modernagewitchcraft-blog - Tumblr blog

modernagewitchcraft-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Beltane or Bust

I wasn’t sure if I was going to post this but I decided the purpose of this blog is to tell the story of a real witch, and Beltane 2017 was nothing if not real.

As a Greater Sabbat and the halfway point between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice, Beltane is a day to celebrate the awakening fertility of Mother Earth and long days of summer. It is celebrated on April 30/May 1 and originated in the Irish and Scottish cultures, where a fire celebration coincided with the beginning of the growing season.

There are countless ways to observe Beltane, but a typical celebration will include a bonfire, flowers, food and drink, and many use a Maypole to symbolize the union between the Masculine and Feminine energies.

As many Witches do, I had been planning for Beltane for weeks. I was looking forward to a beautiful drive into the mountains where I could light my own fire and celebrate the Divine Sun by making my own offerings for the season of fertility. As a Solitary Witch, my rituals are much less elaborate than the Coven rituals I have heard of, but I do have them. For Beltane, I start in the afternoon to take advantage of the sunlight and cleanse any new crystals and jewelry I’ve acquired recently. Sometimes I sing if the mood strikes me, but I don’t always. That is the beauty of solitary practice- I can change my rituals on a whim! As twilight falls, I light a bonfire & candles, make food and drink offerings, meditate and perform the spells and blessings I have prepared for the coming season. I will note the differences I make so if I find a process that really resonates with me, I can try it again.

This year, I scrapped my plans due to circumstances beyond my control and I suddenly faced the reality that I would be unable to make the hour drive to my selected celebratory spot. While I was, of course, disappointed in the missed opportunity to revel in Mother Nature, I knew I would still be able to have a small celebration in my apartment and give thanks for summer- and that’s exactly what I did! I used a board propped across the corner my deck as a faux altar and then just cast my circle super small around the board and myself. The spells and offerings were exactly the same and I am so glad I was able to celebrate in some way. It wasn’t at all what I predicted my celebrations would look like, but my flexibility allowed me to still feel the full fulfillment of the rituals despite the different venue.

How did you celebrate your Beltane this year? Ever had to reorganize your Sabbat last minute?

#witch #witchcraft #beltane #summer #sabbat fire motherearth blessedbe sun passion love fertility celebration pagan pantheism

0 notes

modernagewitchcraft-blog · 8 years ago

Text

Modern Day Witchcraft

Have you ever felt the wind on your face and felt more at peace?

Ever suddenly come across a stream in the woods and gasped in delight?

Do you meditate or allocate time to reflect on your life journey?

Does connecting to the Earth through respectful and sustainable ways interest you?

Enjoy candles and crystals?

Did you answer yes to any of the above? Then you might be a witch! (just kidding....sorta)

If you are reading this post then you were raised in a time when words like "witch" and "witchcraft" are equated with Satanism. Satanism and Devil-worship are offshoots of Judeo-Christian religious constructs and those churches are the ones who propagated the myth that nature worship is inherently 'evil'. Simply put, to believe in the Anti-Christ, you must believe in Christ. To host a Black Mass you must believe in the process of traditional Mass. There are hundreds of publications on this subject so I urge you to read more on the topic if you’re interested in the etymology of “witchcraft”.

In reality, what is known as witchcraft is a system of values and rituals built on the belief that all life is connected and humans should respect and worship even the tiniest of creatures. For that reason, you may note many Witches are vegan, vegetarians and ardent environmentalists. Thus, the idea that they would condone live ritual sacrifice is unpalatable.

What does a Witch look like and how can you tell if someone is a Witch?

It is with absolute delight, I can tell you that there is no singular definition or style of worship that automatically defines a Witch. The reality is that people who society would now call a Witch, practice the same nature-based worship and healing that's been around for THOUSANDS of years and just a few hundred years ago would be known as Priest and Priestesses. It should also be noted that "witch" is a term that not everyone adopts, although from the outside they may practice similarly to someone who does identify as a Witch.

Let someone define themselves and follow their lead.

As to what witches look like...frankly we're all around you! There is NO uniform and, personally, I wear pink as often as I wear black. All I can say is to keep an eye out for confident happy women rocking the awesome organic jewelry. As I mentioned, Witches are typically naturalists who enjoy working with organic elements since magick is all about connecting with natural energy and letting go of shackles that keep you from finding inner peace.

Do all Witches practice the same rituals?

No. There are about as many different types of Witches as their are personalities, just like there are many different types of Christians, Muslims, and Jews. Some of the more well known witchcraft sects are Wiccan, Pagan, and Solitary/Eclectic; some of which have extremely defined sub-sects. Similar to the multiple Saints that Christians pray to for specific occasions, most Witches honor gods that represent universal elements. They follow established rituals and styles of practice that have been passed down. Indeed, some Witches can trace their lineage back hundreds of years.

Everyone practices their faith differently and no one is authorized to speak for us all or tell someone their Practice isn't correct. Personally, I find the independence to spiritually grow on your own terms to be a main tenant of Witchcraft and absolutely what draws me to the Craft. We can delve more deeply into the specific types in another post but the major difference regardless of the specifics one major decision is whether a Witch chooses to practice in a group setting, commonly referred to as Covens, or to practice alone and refer to themselves as Solitary.

There are benefits to both styles and the beauty of being a Witch is finding what works best for you. I believe in letting your Practice unfold naturally and leaning into the topics that interest you and connect with what you need. Those needs will change over time and by allowing oneself to explore different concentrations, your experience will develop accordingly and subsequently enrich your life. Being able to tailor your journey to exactly what you need it a joy. I urge you to explore alternatives if things are working for you right now. You can always return to something you are struggling with.

Witchcraft in the modern age uses many mainstream religious items, as well as contemporary exercise techniques to practice their Craft.

Typical tools & techniques include:

Candles

Incense

Ritual Songs

Meditation

Yoga/Stretching

Gems and Crystals

Journaling

I hope this gave you a small window into what I think the reality of being a Modern Witch looks like and I welcome you to my journey as I explore the Craft and my relationship with Mother Nature and the energy that unites us all.

✨Blessed Be ✨

#witchcraft #witch modernwitch modernmagick magick thecraft craft pagan wicca energy elements candles meditation incense crystals journal

0 notes