Spirit Writer

Pentacle. Photo credit:  Wikimedia, Public Domain The Georgian tradition is a branch of the Neo-Pagan, nature-based religion of Wicca. Its roots go back to the 1970s and include influences from older Wiccan traditions.  One of the stated goals from the Georgian Wicca website is to bring about understanding between different branches of Wicca and witchcraft. The Founder of Georgian Wicca This sect of the Craft takes its name from George Patterson, a World War II veteran who founded the tradition with Zanoni Silverknife and Tanith in 1970. The group became a legally recognized church in the state of California in 1971. Influence from British Traditional Wicca British Traditional Wicca is the term for those Wiccan traditions that can trace their lineage back to the New Forest area of England. While Georgian Wicca cannot claim this lineage, it is heavily influenced by BTW in that it is an oath-bound initiatory path. Some of the sources drawn from to develop the Geo...

  Pentacle.  Photo credit:  Public domain, Wikimedia . Note: This information is based on my understanding and research done at the time of original publication which has been several years.  Please feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.  The closest I've come to working with a traditional Wiccan coven is a Georgian Wiccan group.  They were great people, though I decided this wasn't the path for me. ******************** British Traditional Wicca or BTW as it is commonly shortened to is a term that refers to branches of the Neo-Pagan religion Wicca that have origins in the New Forest area of England. Origins of Wicca Wicca is a nature-based, mystery religion that combines ancient and modern spiritual concepts. Gerald Gardner, a former British civil servant and folklorist, is credited with bringing Wicca to the public eye in the 1950s with publication of his book Witchcraft Today . He claimed to have been initiated into a coven of wi...

Four thieves vinegar is used by modern witches, magicians, and hoodoo practitioners for personal protection against psychic attack and to banish an enemy from their surroundings. Being easy and cheap to whip up in the kitchen has made it a popular magical item. At least 4 protective herbs are used in this vinegar. Photo credit: James DeMers, Pixabay. Legends of the Four Thieves There are several legends associated with the use of the vinegar. Perhaps the most well known is that of four thieves who lived during the time of the plague in France. They were caught for their thievery and imprisoned but were promised that if they buried the dead and lived, they would be set free. The legend says that one of these thieves knew the art of herbalism well. He made some of the magical elixir to keep he and his friends safe from the plague as they were busy burying corpses. Other legends place this tale in Italy. These legends have woven their way into folklore and permeated magical c...

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...