use an oil that works well for a Leo, provided that you want to bring a little of that lion into your life.

Aries (March 20 - April 19)
Planetary Ruler : Mars
Keywords: Assertion, Courage, Initiative, Leadership, Foolhardy, Passion, Egotism
Oils: Pine, Cypress, Nettle, Geranium, Anemone

Taurus(April 20 - May 20)
Planetary Ruler: Venus
Keywords : Materialism, Endurance, Practicality, Routine, Possessive, Patient, Secure
Oils: Musk, Rose, Violet, Mint, Jasmine

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)
Planetary Ruler: Mercury
Keywords: Duplicity, Fickle, Restless, Versatile, Superficial, Adaptable, Cunning
Oils: Sandalwood, Bayberry, Gladiolus, Parsley, Orchid

Cancer (June 12 - July 22)
Planetary Ruler: Moon
Keywords: Emotional, Nurture, Touchy, Sentimental, Manipulative, Vulnerable, Shrewd
Oils: Aloe, Water Lilly, Hyacinth, Larkspur, Myrtle

Leo (July 22 - August 22)
Planetary Ruler: Sun
Keywords: Regal, Pride, Drama, Generous, Enthusiasm, Overbearing, Dignified
Oils: Camphor, Frankincense, Golden Rod, Sunflower, Clove

Virgo (August 23 - September 22)
Planetary Ruler: Mercury
Keywords: Service, Narrow-minded, Perfectionism, Purity, Analysis, Discrimination, Efficient
Oils: Petunia, Lavender, Horehound, Narcissus, Lilly

Libra ( September 23 - October 22)
Planetary Ruler: Venus
Keywords: Cooperation, Insecure, Diplomatic, Indecisive, Compromise, Determined, Frivolous
Oils: Primrose, Pennyroyal, Burdock, Mint, Rose

Scorpio (October 23 - November 21)
Planetary Ruler: Mars & Pluto
Keywords: Intense, Power, Self-destructive, Trauma, Magnetism, Controlling, Mysterious
Oils: Yucca, Rosemary, Dogwood, Basil, Vanilla

Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21)
Planetary Ruler: Jupiter
Keywords: Adventure, Freedom, Careless, Jovial, Idealistic, Optimistic, Restless
Oils: Daffodil, Nutmeg, Pimpernel, Sage, Saffron

Capricorn (December 22 - January 20)
Planetary Ruler: Saturn
Keywords: Discipline, Duty, Prudent, Callous, Scapegoat, Responsible, Caution
Oils: Khus Khus, Dandelion, Comfrey, Carnation, Thistle

Aquarius (January 21 - February 18)
Planetary Ruler: Saturn & Uranus
Keywords: Humanity, Detachment, Objective, Scientific, Rebellion, Reason, Eccentric
Oils: Valerian, Fennel, Buttercup, Violet, Poppy

Pisces (February 19 - March 19)
Planetary Ruler : Jupiter & Neptune
Keywords: Compassion, Elusive, Dreamer, Mysticism, Confusion, Malleable, Receptive
Oils: Lilac, Sage, Clove, Nutmeg, Cinquefoil

So, there we have it. Each sign's oils as well as some information on them that you are sure to be able to use as well. Keep it handy too! Many of the oils listed are made from flowers, not just herbs or roots!

What's in a Magickal Name?

So I had someone send me a question yesterday in regards to what my Magickal Name is. This is something that I came across early on while I was studying Wicca and Paganism. I clearly remember reading about this Magickal Name that you are supposed to adopt and use when you practice your craft. It had to do with shedding the old self, and focusing on the Magickal self. Sort of like a changing of hats so to speak. It was a good idea, and a great way for people that may be just starting to learn to focus themselves. Use your Magickal Name when you practice and you are creating and working with that energy.

Personally I don't have, or use a Magickal Name. After many years with Wicca and Paganism, as well as the Metaphysical I came to realize something very important. Magick is around us all of the time, sleeping or awake, in a circle or in Wal-Mart. No matter where you go it's there so why do we need to put on a different hat in order to adopt a magickal personality? Personally I don't think that we have to. What better name to use, then yours! If we are constantly surround by this energy, this magick, then why only connect to it when you are working. Part of the Wiccan belief system talks about seeing the magick in everything. All things living or non-living have a magick to them. It isn't something that is turned on and off, it's always there. The name game is much the same. Ok, that was a bit more rhyming than I had planned. By using your own name you are working with that magickal energy all the time, practicing or not. You are connecting yourself to the infinite and allowing it to connect to you as well without pushing it aside for any reason. Besides, if we push it aside are we really living by the codes that we work with?

This isn't to say that having a special name, or even a Magickal Name is a bad thing. For all of the Willows, Nightshades, Hemlocks, Lady this or that's out there keep what you got! If it is somethign powerful to you then there is no need to change it, or ignore it. That being said choosing to use, or in my case not use a Magickal Name is up to you! If you do choose to use one, I suggest spending some time meditating on it, find something that speaks to you on a very personal and powerful level. Don't just go and settle for the first cool sounding name that you happen to find while googling 'cool witch names' or something on the internet! Remember, when it comes to Wicca and Paganism there is a lot of room for personal belief and interpretation as well as choice.

When a problem comes along..you must Smudge it!

 

Smudging, also known as sageing or cleansing is a ritual that has been preformed for centuries. It's most commonly known as being used in the Native American culture, but has made its way into the Metaphysical realm as well. The process of smudging is simple, and yet many people still fail to understand the uses. Smudging can be done on a person, area, or even a home or business. The purpose of smudging is to change the energy of the space or person by removing the negative vibrations, and replacing them with positive vibrations. Many times this leaves the person, or place feeling lighter, more relaxed and even "cleaner". This process is also done when preforming meditations or magickal work in order to cleanse the space and create a positive environment in which to preform. The process of smudging has also been popularized through the many different television shows about hauntings as a means to cleanse the home of negative spirits.

In order to keep a home or person clear, it's suggested that a smudging be preformed at least once a month. Obviously there will be times that you may require an additional smudging and that's fine as well. Don't think that you have to stick to the once a month process. It's a suggestion in order to keep negativity at bay. If you are having a particularly bad week, facing many challenges, or find that the  home/person is starting to feel weighed down and negative then by all means do another smudging. The type of sage that you use can alter the energy as well. What is usually used is either mountain sage, or white sage. If you find that you cannot take the smell of sage as much you may want to try the white sage. The scent of it is a bit weaker but still works just as well. There are other herbs and oils as well that can be used to cleans, but we'll save that for another post. You can find most types of smudge sticks online, or at your local metaphysical store (which I always prefer)!

Now the actual process can be done many different ways, and I'm not going to go over all of them here, but I do ask that if you are interested to look them up. What I will go over is the type of smudging that I use personally. Smudging a home takes time, you should be focused on what you are doing through it all. You will need to go through each room of the home, that includes attics or basements if you have them as well. The process goes like this, you will light the sage and go through each room of the house reciting a certain mantra, prayer, or blessing. When you are completed you can put out the sage stick and we are going to toss the ashes outside. Additionally if you have a black and white candle they can be used as well, and I will go over that extra step too.

Smudging a person:

1. You will need your smudge stick, something to catch the ashes (an abalone shell is used most often but anything will do), matches or a lighter, and if you like a feather, or fan of feathers.
2. Have the person stand still before you and outstretch their arms to the side. If they feel comfortable have them remove their shoes as well. This will give them a good grounded connection while they are being cleansed.
3. Light the sage and allow it to smolder enough to create smoke. While doing this I usually tell the person that I am working with to close their eyes, relax, and take 3 deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. This too allows them to center and ground themselves before the smudging.
4. With the feather (or your hands) begin to gently move the smoke around their body. I usually start with the head and then move down one side of the body and up the other. Then I would move up the center of the front of the body and then ask them to turn around doing the same to the back. At the end I ask them to lift both feet (one at a time of course), and I smudge the souls of the feet as well.
5. While cleansing the individual I'm focusing on bathing them in white light and using the smoke of the sage to push away all the negative energy accumulated in their aura. I ask them to do the same as well, seeing the negative energy disperse and watch as it is replaced by positive energy and white, loving light.
6. When you are completed, have the person that you are smudging take a seat, relax and let the energies settle a bit. They will likely feel lighter, cleaner, and more energetic afterward.

Smudging a Home, Business or Space:

1. Start by opening a window or door of the building. You will want an open space where the smoke can escape the house taking the negative energy with it.
2. Prepare your sage stick as you would normally. Something to catch the ashes, a feather etc. At this point as well, if you have a black and white candle you can light them. Light the black one first and then the white. The black candle with help to absorb any negativity and the white will exude positivity. When the candles are done be sure to bury them in the earth somewhere outside of your home.
3. Begin to go through each room of the home with the sage. Move the smoke into corners, closets, drawers all over each and every room. In each room that you cleanse focus on the smoke removing all the negative vibrations and filling each space with white light, love and positive energy. As you are doing this its often helpful to recite a mantra, or blessing.
4. When you are done wait until most of the smoke has been removed from the home and close and shut the window. You will find that the energy of the space has changed quite a bit and should be feeling a lot better at this point.

 As far as the mantra's or blessings go it's best to say something that has meaning to you, as well as mentions clearing the space of negativity and replacing it with positivity. Something quick and easy that you can use are one of these:

"By the smoke of this sage, I cleanse this space of all negative energies and vibrations. Only positivity, and white light can remain here."

 "I send all negativity out and away. You have no place here! White light and positive vibration chase you out and fill this space.

Don't forget as well that when using a blessing or a mantra you can add in your personal religious affiliation or beliefs to it as well.

You're doing it wrong...or are you?

 

 

Living and learning in the Metaphysical world can be a daunting and difficult task. For starters, you never wind up knowing it all. There are no true "experts" in the field. It is a continuing learning process. Granted there are those that have the experience and knowledge behind them, but in a realm where things are continually growing and expanding how can one be an expert at it? I have personally been studying in the Metaphysical and Occult field for 19 years. That's a pretty long time, but I will always refer to myself as a student. To me this is a great thing. I know that there is no way that I can possibly learn all there is about his realm and the only way that I can even experience certain things or learn about them is to listen to those that know. Now I say all this for two reasons: One, it's my blog and I can say what I want; and Two everything that I do say here on the blog comes from my personal experiences and understandings. That being said anyone that tells you that they are an "expert" in any Metaphysical field is more than likely too full of themselves to be of any good use to you. There are far too many ways of understanding and doing things in this spiritual way of life. If you refuse to keep an open mind and at least be willing to learn, then you have already lost.

Being that there are so many different ways of doing things, you are bound to run across many different terms, names, titles, and even instructions on how to accomplish even simple tasks like using sage to cleanse a house. Don't let all of these things intimidate you, but don't be a fool about them either. Unfortunately there are some people out there that crave attention and dream about being renowned in this field. These people are the ones that will attempt to come up with their own terms, styles and even ways of doing things that may not have ever been heard of before. This doesn't mean that what they are doing loses any credit, in fact they may have a very good take and style of things. What it does mean is that you will need to discuss with them exactly what it is they mean when they use certain terms that may be special to them. Be sure that you can get enough answers from them that you can do the legwork yourself and research something that is at least similar to what they are talking about. You really shouldn't let anyone do anything spiritual for, or with you until you are certain that they are going to be helping you and not hindering you.

It is so easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of this field. There are a lot of things that can take you from a grounded individual to a floating ball of goofy in a matter of days. It's important to remain true to yourself and to retain your grounding. Investigate things that you may not know or have heard about. Search out the things that don't seem to make sense with what you do know and be as informed as you possibly can! The important thing to retain here is that there is no right, or wrong way of doing things necessarily, there are however ways that may not be beneficial to you. Take the time needed to make a decision and a choice based on the best information that you can gather, and don't just take someone's word for it....not even mine.

Vampires....and not the sparkly kind either!

That's right!

Ok, so before you get all bent out of shape about the obvious play on Twilight in the title,  let me at least preface this by saying it is not in any way about actual vampires, or vampire films! There, now that it's out of the way we can happily move on to the actual blog post. This post is about the most lethal kind of vampire out there, the Psychic Vampire. Psychic Vampires are well know both as a term and a people within the metaphysical community, in fact chances are that if you don't already know about them you have at least heard the term before.

Psychic Vampires don't drink blood or fly around as bats, they don't only come out at night either! It would be so much easier if they did of course, a simple call to your local Vampire Slayer and poof...dusted. Unfortunately that isn't the case here. The Psychic Vampire is a person just like any other, and can sometimes even be yourself. The trouble with a Psychic Vampire is that they draw upon energy. They create for themselves situations or events, sometimes even falsifying information in order to drain energy from others in order to fuel themselves. This can be done for a variety of reasons. Some simply don't know how to create or conserve their own energy and so they look for it from others. Others know exactly what they are doing and actually seek out their victims. And others still are willing victims of this Psychic Vampirism!

If you have ever had a conversation with someone, even for a short period of time and were left feeling drained, tired, or maybe even angry then you had a run in with this particularly nasty type of vampire. They use simple methods to make you open up to them so they can latch onto you psychically and begin to drain your energy. Usually by time you are done they feel great while you don't! I can't say that it's always easy to spot them as some can be really sneaky about it, but think of it this way, if they are throwing a pity party and you got the only invitation, politely decline. One of the most common ways that these vampires tend to get in is to complain about things, and why not? Complaining is something that we all do from time to time, and when someone does it to us we tend to listen and attempt to find something similar to their situation to relate to. There it is, you're already being sucked on like a cough drop at the flu ward! Ok, so maybe not the best analogy there but you get the point.

There are a few things that you can do in order to protect yourself from these types of individuals.

1. Don't get pulled in! Seriously! This is the easiest and yet the hardest one to work with. Don't surround yourself with those individuals that need to take your energy in order to thrive. At some point they are going to have to learn to deal with their energies in a constructive way, and they aren't going to be able to do that if you continue to let them drain from you! Something that I always live by is this, I am sure to surround myself with positive individuals and energy only!
2. Close of your energy points! Doing something as simple as crossing your arms, or legs will close off your energy circuits (so to speak of course), and will make the vampire unable to draw energy from you. It sounds too easy to be real right? Give it a shot, see if you sit there with your arms and legs crossed while they attempt to drain your energy you will not feel drained or tired afterward. You can still be the good friend, or sibling, or child, or whatever and listen to their situation without getting drained by it.
3. Psychic Protections. Surround yourself with white light, electricity, mirrors. Use these types of images in your protections to destroy or even bounce back the attacks that are made toward you. You can even use all three listed here in order to really keep yourself locked up and protected.

Believe it or not we deal with these people every day, sometimes even more than once. What it comes down to is that fact that your energy belongs to you. You are the only one that should decide where it goes and when, and you shouldn't have to be bullied and taken advantage of by these Psychic Vampires. Now that you are in the know, you won't have to ever again!
 

Amulets and Talismans

"Evil Eye Amulet" for protection against negative forces directed at you by others

Amulets and Talismans, well at least that's what the title of the blog post says. As in the above image there are many different kinds of Amulets and Talismans throughout history and the world. I don't want to focus on making a huge list of them for you or anything like that, I tend to be more informative than that as you can tell by now. So what I am going to do here is talk a little bit about these two items of magick.

Amulets and Talismans have been used for centuries and not just by magick users. In fact many cultures and religions tend to use Amulets to this day. From Greece, Egypt, Rome, China, Japan, all over the world there are many different types and forms of these items and chances are that you are wearing one, or using one in your day to day life and may not even be fully aware of it!

Talismans

The term Talisman can be a more rounded for what we are talking about here, what I mean is that Amulets are a form of Talisman but Talismans are individual from Amulets. Now that I have more than likely confused the heck out of you lets continue. Talismans can be any item that has been created or charged with a magickal purpose or intent. Traditionally when we think of these things we think of necklaces, jewelry, or charms. If that is where you first go you would be right, but keep in mind that Talismans can also be pieces of paper, articles or clothing, or even a myriad of other items that you come across, provided of course that they are created into Talismans for a specific purpose. Talismans are usually used for things like luck, love, money, power, energy etc. They really run the gambit of things from A to Z and can be charged by the creator for any purpose that they desire. When carried they emit that energy and draw to themselves, and the user of course that similar energy in order to help manifest it in their physical lives.

Talismans can be purchased of course, from a dozen different websites and stores. These are great, but tend to be mass produced articles of jewelry that are already created for certain reasons and may not exactly meet the requirements of your personal need. In addition to that these pre-made ones are usually riddles with symbols and writing that can barely be deciphered. That in itself has always been a personal issue for me. Unless you are a master of symbology there is no way that you can tell wheat energy these symbols really take, where they have been or what they are currently used for. In fact I have even seen Talismans that have used symbols that have been completely made up from either T.V. or books. I Think that the best way to get a Talisman that you want, that you can charge with your personal energy and be sure will work for the purpose you create is to make it yourself. Now of course if you want all the fancy symbols and lettering you can do your research and find ones that are suited to your want or need, but sometimes as they say the easier the better. Metals, stones, woods, papers all of these things make terrific Talismans that can be charged with your personal magick and used right away. Stay away if you can from things like glass, and plastics that don't tend to hold energy well.

Amulets

These are a bit different from Talismans, Amulets tend to be charged with a specific purpose of protection for the bearer. In the same way as Talismans these can be any item and are most often articles of jewelry. Things like the Crucifix, Buddha, Pentacles, Evil Eyes are all forms of Amulets that are made for protective reasons. This type of Talisman is most often carried with the user on a daily basis while other types are carried until the user is satisfied with its use and then put away to use again.

Like Talismans, Amulets can be purchased or given to you by a loved one, maybe even passed down through your family for years. These tend to be a bit different in energy because each bearer of the item has believed that it was worn to keep them protected, and has such has likely been charged through many years for that exact reason. This isn't to say that you shouldn't also be charging an Amulet that has been passed down to you with your own protective energies or chants, but that the Amulet has likely retained all that energy from the past as well.


Keeping the item charged with its magick is important as well. Each time you wear, or carry the item it is important to focus a moment on the reason why it was created, the use of the item and what it is that the Talisman or Amulet is supposed to do for you.

Paranormal Information Association Conference

Poster for the 2014 P.I.A Conference

I just got home from about an hour drive from Sebring Florida where I attended the Paranormal Information Association Conference (or P.I.A for short), for my fourth year now. It was another great weekend accompanying the team I work with. Each year the P.I.A Conference is a chance for Florida Paranormal Investigative teams to mingle with each other, go over ideas and theories, and have a little fun while we are at it. This is the fourth year that it has been held at the Kenilworth Lodge an old historic hotel in central Florida.

The hotel itself has its own sort of glamor as an historic location. You can tell by the exposed pipes with sprinkler heads, the old slow moving elevator, and the decor that the Kenilworth has attempted to keep as much of its historical charm as possible with still moving forward into the new age of hotels that we seem to be entering. The place isn't for everyone, but if you are looking for a comfortable place to stay the night the rates and staff at the Lodge are very welcoming. The P.I.A. has been very blessed to have worked with the hotel four years now in holding their event, and each time the staff is more than happy to help. Anyway...before I go of on too much of a tangent here about the location let me get back to the point which is the P.I.A. itself.

The P.I.A. started out several years ago and was called the Florida Ghost Gathering, at that point it was simply a chance for other Paranormal Teams to meet with each other and get to know who's who so to speak. Once they found their success in that they wanted to be able to expand it a bit and, from what I have come to understand the P.I.A. was born. At the core of this conference is a group of administration teams, that from the beginning have seen to every aspect of the gathering itself. The main goal for this conference is to bring the Paranormal Investigative Community together and give them a place where they can learn, talk , and teach others as they go along.

Each year there are different classes, seminars and workshops that you can attend to either learn more about something that you are not familiar with, or delve deeper into something that you are. Different social events as well as dinners are scheduled throughout the gathering; and there are vendors where you can purchase anything from the newest up and coming equipment, to nic-nacks such as jewelry or candles. Some years as well have seen some very popular and well known special guests from within the Paranormal Community that have given their time to be there and speak, and learn alongside the many other groups. Now before I go too far and you start signing up you do need to know that at the present time the conference is not open to the public. In the future we will have to see if this changes but in the meantime there are rules regarding registration of the event that can be found at their site.

The people of the conference have always been great. I personally have always found it to be so awesome to be able to speak with different groups and talk about investigations, or theories, or even about their evidence or personal experiences. Its refreshing in a way to be able to speak freely among your peers especially about something that you know everyone there is passionate about in the first place. Though the conference started out focusing more on the Paranormal or "ghost" investigative side of things it has expended over the years to include other facets of the Paranormal Community as well. Groups such as MUFON are often there, as well as others that focus on more spiritual aspects and more still that work with Mythology, or even Cryptozoology. 

Now no conference of any scale big or small is without a few snafu's now and again. Schedule changes sometimes occur and you may not get to attend everything that you want to within the weekend format, but the P.I.A. itself is still very new and each year they look for ways to improve upon the last and make the event something that is as best suited to the attendees and members as possible.

I always have a great time away, beside a lovely hotel its great to be able to reconnect with people that I have met there in previous years. I look forward as well to attending next year, and seeing what the P.I.A. has in store as it changes again and works toward the future.

Well....its been far too long

I know that a lot of you are still looking up the page, and you have noticed that there haven't been any updates in quite some time. I would like to change that in the future. I have had some very serious family things happen to me in the past few years and they have taken quite some time to get through. I apologize for not being around and not posting more often, I had such wonderful intentions to do it all the time.

Anyway, I'd like to start posting again soon, I miss the communication with you all , and moreso miss learning and teaching alongside all of you.

Thank you for your patience.