Goodmorning, and lets not talk about this subject anymore, its not a sunny morning topic worthy of my attention anymore, however, I thank you for your comments on it. To be honest with you, I am constantly struggling with a proper belief structure. Seems to have been the center of my universe for much too long. Time to move on to more important matters at heart. Living. Rock on!

Well, I'm no expert by far, but it's my understanding that Wiccan's aren't exactly atheists.

Most of them either believe in a Goddess and a God, or at least in some spiritual aspect of nature even if in the form of animism.

So I think your friend has an unwarranted phobia of the word, "God".

Every book I've read thus far about Wicca and witchcraft in general have all referred to higher spiritual beings and have spoken of them in terms of spirit or as a deities. And they have also spoken in terms of being loved and protected by the Goddess and God.

So for a Wiccan to quickly dismiss the 'god thing' seems totally out of line to me. I would question their true knowledge of Wicca.

I think a lot of people (especially young people) get into 'witchcraft' in the smae way they get into being 'goth' or whatever.

It's just a fad for them, and doesn't truly have the depth of a serious spirituality.

~~~

On the topic of curses, I tend to feel the same way as Krimsa. I personally don't believe in them. At least not as being something that someone else has cast onto you. You might have something in your own karma that is negatively affecting you. That could be viewed as a 'curse' in a sense, but it wouldn't truly fit the definition.

I also believe that you can be negativtely affected by other people, and that could be a type of 'curse' as well. But that's something you could remove yourself.

In fact, I don't believe in any kind of curse that you can't remove yourself.

I supposed Christians do. They have no choice. Even Jesus was said to have cast evil demons out of people. So they have no choice but to believe that people can be cursed by evil demons. To reject that notion would be to reject the gospels.

I don't believe in the Bible at all, so it's a moot point to me. I also don't believe in evil demons, other than in the purest metaphorical sense.

In other words, you can be your own evil demon.

There are meditation techniques for cleaning up your aura and removing connections that you may have made with other people. I suppose you could view that as casting off demons or 'curses'. I just think of it as unloading emotional baggage that should have been cleaned up in a more timely fashion.

I have begun looking into chakra, and chakra cleansing, as well as meditation. I think, the last 9 months have been the absolute hardest of my entire life, to be quite honest and that is saying alot to. Too much has happened behind my back as much as right and blatantly putting it, in front of me, and against me, to not think of such things in such a way. Life has hit me pretty darn hard of late. And I have done my dardest to combat it. Going immediatly on the defense when it first began, not even knowing I was until it was much too late. Now adays, I simply keep to myself mostly, I don't like opening up to anyone now, and I hardly trust anyone. I will fine. These things will pass. I have thanksgiving to think about. thank you for your comments on this, I will take them all into careful and hearfelt consideration. A good cleansing of my spirit will do me good. Good morning

If you really think you might be cursed (although I dont think you are) there is a type of Witch called a Curandera who is very experienced with curses. Just make sure you go see someone legit who wont start in with needing thousands of dollars to "cleanse you". They might be able to put your mind at ease or at least explain some of it to you.

If you have a curse on you there are fairly simple, inexpensive ways to get rid of it. What is the family curse that you said your family has on it?

There is a big difference between someone putting a curse on you and going through really hard times in this world. Actually, the trauma that life can cause is probably far worse than any curse that can be put on you. I'm sorry for what you are going through and if you would like to talk about it, we are all here for you.

http://mingle2.com/topic/show/183068

I think this woman is the family member of the people who died in that fire, JB.

Yes it sounds like it. Thanks.

I'm just sharing this with anyone who might be interested. I wrote the following Affirmation Meditation. This is personal and will go in my book of shadows. I used Penczak's Inner Temple book as a guidline for creating this personalized affirmation meditation. Some people may feel that personal meditations should be kept personal and private. However, I'm of the belief that sharing is good.

So here it is for anyone who might find it interesting or inspirational.


AFFIRMATION MEDITATION



I am in the love of the Goddess and the God
I am guided by the Holy Spirit of the Winds

Mother Earth and Father Nature
Guide me from the North

The Morning Dove, The Eagle and The Owl
Bring me the Airy Wisdom of the East

The Cat, the Cauldron, and the Crystal Wand
Bring me the Fiery Passion of the South

Tanichthys Albonubes and Vesicularia Dubyana
Bring me the Loving Waters of the West

~~~

I am growing in psychic vision
I am growing in clairvoyance
I am a shamanic traveler
I am psychic

~~~

I am healthy in every way
I am in balance and in harmony
I attract all that serves my highest good
I am open to my highest guidance
I am growing in spirit
I am a healer
I am love



~~~


Just as a side note:

I've noticed that different authors of witchcraft books do things differently, including assigning the elements to the various directions.

I had originally learned the following convention from Scott Cunningham's books, and it sits well with me.

North = Earth
East = Air
South = Fire
West = Water

However, I've noticed that Penczak has Air and Fire swapped. He aligns Fire with the East, and Air with the South. But he even states that the actual alignments with directions are a matter of personal taste and suggests to do what is most intuitive to you personally.

I'm just wondering what other people use?

I use the same as you do and got from Scott Cunningham's book. That's how I learned in my first coven and it just stuck. I couldn't change it now.

I know what you mean. I'm only just starting out with this stuff and I'm already addicted to East being Air.

I have a particular affinity for the element of Air. Associating it with the rising sun and rising moon just fits with me very well. I see it as the consciousness of the Goddess and the God.

Also, the fire coming from the south seems natural too if only because the south is warmer with respect to my local.

Yep, and if you try to change it now you'll be all confused and "off center" during your rituals.

Yes, I can't change it now. This is why I am wondering how it works with a coven. Now I can only join a coven that uses the same conventions I do.

I'm not worried about joining a coven though. I'm pretty happy with the personal spirituality.

I noticed also, that circle casting is done differently by different people.

I believe it was Scott that taught to cast a circle clockwise, but Penczak is casting them counter-clockwise.

Also some people start the casting in the east. Other's start in the north.

I prefer to start in the north and cast it clockwise.

Although I haven't officially cast any formal circle rituals yet. I'm waiting for the winter solstice to cast my first official circle.

I have been doing "practice castings". Like informal rehearsals, just to get a feel for it.

Owl be casting a circle that encloses my entire abode. Even though owl be casting it from indoors the actaul circle will be outdoors. Physical walls are no barrier for me. I can psychically see right through them.

I do intend to lay down a ring of salt outside where the circle will be. I can do this very easily in my local being that I live in a cottage in the woods.

At first I was thinking about buying sea salt for this purpose. Then I thought maybe just normal Morton Salt.

But now, I think I'm going to just buy a bag of rock salt. Seriously. It makes the most sense. And it's the element that counts, not it's origin.

All is divine and sacred if you truly appreciate it.

Actually, I think the salt does matter. When you are dealing with natural energies, like salt or crystals or herbs, it is better to use them as close to their natural state and as fresh as possible. The energy will tend to dissipate (in my opinion) the more the item is processed or broken down. Just like food may lose it's nutritional value over time or after being processed, so too can these items lose some of their energy.

Not to say you can't use Morton salt and Morton salt is better than no salt. but, if you have a choice you should use sea salt.

Joining a coven can be very tricky as far as ritual goes. They all do it completely different. I know you have a lot of books to read already, but I know you'd get a lot from the book "A Witch Alone" by Marion Green. I think that's her name. I guess I could get up off my butt and check.

You got that right. I want to go to Florida for the winter.

I agree. But wouldn't rock salt be pretty close to it's natural state? I'm not sure how fresh it would be, but it seems to me that I could charge via a smugging ceremony.

Maybe using ocean insence.



As a perfectionist that would be my intuitive choice as well. But I'm actually quite comfortable with rock salt now. At least for the main outside circle.

I think on the altar in the God bowl owl use sea salt. I actually have a bag of sea salt here from when I used to keep salt water fish.

I have no problem with it being old. I don't feel that age is a problem with crystals. Especially when I feel that I can awaken them via ritual.

I used to be a 'perfectionist' about everything. But now I'm truly feeling more intuitively comfortable with doing with what's available. In some ways I feel like it may be available for the simple reason that it's supposed to be available.

If you know what I mean.

James is going to get the salt confused with sugar and pour a big ring of granulated sugar around his house and be attacked by fire ants.



Just kidding.

I won't tell you about the time I used chili peppers in my incense for a banishing spell. IT WORKED. The girls and I were banished from the house for hours.