Spirit Writer

Items used in ritual are tactile representations of their communion with the spiritual realm. These can include simple tools such as prayer beads, rocks, shells, and feathers to more elaborate items such statuary, altars and large cauldrons. Just what makes these objects sacred varies from each person. A rock on the beach may seem mundane to some but feel like the perfect devotional tool in the hands of someone else. One belief among Pagans is that these objects can be charged with the energy they are to be used for such as healing, divination or devotion. Before this can happen, it is necessary to cleanse the items of previously imbued energy whether it is negative or otherwise. Below are some simple cleansing rituals that can be utilized for this purpose. Incense for smudging. barskefranck, Pixabay Smudging Smudging is the use of incense or herbal smoke to purify the item. This became very popular due to the use of sage in Native American inspired spirituality. A favorit...

Bell Rock, Sedona, Arizona - a region said to be a power vortex along ley lines. Photo credit Christiane1956, Pixabay One of my newest articles at Squidoo is becoming one of my most popular (note, Squidoo is now defunct, so this article has been moved to HubPages).  I've always been fascinated by the ley line theory and sacred sites.  If you believe the earth has grid system of energy points, then you might enjoy my intro article:   Ley Lines in America .  It's actually about ley lines in North and South America.  There were already articles there on ley lines in other parts of the world so I decided to focus on the Americas.  Enjoy. © Trish Deneen

Crystals are used in energy healing to affect a change on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual planes. Below is a listing of the metaphysical properties of ten popular stones that can be used to make gem elixirs, in laying on of stones and with meditation. This information is not meant to replace medical advice. Agate - Stone of Inspiration Agate is a chalcedony that comes in a variety of colors. Some characteristics that all agate share are intellectual stimulation and balance between the emotions and intellect. Some commonly known agate types are: • Blue lace agate: This stone is used to increase effective communication and for treatment of throat ailments. Smoky Quartz • Fire agate: A stone used to inspire action and freedom from inertia. • Moss Agate: Elixirs made from this stone are used to treat skin problems, eye disorders and to aid digestion. It's a stone of prosperity and increases self esteem. Amethyst - Meditation and Balance Amethyst is a va...

The Norse god Odin is often depicted as a fierce warrior, but that is just one of his many attributes. This is partly due to the fact that his worship differed among the tribes of pre-Christian Northern Europe as well as the evolution of his character over time. He is complex and at times mysterious, a god of life and death, poetry and magic who can provide inspiration for various types of magic and ritual. Odhin by Johannes Gehrts Odin as Creator, All-Father and Wish-Father The Norse creation myth begins with two worlds of fire and ice. From the meeting of these worlds, Ymir is born. He is the primal giant who created the first gods. Odin and his brothers, Vili and Ve, slayed most of the elder gods and from the body of Ymir created the world of men called Midgard as well as the inhabitants of that world. Vili and Ve are often seen as personality aspects of Odin, and he has eventually become the most well known of the three. One of Odin's roles is as an All-Father or lea...

Full Moon Magic, credit werner22brigitte, Pixabay The moon has long been associated with mystery and magic. While timing magic with the phases of the moon isn't necessary for a spell to work, it definitely helps to give spells that extra push in the right direction. Magic of this type is generally performed to coincide with either the waxing, waning, new and full cycles of the moon. Moon Phases  New Moon: Also called the dark moon. At this point in the cycle, the moon is in conjunction with the sun (between the sun and earth) when the light from the sun renders the moon invisible to the naked eye. Some consider this a time to rest from magic. It is also good for working darker magic and communing with dark deities such as Hecate and Lilith as well as darker aspects of the personality. This is also an excellent time for binding and banishing spells. Waxing Moon: The waxing phase is the time that the moon appears to be growing larger in crescents towards the right...

The Norse god Odin is known for his traits both praised and loathsome. He ruled Asgard, the realm of the gods, and is called the All-Father, he who made the worlds with his two brothers, Vili and Ve. He also plays a major role in Northern European lore as the god who received the runes by his own shamanistic death journey. Odin as God of Death He is known as a battle god not so much for fighting but for choosing which warriors are to be slain. In this sense, he is a god of death and a psychopomp leading souls through the worlds. Many times though the Valkyries performed this task in his name. He was loved as a giver of wealth and good fortune yet feared for his association with death. Odin as God of Communication and Magic H.R. Ellis Davidson in Gods and Myths of Northern Europe links Odin's death aspect with his role as a god of magic. He brought forth the runes used in writing and spellcraft. Galdor (also spelled galdr) is the combination of poetry and rune carving both ...

Crowley as a young man in ritual regalia As magician Aleister Crowley told it, he was so mischievous his mother would call him Beast 666 in comparison to the evil biblical creature.  Later in his life, this famous occult figure continued to call himself the name as part of his rejection of what he believed to be oppressive societal standards.  His written works on the occult and magic have spawned a religious movement and influenced modern witchcraft. Here are some quotes from his most famous material. Quintessential Crowley Aleister Crowley's most well-known and talked about quote is from his seminal work Magick in Theory and Practice and states his idea of the nature of magic: "Magick is the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with will." The concept of the pure will of the individual was paramount in Crowley's philosophy and is touched upon below. Wisdom from the Book of the Law While on honeymoon in Egypt, Aleister...

Goddess-centered groups and other Pagans honor the phases of the moon in ceremony and magical practice. One reason for this is to bring the qualities of the moon into their lives including increased intuition, self-awareness, healing, magical ability and feminine power.  A simple moon elixir can be prepared and used by those who want to enhance their magical rites. Lunar Phases for Magic Before making the elixir, it's good to note what magical qualities each phase of the moon possesses. The elixir will then take on the quality of that particular phase. Below is a brief explanation of lunar phases: Full moon:  This is the peak time to perform spells for increased wealth, health and romance as well as protection. Waning moon:  Rituals of release and letting go of unwanted things, habits and relationships. New moon:  A good time for banishment and binding spells. Waxing moon:  This phase lends its energy to attraction of material, emotional and spiritual ...

I used to belong to a women's group that would meet mainly for full-moon ceremonies.  Occasionally, one of the members would bring her set of crystal singling bowls to include in a pre-ritual meditation.  They were incredibly effective in raising the vibration of the group and ritual space. Tibetan Buddhists utilize singing bowls in ritual and they are believed to have an ancient origin but I'm not sure if the origins are clear.  They've been popular with New-Agers and Pagans alike as well as yoga practitioners and alternative healers.  As sound is a powerful vibratory force, it only makes sense that it can affect us on that level. This meditation by Luminous Energies on YouTube is very relaxing, but there's just nothing like being in the same room with them.  There are sets that are sold with bowls that correspond to each chakra and are named with notes, C note, B note, etc.  © Trish Deneen

Gem elixirs store the properties of crystals in liquid form. They're also called crystal or gem essences and are used for healing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. Below are instructions for making personal gem elixirs with variations. Disclaimer:  This is not meant to replace medical advice but to act as a complement to traditional health care. Crystals have been used for centuries in healing arts.  Photo credit TessaMannonen, Pixabay Materials Needed to Make Elixirs The materials needed to make gem elixirs can be easily found and are listed below. Crystals are often sold in metaphysical shops or online. Most of the items listed can be purchased at a grocery or drug store. The amber dropper bottles can be found online at natural health outlets including those that sell aromatherapy supplies. Crystal of choice (polished or well-cleaned stones are best to prevent raw material from getting into the elixir) Distilled or spring water Glass bowl G...

Chaos magicians have a penchant for using sigils in their rites. Sigils are symbols used to create reality according to the will of the magician. Since symbols have resonated deeply with humanity for thousands of years, this is an especially powerful way to practice magic. Attributes of Chaos Magic Chaos Star, Credit Trish Deneen Unlike what the name implies, chaos magic is hardly chaotic. It can be, but the point is to be freed of cultural programming in order to bring about true change. In this sense, chaos is the cathartic element that pushes the magician past restrictive personal boundaries. Chaos magicians stay away from a dogmatic approach. Instead, they believe in embracing different belief systems as a means to an end. For instance, for one rite, they may immerse themselves in ceremonial magic techniques and for another may use a more nature-based ritual to achieve success in their work. A.O. Spare - Pioneer in Chaos Magic Austin Osman Spare, an early 20th century...

I've recently discovered Jonathan Goldman who creates beautiful music for healing and meditation.  I used to be much more in the loop regarding these types of artists when I worked in the alternative health field.  I'm sorry I've missed out on Mr. Goldman's work all these years, but I'm making up for it now. This music is from his CD Holy Harmony.  From the Amazon description, this music includes sounds of: " ...tuning forks of the complete healing codes of the Bible, and the choral chant of YHSVH, an ancient Hebrew sacred name of Christ." To me, this is a deeply prayerful piece. You can learn more about Jonathan Goldman at his website . © Trish Deneen

Psychic self-defense is a term used to describe protection from unwanted influences whether or not they're from intentional psychic attack, also known as psychic vampirism. This can be from an outside source or from self-destructive behavior. One technique used for protection is visually bathing the body in the colors of the chakra system and encasing it in a protective blue flame. Chakras, Psychic Attack and Psychic Vampires According to psychologist and founder of the International Parapsychology Research Foundation, Joe Slate, in his book Psychic Vampires: Protection From Energy Predators and Parasites , psychic vampirism is an energetic phenomenon that leaves victims feeling lethargic, emotionally drained and even physically ill. An energetic field surrounding the body, has been recorded by techniques such as Kirlian photography. Metaphysical practitioners and researchers including Slate call this field the aura and believe it can extend several feet out from the body and...

Uruz, Credit: Peter-Lomas, Pixabay Uruz (pronounced oo-rooz) is the U rune and comes from an early Northern Eurpoean letter script which later came to be associated with magic and divination. Its divinatory meaning is linked with the word's origin and Norse mythology. It's used to attract good health, manifestation of desires and also during times when strength of mind, body and spirit are called for. Etymology of Uruz There are different associations with the word uruz. The scholar R.I. Page in Runes: Reading the Past suggests that it's reconstructed from the word ur in Old English and Old Norse which had different meanings in each culture. In English, it meant wild ox or cow but in Norwegian meant slag which is a by-product of metal working. In Icelandic, the word is associated with drizzle or rain. Some modern rune authors focus on one or more of these different meanings along with the study of Norse lore to derive magic and divinatory uses for the rune. The W...

Fehu, Credit - Peter-Lomas, Pixabay Fehu (pronounced fay-hu) is a rune of wealth and mobile power. In divination, it often refers to issues of money, but it is also used in magic and meditation to attract wealth, an attitude of prosperity and a sense well-being. Original Meaning of the Fehu Rune Fehu is the Germanic word commonly used for this rune. However, the word has several variants in old languages. In Old Norse, it's "fe"; in Old English, it's "foeh", and "faihu" in Gothic. All of these terms roughly translate to cattle, wealth and livestock. Cows and other animals were a measure of a person's success and ability to provide for his needs. Those with money had power to rule their own lives and very often the lives of others. Divination With Runes As with most divination systems, the meaning of fehu is conditional depending upon the question that was asked during the reading and the other runes appear in the reading. For examp...

In anticipation of seeing The Hobbit later today, I went in search of some of the soundtrack music.  Of course, I found Enya, one of my all time faves.  Enjoy. © Trish Deneen

Disarblot by August Malmstrom, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons Asatru is a reconstructionist religion of pre-Christian Northern Europe and includes honoring the Norse deities, elements of ancestor worship and a strong commitment to community. Author Michael J. Smith provides a short, practical, down-to-earth guide to this religion in his book Ways of the Asatru: Beliefs of the Modern, Northern Heathens . A Beginner's Guide to Asatru While Mr. Smith starts his book with tenets common in Asatru, he addresses the issue of there not being one way to practice the religion early on by encouraging individual practitioners to find their own spiritual path. He has two rules he wants the readers to keep in mind which are: "Be your own scholar, as Asatru is the religion with homework." "Always get different perspectives. This is a religion that has its roots in the past, but is (and must be!) evolved within modern context." While Ways of the Asatru is an e-b...