tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51566740972319508992024-03-04T20:56:15.160-08:00Wynter JourneyWynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-39438110512284675422014-06-12T13:49:00.002-07:002014-06-12T13:49:45.943-07:00I am easily side tracked and distracted. Life throws me curve balls, which you think I would have learned to catch by now, and things that matter to me get put to the wayside. I try to make sure everyone around me is okay, and don't focus on myself. Lately, I have been keeping a pen and paper journal and just writing. About my path, my life, what it means to be Witch.<br />
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There is a lot that goes into being a Witch. I bet most people don't consider it, but it's actually harder than when I was a Christian. I don't have a book to go to to tell me how to live my life and path, to tell me right from wrong. At first, when I first began this journey, that was so daunting. The level of accountability is unreal! You know, I really enjoyed reading my Bible and studying those words and gleaning their wisdom- seriously, I was HUGE into Bible study. Truth is, I'm HUGE into Study on a general level. I love to read about everything- world religions and philosophies are a favorite. I like to know what others think and how they view the world, I like to have first hand information about what people believe, not just what people in other religions and areas "think" they believe. So, what's a Witch to do? A book loving Witch- well she writes her own!<br />
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A Book of Shadows is a sacred text, sacred to the Witch who writes it, who breathes life into by creating it. Each page is a testament to her/his journey, something they have learned along the way, a part of that knowledge that they want to keep with them. As I learn and observe my Book of Shadows grows, it grows with me. The Bible never did that, it was already there and it was up to me to grow to it, live up to it- my Book of Shadows- that's something different. My Book of Shadows is for the most part handwritten- the exception to that rule is Ritual- those are long and I type them out and put them in. I have considered re-doing how my ritual section is but haven't actually changed it.<br />
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I made my Book of Shadows out of a post bound scrapbook. I wrapped it in crushed velvet, attached a silk Maple Leaf and Silver Painted Wooden Owl to the cover. And I use gold parchment paper for it. It is beautiful to look at and a joy to add to. There isn't as much in it as I would like, often times adding to it is one of those things that gets put to the wayside, but it is becoming quite the reference book. I must admit that it is rather exciting to be able to go to my own Book of Shadows for information instead of looking it up on-line. I am growing, so my book is growing. Although, I may be growing faster than my Book.<br />
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Have you ever thought about what it is that makes your Path a journey? What it is that makes you a witch? What if you couldn't cast spells, would you still be a witch? What are the things you do, say, or think that make you a Witch?<br />
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I've been thinking about this, and I think of the ways my life has changed since embracing Wicca and claiming it for myself. For me I am a Witch because......<br />
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* I try to see the good in people, even when it is hard to see, I strive to always see the Divine within them<br />
* I try to not let my own hurts and pains color the ways I can be of service to those around me.<br />
* Yin Yoga- oh dearest Raush, I can never thank you enough for introducing me to this practice and the focus on my breath, the way it can quiet the noise of the world, melt away the stress of the day, and fuel me with the strength to face another challenge<br />
* Time at my altar- Ray Boltz would probably have a fit, but he has this song called That's What this Altar is For, and it was a favorite of mine when I was younger, but I still draw comfort from the concept- my altar is where I cast away my burdens and surrender them to something Higher and Greater than myself- prayer is not something exclusively for Christians.<br />
* Meditation- A daily practice,spending time every day dwelling on how I want my life to be, sometimes seeing the pathways to make it so, breaking down barriers and eliminating fear, very often crosses over with Altar time.<br />
* A love of nature and trees, the beautiful Willow in my back yard (perk to the new house!)- although this love doesn't translate into skill, I cannot grow herbs, I am adept at killing flowers- I am not a Green Witch folks- I acknowledge and accept that, however much I continue to try and work on it.<br />
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Ok, I have rambled on long enough- until next time- whenever that is!<br />
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Wynter WillowWynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-60330932366074885182014-03-11T11:52:00.001-07:002014-03-11T11:52:23.263-07:00Jumpy MindI don't know what else to call it. My mind is constantly going from one place to another. It will look like I am not accomplishing anything and then BOOM a flurry of completions all at once. The problem with this is that when life throws me a curve ball MANY projects get out to the side at once and a lot suffers, and I don't always remember what it was I had going on, then months later I remember something and pick it back up ..... this is s character flaw, I am aware, and as bad as it sounds it isn't something I am working to correct. After years of trying to I have determined that this is a part of me and it is a part of how I see and interact with the world around me. <br />
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I try to stay connected to all parts of me, I open up one part to the outside world and close off another, this isn't a bad thing, it protects me. It allows me to share of myself and protect myself at the same time. As I learn and study and grow, something that seemed new and exciting may become more intimate in nature, more personal, and so I bring it back unto myself and explore something new that I want to share with others. <br />
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My life is in constant flux, and what I am realizing is that this is true for most people. We change and grow and make mistakes. I have made my fair share of doozies in the last 32 1\2 years, I have trusted the wrong people, given of my body too easily, loved people who proved to be unworthy of such devotion..... but it has all brought me here. It has all made me the with and the woman that I am today: beautifully flawed, strong, kind, compassionate, passionate, determined and stubborn as all hell. <br />
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Will I get back to the 44 days of Witchery? Will I jump in on the Pagan Blog Project? Are more Zentangles coming? More from Circle of Stones? Yep, and so much more and Goddess knows in what order. But stick with me, because I'm anything but boring and you never know what is coming next. <br />
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In light and love,<br />
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WynterWynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-58846074748150876722014-02-15T06:31:00.002-08:002014-02-15T06:35:11.934-08:00Seeking Avalon<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Good morning everyone! Well, that sounds arrogant, for all I know "everyone" is no one, but that's okay. </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>I'm journeying along my path, and for the last several years I have changed in so many ways. Maybe I haven't changed, maybe it is that in the last 3 years I have finally allowed myself to be who I have always supposed to be- Me. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Two years ago I began studying with The Sacred Mists, and I have met some of the most amazing women there and forged friendships that I truly see lasting for the entirety of my lifetime. As part of this training I have done several Deity Studies and a particular set of these set me down a path that I keep going back to and can't shake the call of..... the path to Avalon. I was learning about Blodeuwedd, actually I think I was looking for which deity to study and came across it, and there was a listing of the Goddesses of Avalon. It started simply enough, I thought how convenient there are five of them and I can do my next series of studies on these 5 Goddesses and make my life easier..... I didn't anticipate that from that moment, my life was already changing and I was being called to seek Avalon. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>As I learned about the Goddesses as I learned their myths and vital statistics and tried to connect with them the sacredness of the endeavor became apparent. I wasn't able to connect with each, and I connected most strongly with Arianrhod, in a beautiful and profoundly altering way. But each study brought me back to learning of Avalon and wanting to learn more, and discovering things about myself, and that which I was unwilling to learn about myself. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>I have begun reading 2 different books, one as a self study and it is called Avalon Within: A Sacred Journey of Myth, Mysteries, and Inner Wisdom. It is fascinating from the beginning, talking of the Fruit of Wisdom the Five Seeds of Wisdom the Avalonian Cycle of Healing and the Sacred Landscape of Avalon. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>The Second book I have started is also a self-study book but I am reading and working through this book with a small group of women who I am on a path to get to know. It is called Circle of Stones: A Woman's Journey to Herself. From what I can tell it is about reclaiming your power and healing the hurts within so that you can ultimately aid others in doing the same and embrace the sacredness of being woman. I've read the preface, introduction and first chapter and I'm going to make myself slow down and think about this. The chapters or sections rather end with a probing question, and since the Preface is the first section to do this, I'm going to answer it as a "in the beginning I thought this" type thing, so I can track and see where my train of thought goes on this journey. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>"How might your life have been different if there had been a place for you, a place for you to go to be with your mother, with your sisters and aunts, with your grandmothers, and the great and great-great-grandmothers, a place of women to go, to be, to return to, as woman? How would your life be different?" -Judith Duerk, Circle of Stones</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>After reading the Preface to the novel this question placed here almost seems rhetorical, like we're supposed to think on it but not really have an answer yet. The rest of the book will be digging deeply into many facets of this question. But what if I could have spent time sitting and talking with the strong women around me. I was able to observe strong women, I was able to enjoy different moments with them and hear their stories. But my family has always been so far spread out, my two sisters who are also Wiccan have never lived near me, they living with their mom and me with mine. My mother is a strong woman but she was always trying to survive and provide. From her I learned about hard work and the importance of inner strength, but not really how to cultivate it. She is much stronger than I am, I don't know how she did it. That might be it, if there had been this place where we could have truly come together and shared and spoke, I think I would be more confident than I am, that confidence would have been a given and not something that has been hard fought and sought after. I think I would have known from the earliest of days my value and worth and there are circumstances that I never would have found myself in. Is it possible that if this place with my mother and sisters and Aunts and the wiser women of my grandmother and great grandmother would have caused the ripple effect that I wouldn't have the children I have now, because I never would have settled for their fathers? A place to glean the wisdom of those who love me and want the very best for me.... yes, that would have changed my life, it still would change my life..... to be surrounded by strength and beauty, freely shared and wisdom freely passed on..... </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>I'm really excited to be reading this book.... I'll be back to let you in on the answers to other questions as well. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Many Blessings,</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Wynter</b></span></span></div>
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Wynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-89541088895071318652014-02-10T14:38:00.000-08:002014-02-10T14:38:36.297-08:00Zentangle Challenge #6<div dir="ltr">
Here it is Challenge #6!!! I don't think I've ever talked about being a Past Lives Divinator, but it is something that I really do enjoy. A big part of what I do is reading Natal Charts in order to see the karmic impacts of the past on your present life. Being so deeply involved in the study of the Signs and Planets I thought that incorporating their symbols into Zentangle would be a lot of fun! So this one I used the symbol for Aries as my String to break up my tile. Aries is a Fire sign so I used Red and Orange to do the tangle inside of the symbol to let it contrast with the black. The Week 6 challenge was to use the IXORUS pattern in the tangle and that is present too! I also played around with vanishing vantage points with a couple of the patterns, overall I think the look is pretty cool. Enjoy!!<br />
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Have a wonderful week, I probably won't be around for a couple of days, Atlanta is expecting a serious ice storm and I will leave for work this evening and probably not be home until Thursday. Yay for the paycheck, but I'm really going to miss my children. Don't worry, I'm bringing some Tangling supplies and will be able to pass down time hours with something creative and beautiful. </div>
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Blessed Be,</div>
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Wynter</div>
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Blessed Be,</div>
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<br />Wynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-12840984265544975202014-02-04T11:12:00.001-08:002014-02-04T11:13:03.443-08:00Zentangle Challenge #4<div dir="ltr">
Well the fourth <span style="color: black;">challenge from The Diva (button over there on the right sidebar) was to use a Star or incorporate a Star in the creation of the Zentangle. This one is special for a couple of reasons. 1 it is the first time I used the Printemps pattern, I've done spirals before, but these ones actually cut off and overlap. Also, I modified the cross stitch and made the X's little stick stars, guess they look like an asterix a little. I left the Star outline plain so it could pop out of the design and not be lost. And looking at this picture as I type this I realize I didn't initial this one, better do that! </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">This one is another note card, I have to say I enjoy making them as note cards, just need the right people to write to, you know the ones who don't throw cards away.... I'm thinking my sisters in the Mists will make great candidates....</span></div>
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Well, I really should do some kind of post for the 44 Days of Witchery and I want to jump into the Pagan Blog Challenge this year, just seem to get distracted easily, lol. </div>
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More later,</div>
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Wynter</div>
Wynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-23668125893355585482014-02-02T12:40:00.000-08:002014-02-02T12:40:03.104-08:00Zentangle Challenge #3<div dir="ltr">
Well, I'm not going to call <span style="color: black;">them Weekly Challenges because, well I'm just not I might do one a day, I might skip a week or two, who knows how many I'll actually do. but I will link to them and talk about them.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Challenge #3 <a href="http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/2011/01/weekly-challenge-3.html" target="_blank">(found here)</a> is called Eyes Wide Shut, and the challenge is to draw the string with your eyes closed! Mine was a two loop thing that made two tiny sections and two really big sections, I debated putting dots in the stripes along the outside and that served as fill but decided not to. This was my first working with Cadent pattern, and I didn't know how to do it with the "cut off" look, so I did them all solid then filled in with the lines. I also varied Cadent by making a center circle and connecting to each of the four corners from the center circle. The big thing is this made me nauseous spinning the paper and gave me a little bit of a headache.... oh well, live and learn right? This is not my favorite Tangle, the one I did for the 2nd challenge actually is, but notice the Chainlea? I even attempted slight shading.... something I haven't done much of and should practice.... thinking Chainlea and Dragonair would be so beautiful together.... will experiment and see. </span></div>
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Well, that's it for now,</div>
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Many Blessings,</div>
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Wynter</div>
Wynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-38248072125091163002014-02-02T11:38:00.000-08:002014-02-02T11:38:08.551-08:00Zentangle Challenge #2<div dir="ltr">
Ok, so I have stumbled upon this Zentangle Weekly Challenge put out by The Diva, she started for 2011 so I went back to the beginning of the challenges.... they are supposed to be weekly, but I'm playing catch up, and well, if I want to do more than one or skip around, that's a benefit of starting late! </div>
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The challenge for Week 2 can be found <a href="http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/2010/12/weekly-challenge-2.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> and the task was to use two pencils together to make the string, kind of cool is a really easy way to get a Ribbon Effect. I chose a ZigZag. Well I bought the book <u>The Art of Zentangle: 50 Inspiring drawings, designs & ideas for the meditative Artist</u> and seriously, there are some great things in there!!! Even how to do Fae with Zentangle. Anyway love the book. And I got to this part of my Tangle and got stuck, I couldn't decide what to do with the empty space, I knew I wanted spirals on the ribbon, but had this gap to fill. Which was frustrating, so I took a break and then came back to it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6VNVePmBuPi6-K6ueH3mbtT0V5FKxkZkHADG9PNeYPgG6KbXWxRzwWmcJM05d6avQJvlTeAEdh_fUG7Rm_txUxnEguVBIlcQRrI5shxTxDy-1f1t7XCF3fHq2Rtb0N-49m8ZgV6f5T0/s1600/IMAG2286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6VNVePmBuPi6-K6ueH3mbtT0V5FKxkZkHADG9PNeYPgG6KbXWxRzwWmcJM05d6avQJvlTeAEdh_fUG7Rm_txUxnEguVBIlcQRrI5shxTxDy-1f1t7XCF3fHq2Rtb0N-49m8ZgV6f5T0/s640/IMAG2286.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a> </div>
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About 30 minutes after my break I sat back down and flipped through my book, and thought the arcs are a great way to fill in this space, it would have a yin/yang effect by having half the grid dark and half the grid light, and I knew what I was going to do with the Ribbon, though the double circles between was a surprise!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbHZ9qqgrbuQAjKX9Bl1n3xRTWAnZq5bJa2WNeteYjhg4N5U_aVrPzH070miQglX4re-rQNoqjcxWFG5YWPOCbAB8myFmcQNVS7tmRoeo-5MD4Iw2Hiathkqhyphenhyphen59C-sBuJB60L3SKd00/s1600/IMAG2287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbHZ9qqgrbuQAjKX9Bl1n3xRTWAnZq5bJa2WNeteYjhg4N5U_aVrPzH070miQglX4re-rQNoqjcxWFG5YWPOCbAB8myFmcQNVS7tmRoeo-5MD4Iw2Hiathkqhyphenhyphen59C-sBuJB60L3SKd00/s640/IMAG2287.jpg" height="180" width="320" /> </a> </div>
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Other Tangles I've done are this Brighids Cross for Imbolc:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWyZmjt6kY_LoiHgROIR5R-qgo4triRz81GjCMXq4CzYDgsolx2zH7EK0tKIfTIQjDQ5M5iLf1UNE_efO0h2jpm0bfeQyK8nhSYhtd3vX4loch4It2y9htRglzP8lIJuM5nYgqzAIHos/s1600/IMAG2284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWyZmjt6kY_LoiHgROIR5R-qgo4triRz81GjCMXq4CzYDgsolx2zH7EK0tKIfTIQjDQ5M5iLf1UNE_efO0h2jpm0bfeQyK8nhSYhtd3vX4loch4It2y9htRglzP8lIJuM5nYgqzAIHos/s640/IMAG2284.jpg" height="320" width="180" /> </a> </div>
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And here you can see some practicing in my notebook with the ideas from the wonderful Art of Zentangle book, but most important the Toadstool, an experiment in color, feels very Wonderland to me, and I think a Toadstool series for the notecards I'm making would be fabulous!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8E8XmYMCC7WxZutYujgtxU7ZgPTaVrArfSmcnGR9xj5MMeOPVz2XbxbKaeUVlLScOx68RVqq2lkvqphKKz48LnLmShfNbGq7BYsQS3s6Hp8O-xVPi9JdDQvQX_8_CJn3eWXd8ZZMX1t8/s1600/IMAG2283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8E8XmYMCC7WxZutYujgtxU7ZgPTaVrArfSmcnGR9xj5MMeOPVz2XbxbKaeUVlLScOx68RVqq2lkvqphKKz48LnLmShfNbGq7BYsQS3s6Hp8O-xVPi9JdDQvQX_8_CJn3eWXd8ZZMX1t8/s640/IMAG2283.jpg" height="320" width="180" /> </a> </div>
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I actually did the 3rd Challenge already too, but I'm being good and only one Challenge "tile" per post so I can directly link them to the linky machine on The Divas Site. </div>
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I'm really enjoying the Zen Tangle, and the many options available by delving into this. It makes me look artistic when I'm really not, lol. </div>
Wynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0Cumming, GA, USA34.2073196 -84.14019259999997834.1022606 -84.301554099999976 34.312378599999995 -83.978831099999979tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-37773101393098822602014-01-31T17:46:00.001-08:002014-01-31T20:33:05.563-08:00Zentangle Challenge #1 Simplicity<div dir="ltr">
Well I need to get on the laptop and link back to the Challenge Website, but first the pictures. I've been learning about Zentangle, it is so much fun! I came across a blog by a Certified Zentangle Teacher and she has been doing a weekly ZT challenge since 2011. Well I went back to the beginning and I am going to slowly work through the challenges. I'm using mine as notecards, I think it will be a great personalized way to write to people. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vkcSDLCCqzfqbg550MJnVMdMlGACbUBMGPG1RS8kTMKost_0RGuGzT5zPDdslkJWHuR8NqLDw-eJrGeZiybK8NqGsQ4rvZgnGExhFCDsivMuobor9nbxHUhwHzfRMtQCWzR76NJ4HTc/s640/IMAG2271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vkcSDLCCqzfqbg550MJnVMdMlGACbUBMGPG1RS8kTMKost_0RGuGzT5zPDdslkJWHuR8NqLDw-eJrGeZiybK8NqGsQ4rvZgnGExhFCDsivMuobor9nbxHUhwHzfRMtQCWzR76NJ4HTc/s640/IMAG2271.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is my image for the first challenge, which was Simplicity. What I did was only work with squares, not sure how simple it is, but I think it counts. </div>
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Update: Here is the web-site where I found the Challenge.....<a href="http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Click Here</a></div>
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<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Flh3.ggpht.com%2F-DeQeaO_HVlo%2FUuxR-VARZlI%2FAAAAAAAAAGs%2F4ov5xWSkfnM%2Fs640%2FIMAG2271.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vkcSDLCCqzfqbg550MJnVMdMlGACbUBMGPG1RS8kTMKost_0RGuGzT5zPDdslkJWHuR8NqLDw-eJrGeZiybK8NqGsQ4rvZgnGExhFCDsivMuobor9nbxHUhwHzfRMtQCWzR76NJ4HTc/s640/IMAG2271.jpg" -->Wynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-43272253042463987352013-11-26T12:57:00.001-08:002013-11-26T12:57:09.331-08:00Crocheting and Dreams..... You can join me!<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I will be getting back to the 44 Days of Witchery soon, I have been pretty horribly sick the last bit here, and just have zero energy for anything.</span><br />
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I'd like to talk a bit about another aspect of who I am though. The me that crochets and creates things. There was a time when I crocheted for 40+ hours a week, those days are long gone, I am at about 10 or so these days. Sometimes more, sometimes less, just depends. However, regardless of how much, or little, time I have for the activity, it remains one of my very favorite things to do. </span><br />
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I have a dream to this end, one I've had for many years, one that I pulled off briefly for a time about 5 years ago, and would love to build up and do again now that I'm settled in our new home. I would love to assemble lapghans to distribute to people who need them, those who are facing a hard time and need some encouragement. I'd call them Goddessghans, and use the squares that I make, as well as squares sent to me by others and make small blankets to distribute as needed. The Goddessghans would be rouhgly 36"x 48", using 48 6" squares for each ghan. </span><br />
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I have begun making squares again, for me and my tension and how I crochet a 6" square is made with 5 rounds and a size "I" hook, basic granny square pattern. I'm using the colors Midnight Blue, Silver, and Black. I will post a picture of my first completed Goddessghan when I have it finished. If you would like to send some 6" squares toward a Goddessghan for someone going through a rough time, email me for the address, or if you would like to request a Goddessghan for someone shoot me an email and let me know! </span><br />
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">You can email me at: zaira.connolly@gmail.com</span><br />
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Blessed Be,</span><br />
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Wynter Willow</span>Wynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-90015366392181892872013-11-21T16:44:00.003-08:002013-11-21T16:44:32.315-08:0044 Days of Witchery..... Day 5<span style="color: purple;">Task: Talk about a favorite Goddess</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">I'm going to talk about Arianhrod. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">She is a Welsh Goddess and one of the Five Goddesses of Avalon. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: purple;">Arianrhod represents the Mother Aspect of the Triple Goddess formed with Bloudewedd and Cerridwen.</span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the book Magic
of the Celtic Gods and Goddesses by Carl McColman and Kathryn Hinds the authors
point to Arianhrod as a Goddess of initiation, to be called upon when great
transformations are called for, and more specifically for the initiator of
warriors and leaders. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The authors say “she sets ordeals to test the candidate </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">and makes sure
the circumstances are right from crossing from one state of life into the
next.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">I'm going to share a story, this is taken from Magic of the Celtic Gods and Goddesses by Carl McColman and Kathryn Hinds, I do not claim what comes next as my own, it is theirs. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Arianrhod is one of the children of the
goddess Don, along with her brothers Gwydion, Amaethon, and Gofannon. Her
uncle, Math the Ancient, is the ruler of Gwynedd in north Wales. As a condition
of his kingship, he must rest his feet in a maiden’s lap whenever he is sitting
in judgment. A time comes when he has need of a new footholder, so Gwydion
suggests Arianhrod for the job. Math summons her and asks her if she is indeed
a maiden. Her answer “I do not know other than that I am” is hardly conclusive,
so Math puts her to a test. He stretches out his magickal staff close to the
ground and tells Arianhrod to step over it. As she does, she “drops” a yellow
haired boy, whom Math later names Dylan and who goes to live in the sea. (in a
fuller version I read, he was thrown into the sea and happened to turn into a
fish of some kind, but this version says it nicer then they tried to drown the
boy and failed.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Arianhrod keeps walking, but as she is about
to go out the door, she drops something else. Only Gwydion sees it. He scoops
it up and hides it in a chest at the foot of his bed. Time passes until, one
morning, he is awakened by the noise coming from the chest. Opening it, he
finds a baby boy. The child grows twice as fast, in body and mind, as ordinary
boys. When he is 4 years old, Gwydion takes him to Arianhrod’s seaside fortress
to meet his mother. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">It isn’t a particularly happy reunion. First,
Arianhrod scolds Gwydion for disgracing her by keeping the boy for so long.
Then, when she asks what his name is, Gwydion tells her that he has not yet got
a name. “Well” says Arianhrod, “and he will not have a name unless he gets it
from me.” Gwydion and the boy leave, but the next day Gwydion uses his magickal
arts to disguise the two of them as shoemakers. He conjures a ship out of
seaweed, and they sail into the harbor below Arianhrod’s fortress. There they
set about making shoes of beautiful gilded leather. Arianhrod goes down to the
ship to have a pair of shoes made for herself. While Gwydion is measuring her
foot, a wren, the smallest of birds, alights on the deck. In a flash, the boy
casts his shoemaker’s awl at it, hitting its leg. Arianhrod smiles and
declares, “Lleu llaw gyffes!”- “A bright one with a skillful hand!” From his
mother’s words, the boy’s name becomes Lleu Llaw Gyffes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Then Arianhrod says “Now I swear, he will
never take arms till I arm him myself.” Gwydion takes Lleu home and continues
to raise him. The years pass; Lleu grows and matures. At last it is time that a
youth of his age and station should take arms, so Gwydion disguises the two of
them as bards, and they head for Arianhrods fortress, where they are welcomed
eagerly and shown great hospitality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">After feasting, Gwydion and Arianhrod tell
tales and recite lore. Later, while all the court sleeps, Gydion works his
magic so that , when dawn comes, a huge fleet of ships appears to be anchored
just off the coast, with warrior’s pouring ashore. Arianhrod comes to Gwydion
and Lleu’s room to ask for their help in defending the castle. They agree, but
because neither of the “bards” has arms or weapons, Arianhrod and two maidens
fetch what is needed from the castle stores. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">“Lady,” says Gwydion, “let the maidens help me
arm, and you assist the young man.” She does this gladly, and when Lleu is
fully armed, weapons in hand, Gwydion lifts all his enchantments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">“So, he has his name and his arms.” Says
Arianhrod. “But I swear this destiny: He will never find a wife among the
people now on this earth”. Gwydion declares that he will get Lleu a wife all
the same. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">As a result, Bloudewedd is made with the nine
flowers and presented to Lleu as his wife. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Wynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-43557024217157254192013-11-19T21:28:00.001-08:002013-11-19T21:28:34.413-08:0044 Days of Witchery.....Day 4<p dir=ltr>Task: A photo of the Element of Water</p>
<p dir=ltr>I'm going to share a picture from a recent hike. I was out with one of my daughters and we came across this stream during five hours of hiking. It isn't much but it is a memory from a beautiful day. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAISH2lpyDG7hx46QRdmSPds9i3BDWZE0sWCZiwrWaLN82uM-PWRcOiadVhk-DspthDgGbRQmwyBj1LssrwU30YEyyZEtxvhPwm_mGYvEjwpMjuJFUhDZUspQ-qK6xrcBU-qxuF0UcFA/s1600/IMAG1791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAISH2lpyDG7hx46QRdmSPds9i3BDWZE0sWCZiwrWaLN82uM-PWRcOiadVhk-DspthDgGbRQmwyBj1LssrwU30YEyyZEtxvhPwm_mGYvEjwpMjuJFUhDZUspQ-qK6xrcBU-qxuF0UcFA/s640/IMAG1791.jpg"> </a> </div>Wynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-20957336065672002582013-11-19T01:56:00.001-08:002013-11-19T01:56:42.019-08:0044 Days of Witchery.....Day 3<p dir=ltr><b>Topic: Witchy Tools - Athame </b></p>
<p dir=ltr>So the task today is to talk about the Athame, a ritual tool used by Witches. </p>
<p dir=ltr>There is some debate among witches about which element the Athame belongs to, does it represent Fire or does it represent Air. I associate it with Air, because (and I have covered that I am into Tarot) in a Tarot deck the Suit of Swords is the Suit of Air, it represents our thoughts on the matter and deals with how we handle things through internal dialogue and how we perceive situations. An athame is a more refined personal form of the Sword for ritual purposes, so I'm sticking with it represent Air. You are free to disagree with me and say Wands are Air and Athames are Fire. But that isn't how I see it. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Anyway, what is an Athame for? Well it directs and channels energy. I have seen them used interchangeably with a wand to cast a ritual circle. For myself being involved with a Circle that is on-line, I prefer the Athame for casting the circle, I feel it keeps the thoughts of those involved in the ritual together, and being that we can be thousands of miles away from each other that is easier for me to maintain than the thought of a fire stream connecting us. Something about shooting fire around the country or across the Atlantic to England doesn't sit right with me. </p>
<p dir=ltr>Anyway, online rituals I use the Athame for circle casting, personal rituals I like the wand, and the imagery of a wall of fire blocking anything that might wish me ill while I am doing ritual. Right, back to Athame. </p>
<p dir=ltr>An Athame is a double edged blade with a pointed tip, though some people dull their tip. It is not horribly sharp on the edges, as it isn't used to physically cut anything. And often has a black handle. Mine does not have a black handle, it has a beautiful wooden handle, and an energy within that vibrates when I hold it. It feels right to me and works beautifully, I have considered altering the handle, but don't see why I should fix something that isn't broken. </p>
<p dir=ltr>I would like one day to have an athame with an Obsidian handle, I have dreamed of an entirely obsidian athame before, Nit sure why and I have yet to take the time to look into the significance. </p>
<p dir=ltr>I have heard it said that a Witches tools are crutches and that with the acquisition of true power they are no longer needed. Personally, I think that is crap. I believe that tools have a Spirit of their own, and while you can most certainly do Magick without them, they have a inherent power of their own that they can lend to your workings. I also believe that with each tool representing different elements, that we honor the elements and the elemental spirits as well as the elemental Kings by humbling ourself, and recognizing that we can connect more strongly with them, when we come before them with the tools and symbols of the trade. The last thing I want to do is cast a circle and call on help from Watchtowers that I have offended by being so arrogant as to think I don't need magickal tools because I can do it all myself. I see is as trying to boil water without a pot to put it in.... The use of the pot isn't a crutch to the cook, it is necessary for the perfect end result. That is how is see my Magickal Tools. </p>
Wynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-13122033490782387472013-11-18T02:29:00.001-08:002013-11-18T14:14:04.876-08:0044 Days of Witchery .....Day 2<div dir="ltr">
<span style="color: purple;"><b>Task: Share a story from myth or folklore</b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">This is a great challenge, and the story I'm going to share is one of my favorites, and I am going to share it from memory without looking it up. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">It is the story of Demeter and Persephone. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">The overbearing mother and the rebellious daughter, and the bad boy that set her free.</span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">What? That isn't how you remember the story? </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Well my blog, we get to look at it how I see it. </span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Demeter was a loving mom, but she had a flaw, she was so into the role of Mother, she lost herself. She became the helicopter mom, and all her own hopes and dreams were wrapped up in her daughter. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Her daughter felt the pressure, she knew how much her mother depended on her, but she really wanted independence, she wanted freedom, she wanted to discover who she was beyond Demeter's Daughter. </span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Well one day the opportunity presennted itself, the bad boy Hades wanted Persephone and when he offered himself to her she jumped at the chance to join him in the Underworld. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Well, Demeter, the great mother couldn't find her daughter and she searched and searched forgetting about her role as Earth Mother. Nothing grew in her great sadness, once she learned of Persephones whereabouts she was inconsolable. The people of Earth were on the brink of starvation. Zeus had to intervene and arranged for Persephone to come home. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Persephone ate some pomegranate seeds, just three little juice filled goodness seeds. By partaking of the food of the Underwood it assured that Persephone could never leave the Underworld, not permanently and there was nothing to be done about it. Zeus himself could do nothing about it, except compromise. Persephone would be allowed to go to the surface but had to return to the Underworld for part of the year, every year. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Depending on the version the split was 50/50, some say 6 months top side, 3 months under side to account for Winter. After all of these years Demeter is inconsolable when her beloved daughter is in the arms of Hades, and there are no harvests and growth during this time. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">There are lessons to be learned from this Story. One, it is important to protect but not suffocate your children. You have to let your children find their own way. You also can't lose yourself in being a mother, you must keep that part of you that answers to your first name, develop your own interests, and you will be better equipped to live a life after your children have grown and gone. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Also, don't make Demeter inconsolable if you ever want to eat again. </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple;">Many Blessings,</span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;">Wynter </span></div>
Wynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5156674097231950899.post-71884602904291360862013-11-17T22:57:00.000-08:002013-11-17T23:30:37.090-08:0044 Days of Witchery.... Day 1<span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Question: What's your Witchy Background?</span><br />
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Well, I have studied Wicca at several different times in my life. In my early days I would read and explore for a month or so and then the guilt would set it, after all Wicca is evil and of the Devil right? And I would run back to church and ask Jesus to forgive me and resume the "one true way" to God all over again. I worried what people would think if they ever discovered my interest in the Occult, how would they see me. It was easier to be a Christian, it is so acceptable!</span><br />
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In 2009 I left began going through a divorce, no longer someones wife, and faced with raising my daughters alone, I had to truly find myself. I had no idea who I was. I began reading some books, and really nothing horribly serious. But I took a self inventory, what do I believe, how do I view faith, how do I view God. In 2011, around April of that year I started to study Wicca with purpose. </span><br />
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My personal views and beliefs lined up with this path so beautifully, and I was no longer willing to apologize for the way I live my life. In December of the same year I found The Sacred Mists, an on-line coven and school for all things Witchy. I felt like I had come home. I could be myself and share my thoughts and learn from those who had been at it a lot longer than I have been. </span><br />
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I felt free. Plus, I enjoy the structure of the learning there. It has taken a while, there have been twists and turns and pauses and breaks, but I'm nearing the end of my First Degree there. I have met some of the most amazing people,and it may seem crazy to some, but some of my dearest and closest friends are people I have never met in person. </span><br />
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I enjoy reading and learning as much as I can. My favorite aspect of my path, at present is Divination. I am learning so much about Tarot, perform some readings (I do not proclaim to be an expert, but I do have one particular deck that speaks to me and I just love!!!). I am in training to do Past Lives Readings, and have found I do have a particular skill there. It is a work in progress, I need to work on being more free flowing and a little less analytical with the delivery of the results. </span><br />
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How do I know I can do Past Lives Readings? This is an interesting story. When I was 11 some major things happened. The first was in February my grandfather died, it was horrible, the saddest thing I had ever experienced. I was very close with him, and felt his absence so strongly. A few months later, my friend Cindy died. She was 10 years old and died during a Liver Transplant. It was the first time I realized that children an die too. Well, these events lead to a rather morbid summer. I spent a lot of time at the cemetery where Cindy was buried. There was this one tomb stone, it was old and gorgeous. It looked a lot like a mirror, a really old fashioned one. Anyway, when I would look at it, I could see myself but it wasn't at present. I was wearing maybe victorian clothes? Big dress and fancy hat, but it was me.... hard to explain and for years I tried to say it was the over active imagination of an 11 year old girl. But I knew from then, that I had been here before, my faith didn't allow for that belief, but it was more than belief, it was knowledge that I'd already been on Earth, and that someday I'd be back here again. I started about a year ago exploring my own Past Lives, seeing what I could awaken and know, then the opportunity presented itself to do so for others. So I'm going through training, proving my skills and ability in the area before I'm allowed to do this for other people, I am so excited to get this underway!! </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I have tried to study Herbalism, I find it absolutely fascinating, but this is where I fall pretty short as a witch, I have black thumbs! I cannot make anything grow, isn't that just awful? I still make potions and am learning to make my own ink, but the herbs don't come from my own witchy garden, they either come from the fresh section of the grocery store, or are from Phoenix and Dragon, a brand called Gaia's World. </span><br />
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So, my witchy history isn't very long, but everyone's witchy history has to start somewhere. </span><br />
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2014 promises to be a year of Growth and Development, and I hope to share it with everyone! I have found a few Blog Writing Challenges to kick off this new Blog, and I'm hoping to do the Pagan Blog Project in 2014. </span><br />
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Blessed Be,</span><br />
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Wynter </span>Wynter Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11306585202403355751noreply@blogger.com0