haven't been posting much, i know...but i have been reading all the blogs i have been following, and am still deeply immersed in my path, as well as learning about others' paths. i've just been busy gearing up for going back to college (my last full year i think!), making some jewelry to try to get my etsy shoppe back up, cleaning my house, playing with my ratties, that sort of thing.
and of course, reading. the two books i am reading now: "Natural Witchcraft" by Marian Green, and "The Mist-Filled Path" by Frank MacEowen.
these are two decent books-- i have gleaned some insight from them (and they are at least a step up from a few other "101"-type books i've skimmed through)-- but they still don't really relate to my path on a great level. i do enjoy reading about other people's paths anyway though; i think it's important because there are so many different "flavours" of paganism, it's good to educate yourself. but it's been a challenge for me to find ANY book that is genuinely Trad. Craft based, to help me grow in my own path; not to mention the difficulty of finding books without any Wiccan undertones...
that's why i'm SO happy "The Witching Way of the Hollow Hill" will be arriving to my home any day now. i've read several of Robin Artisson's articles online, and his work seems to be the closest to my intrinsic beliefs of any writer i've found thus far (of course i'm sure there's more, i just haven't found them yet). so i have high hopes for this book. the other book that will come with this one is "Hedge-Rider: Witches and the Underworld" by Eric Devries. that looks interesting as well, but i'm more impatient for the Artisson book for sure. all other future books will have to wait until i find a job or make money off etsy. how sad to be broke, but i'll have to switch focus to all my formal educational studies soon anyway.
other topics that have been in my periphery, but that i want to study more or ruminate further upon before posting about:
-animal familiars
-charms, amulets, talismans
-"magic" as seen in christianity
-history of runes
-symbols and their meanings
plenty more i can't think of at this second..
as i continue to progress, i'm sure i will begin posting more-- i'm still just really forming the basis of my beliefs, keeping three journals (one for herbs and remedies, one for dreams, one for general thoughts), and studying. so that is my main focus right now. but i'll share some more thoughts and experiences as i feel more comfortable.
love, angie
i'm a product junkie, i won't lie. my bathroom has a shelving unit built-in, which consists of a few towels, like 1/2 of a shelf of my boyfriend's necessities, and about 3 shelves of all my products. i think i'm addicted to beauty regimens. :-/
anyway, my new path is forcing me to rethink all of this. i really am starting to feel badly about it. in no way is it good for the earth, and some even contain chemicals i probably shouldn't even be using anyway. i really want to stop over-consuming all this unnecessary stuff and get back to basics. i'm not going to throw out all of what i have--i mean that would be wasteful too. but once i'm done with these things, i definitely do not plan on getting anymore. it's a habit i need to break. in the meantime, i'm working on finding natural and homemade remedies, and experimenting with making products in my kitchen. :)
so today i decided to try out a few very basic remedies using stuff already in my house. i tend to stock up on more fruits than i end up eating, same for veggies. i end up throwing some out because they rot really fast. not good! so anything i can do with food before it goes bad in my fridge is great!
so here's a little face mask i whipped up today:
-1/2 mashed banana
-3 tbsp organic soy yogurt
-4 large, mashed strawberries
apparently, strawberries contain natural acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid (which is what they put in expensive acne products!).
banana has many vitamins which help moisturize and smooth dry or aging skin.
soy yogurt (or regular yogurt!) contains alot of lactic acid, which helps soothe reddened skin and cleanses pores.
other things you can add which are reported to be great for natural skincare:
-lemon juice (said to help oily skin-- but be careful, some people including me, have a reaction to citrus juices on the skin)
-honey! (this is said to be extremely beneficial to the skin-- i will be trying it once i have some on hand.)
-oatmeal (natural exfoliant for dry skin)
-avocado (many vitamins and fatty acids help repair and rejuvenate)
-cucumber (cooling/soothing for tired skin)
-tomatoes (rich in antioxidants)
-papaya (for blemishes)
-apples (tone and tighten skin)
my hair is also kinda dry and frizzy at the moment. i cut it two nights ago, hoping that would help (it didn't.) so i decided to try the remedy of just plain old olive oil on my hair. simply comb olive oil through hair, let sit for 20 minutes, then rinse out with cool water. shampoo/condition as usual. my hair does indeed seem to be less frizzy!
-1 cup white sugar
-1/2 cup olive oil
-crushed rosebuds
-sephora's vanilla cupcake dry oil (this was the only scented oil type product i had on hand..lol..well it really was a great addition!)
very refreshing! my skin feels soft and smooth.i'm just learning to make homemade stuff, but eventually i'd like to learn to make my own soaps, lotions, shampoos, etc. ^-^
do you have any homemade "products" that you use? or do you prefer store-bought regimens?
after a long time being vegetarian, i finally decided to take the plunge into veganism about a month ago. of course, me being me, i didn't plan anything out beforehand (i.e. research, recipes). it was sort of a spontaneous effort. i had been considering it for a long time-- i've always felt it was the right thing to do for me personally, for a few reasons. and randomly one day i just decided to finally stop procrastinating and do it.
i was, however, unprepared for several difficulties and challenges. one being the amount of planning it takes just to make everyday meals. no more making an easy batch of cookies-- oh no, substitutions such as molasses or silken tofu should be on hand, things i have never kept in my cabinet ever. no more eating most of the "fake meats" i had come to love and have as a staple, such as my all-time fave, imitation bacon; the majority of these are also made with milk and eggs apparently. no more grilled cheese sandwiches for an easy lunch, or yogurt for snacks. most challenging thing: going out to eat with my boyfriend. he's a carnivore, and i'm sure he always will be. my gosh..trying to find places that cater to both of us is a real lesson in ingenuity and patience.
i was doing pretty well for awhile there. i made some yummy vegan chocolate chip cookies. i made stir-frys, tempura vegetables, veggie sandwiches, bean burritos. i discovered rice dream milk (sooo good) and soy yogurt. i was snacking on nuts and fruits. i thought i had a handle on things. i was patting myself on the back.
then the other day, i was insanely hungry. i hadn't eaten all day, it was 7pm and my tummy was needing a hearty, filling meal. but my cabinets were nearly empty (at least of vegan stuff). alas, the prospect of some frozen veggies and an orange was none too appealing in my hungry state. and we didn't at all feel like going out grocery shopping. and so we ordered pizza. that's right, take-out pizza from Uno's..with extra cheese..and broccoli/cheese soup..and later on, a Nutrageous candy bar for dessert. it tasted fantastic, i'm not gonna lie, i enjoyed it at the moment. but it was pretty much the meal of vegan antithesis to the max.
my body did not like this change at all. my stomach was upset the rest of the next day following. not to mention i was feeling pretty guilty too.
sooo i went grocery shopping tonight. i don't want to give up on this just yet. i know that i feel ten times healthier when i am putting the right foods in my body. i've even lost a little weight without dieting or exercise. (if you knew me, you'd know that's a feat, lol).. my kitchen is now once again stocked with delicious healthy foods and i don't think i'll be ordering any more pizzas anytime soon. and i found a vegan cheese at the supermarket! it's made by Tofutti and it's "mozarella" slices. this may help me out a great deal. cheese is my weakness.
i love animals, and i really do want to stick with this and not just be a part-time vegan.
(feel free to throw any tips my way!)
love, angie
it's been a lovely few days. the boy and i ate sandwiches at a park near my house a few days ago, and i made another animal friend:
this squirrely came right up to me without provocation and was taking food right from my hand. when my boyfriend tried to feed it, it scurried away. haha. i don't know what it is about animals automatically trusting me. i guess they know who loves them. ^-^
then saturday i went to a lovely shoppe and got several herbs and a beautiful set of amethyst runes. i spent a few hours yesterday researching each runic symbol and its meanings. i am not entirely certain in what capacity i will be using them just yet, but i am sure it will come to me. there's a reason we are drawn to certain things, so i listen to my inner pull on things-- at least i try to as much as possible.
one of the herbs i got was valerian. i put it in a corked jar as soon as i got home, yet by evening my whole kitchen stunk of it. it's now in a tupperware container in a cabinet until i decide to try it. i've heard good things regarding its helpfulness with insomnia (which plagues me regularly). for now though, it can stay sealed up.
i also found a great resource for herbs:
http://www.anniesremedy.com/
it has many herbal tea recipes, and tons of other ways to use herbs in the home. it gave me several good ideas, as i still have a lot to learn. i have a "magical herbalism" book, which was useful in the sense that it explained different properties of herbs, but i needed something that would give me more practical applications beyond spellwork or ritual uses. i am going to be making some magickal sachets though..
i must end this for now, i have a major bout of housecleaning to do, then i may be falling into "gauntlet: dark legacy" for the evening. i normally don't enjoy video games but we snagged a copy of this old game, and i lenjoyed it back in the day, and i'm happy to reminisce.
love, angie
this blog will be about my spiritual path and concurrent experiences, thoughts, and areas of interest regarding it. i have other journals for other areas of my life; this will be mainly to help process & share various aspects of my shifting spiritual views.
to elaborate: i was raised Christian, and now find myself on a Pagan path, which is more attuned to the views and inner workings of my spirit than Christianity ever was. i'll speak more about that in a moment. to be more specific, i am studying and beginning to practice the ways of the Traditional Witch. after much research on various paths, this is the one that "felt" the most like me, the one already in line with so much of how i have seen and experienced the world for several years. my main focus at this point is continuing to do research, and to become entrenched in the mindset and lifestyle of the Trad. Witch. my primary focus at present is on herbalism, meditation and inner reflection, learning to work with runes, and harmony and balance within my home and relationships.
okay. now the back-story that has led me to this point. my birth parents were not religious as far as i know. my mother adored nature, animals, music, creative things, etc...my father was the strong, intelligent, silent type. unfortunately i went into foster care fairly young (i won't get into this--it would take too long). and so i lived with one particular foster family for the next 11 years. they were devoutly religious, "born-again" Christians. the whole of our lives revolved around the tenets of this religion. when i look back on it now, i honestly believe it to be a form of brainwashing and mental control. i went along with it when i was young, because i was an agreeable sort of kid, and plus i had many friends at church, so it was fun at the time. as i got older, things started changing within me. i started noticing the contradictions, the illogicality of faith without proof, the people who did not live the principles they claimed to so heartily believe in, the intolerance of anyone that wanted to be an individual (to be themself). still, even with so many questions, i did not feel comfortable to voice my inner struggles; i felt trapped. i had been taught that if i didn't believe, i was doomed to damnation and hellfire. not only that, i had alot of friends within these religious circles; would they still care for me if i decided to be an individual, to try to figure out my own path- not just what was mentally drilled into my subconscious?
the answer to that was no, they would not- i would be ostracized. this became apparent when my life reached a turning point at 17, when my biological mother-- whom i still loved so dearly and had regular communication with despite my being in foster care-- became gravely ill. i was severely depressed and despondent. yet, at the time i needed to be embraced and loved the most, i was shunned by these people i had known since i was a child, the very same who had taught me about "Christ-like love" and "the good samaritan" and blah, blah, blah. i lost my mother to her illness shortly after i turned 18. i stopped going to church then too. i couldn't fathom why this "God" i had been taught about would take her from me, after everything i had already been through in life, including already losing my biological father at 8 years old as well. the kind of pain i had experienced in my life made positively no sense if there was indeed a loving, caring protector somewhere up in the sky.
i've spent the last 10 years since in periods of confusion regarding what I believe, and searching for my own version of truth. I stopped communication with my foster family in order to be free of the dogma (and other reasons), and find my own inner wellness. these 10 years involved periods of believing nothing at all ("there is no God, or if there is He certainly doesn't care about me"), taking scraps of wisdom from various other faiths (not following them- simply studying them), and even at rare times trying to revert back to Christianity as an easy way out. the latter never worked though. i tried to convince myself i "believed" again, i tried to will myself to go back to church and i just never could bring myself to do it. i had several co-workers at my old job offer to take me with them to their churches; but something inside me knew it wasn't right, knew i didn't really believe. but i was scared not to. it was a conflict that wreaked havoc within me. at other times, formal learning became my religion of choice. i went back to college, studied various subjects like mad even while working full-time jobs, and this was somewhat fulfilling for me at times. at least, it kept me pretty busy, and kept my mind sharp and focused.
but somewhere lurking beneath educational, intellectual, and emotional pursuits, still was the question of what i believed spiritually, beyond what i had been taught to believe. i knew with certainty i believed in the "other side", the spirit realm. when i was 6 or 7 i had a few occasions wherein i saw spirits in my room at night. the two times i remember vividly was one wherein an old woman was sitting in a rocking chair in my room, just rocking back and forth; the other was a spirit of a man, who walked through my room, stopped at my foster sister's bed and seemed to vanish through the other wall. these experiences terrified me and i stopped seeing them soon after. i was told they were simply "nightmares", but when i look back now i am quite sure i had experiences with actual spirits. anyway, as an adult i've seen nothing of the sort with my own eyes, but i have felt spirits around me. in times of dire need, i have received bouts of help and guidance i have a hard time believing were mere coincidence. i've also connected with my mother on several occasions, in dreams. a psychologist would say this is simply because i miss her, but to me it felt as if i was having an actual conversation with her. i strongly believe in ancestral spirits, and spirit guides, and i do think i have been sent signs and comfort from them in my adult life-- from my parents, and also perhaps my grandparents (who all 4 passed away before i was born), and so on.
my inner questions pretty much came to a resolution of sorts when i talked to a friend of mine about my then-conflicting beliefs. she gently steered me to research Paganism, and in so doing i began to feel a peace i had no prior experience knowing. it's hard to explain-- but i felt like things finally made sense, like i finally knew what i had been looking for. i felt relief in knowing that i was indeed not going to "hell" for no longer being a Christian, and that i didn't have to believe in the Christian concept of "God" (or any God for that matter if i so chose) in order to live a fulfilling, spiritual life. i began researching different Pagan paths, to hopefully find one that aligned with what I already felt to be my spiritual ideals, my intrinsic unnamed beliefs. the more I read about Trad. Craft, the more "right" it felt (and continues to be right for me). My spirituality and world-view is now evolving every day. I don't feel guilty or shameful anymore about living my life by my own moral code, not one written in a book. I have the same love for animals and nature, for ocean and stars, for self-expression, compassion, peacefulness, morality and genuine living i've always had-- but now it doesn't feel like a burden, something to hide so as not to be exploited or trampled on. it just feels right and true. so now i can move forward, finally rid of ingrained false pretenses, and nurture my own personal truth. and as a Seeker now, i feel undoubtedly content within my beliefs at last.
trying to get this set up/looking nice. trying to find a decent template (that actually works) is driving me insane.
forget it. quitting for now. i'll find a better one when i have more patience.
