Poem For Sabbats

Fluffy Bunnies

C&P’d from Wicca for The Rest of Us

http://wicca.cnbeyer.com/fluffy.shtml

Willow: Talk. All talk. ‘Blah, blah, Gaia. Blah, blah, moon. Menstrual life-force power thingy.’ Buffy: No actual witches in your witch group? Willow: No. Bunch of wanna blessed be’s. Nowadays every girl with a henna tattoo and a spice rack thinks she’s a sister to the dark ones.

Q: How many New Agers does it take to change a light bulb? A: (Waaayyy too perky) We don’t use light bulbs, we just think happy thoughts at our quartz crystals and they glow.

Fluffy Bunnies, Insta-witches, McWiccans, One-Book Witches, Wicclets, and Whitelighters: these are those people who, most broadly categorized, give the rest of us a bad name, not by doing bad or objectionable things but instead being unserious, sophomoric, or just plain wrong. Wiccans will say that everyone is allowed to follow their own beliefs, and that any form of belief, whether another person agrees with it or not, counts as religion, and I agree. However, it does not necessarily make the practitioner a member of my religion, and I for one would prefer for them to stop embarrassing the rest of us with their antics.

The primary definition of a Fluffy Bunny is one who refuses to learn, refuses to think, and refuses to consider the possibility that they could possibly ever be wrong. Generall, they find one book, author or website and follow it as if it were the holy word, frequently denouncing anything that disagrees with it as obviously false. Fluffy Bunnies rarely get past the defense of “Because [insert favorite author here] says so.” Sometimes they don’t even get that far, responding to any and all criticism with something like, “You’re just trying to persecute me!”

When I speak of Fluffy Bunnies, I do NOT mean those who disagree with me. Lots of people disagree with me. People I respect sometimes disagree with me. I respect them because they have actual reasons for their beliefs and are willing to consider the opinions of others - but just because they consider my opinion does not mean they are required to agree. Blindly agreeing with me is just as fluffy as blindly agreeing with the author of the week.

Likewise, being a newcomer to Wicca does NOT make one a Fluffy Bunny. All of us were new to this at one point in our lives. Moreover, having bad information does not make one a Bunny. There’s still a lot of bad information available in books and websites, and if that is the first information you find, how can you know it’s bad? There’s only a problem when one stubbornly refuses to question that original information regardless of the mountains of contradictory evidence put before them.

Fluffy Bunnies are frequently attracted to Wicca for the sake of appearance. This includes those who:

Are into Wicca to upset their parents and just plain “be different”. This generally occurs during the teenage years, but its amazing how many of the Fluffy Bunnies never really grow out of this stage.

Think black clothes and huge pentagrams are appropriate Wiccan dress. You’re allowed to wear anything you want. If goth’s your thing, so be it. But those who dress that way do so out of personal choice, not because of their religion. Author Laurie Cabot is the absolute worst, dressing day to day in a long black robe which she describes as “traditional Wiccan garb.” And before you load yourself down with ten pounds of silver pentagrams, imagine a Christian wearing an equivalent amount of religious jewelry. I think we’d all find that truly obnoxious.

Believe the God and/or Goddess are an embodiment of love and want nothing but what’s best for us. For a religion that has no embodiment of evil, how in the name of balance can our gods be dedicated to good and benevolence? The world that these gods are a part of exists in a state of equilibrium. Things live and things die. It is necessary, but it is not benevolent.

Think picking up one book on Wicca ever makes them Wiccan. No one possesses the Divine and Ultimate Truth. Wiccans are seekers, and everything you read helps you further develop and understand your faith. You’re not going to agree with everything you read, and that’s fine. You should allow yourself the opportunity to choose what you accept and what you do not. One book does not allow you to do that, and if you never put that information to use, then it doesn’t matter if you have read a thousand books. Just reading books makes you student of the subject of Wicca. Wiccans actually practice and live by Wicca.

Think speaking a few words out of a book over a candle is how one makes magic. An entire library of books will not allow you to practice magic on their own. Magic involves belief, focus, practice, and serious intention. It also involves responsibility and a healthy dose of common sense. One class on magic at the local new-age store does not bestow mad majickkal skilz.

Preach that Wicca is all “goodness and light”. The corollary to this is the exclamation of “So-and-so couldn’t have done that. She’s Wiccan!” Like everyone else in the world, we are not saints.

Other things to look out for:

Claims that Wicca is a “woman-thing”. Both genders are equally welcome, which some women find to be a positive change from previous religious experiences, but Wicca is not about femininity. Some people will even say being a woman is the only reason they are a Wiccan. Wicca is a religion, not a political movement. For more on this, read Goddess Worshippers.

Those who took up Wicca to spite their Christian upbringing. We are not against any religion. Moreover, most of the accusations leveled at Christians in the name of Wicca were never committed against Wiccans, if indeed they were committed at all.

Overly ostentatious ceremonial tools. I have found that, in general, the more flashy (or even gaudy) the tools, the more interested the Wiccan is in appearances over any actual religion.

Liberal advertisement of titles or degrees. Since each coven is autonomous, the titles bestowed by one may mean quite a bit within the coven or even within the Tradition, but they don’t mean squat to the rest of us. High Priestess So-and-so could be presiding over an entire coven of fluffy bunnies for all you know, while solitaries, no matter how well-learned, have not had the chance to have any titles bestowed upon them. Likewise, some covens denote their High Priest and High Priestess by the titles of “Lord” and “Lady.” This means quite a bit within a Tradition, but is pretentious outside of it. If nothing else, we have no way of knowing who honestly earned that title and who has just tacked “Lord” or ‘Lady" to the front of their name. If someone has honestly earned that title, it should be evident in their knowledge, not in their titles

Quoting Margaret Murray. This woman’s writing is the basis of a lot of our supposed history. The problem is her work was debunked decades ago and the only people who take her seriously are some Wiccans and Pagans, including some very influential writers. For more information, see Murray’s Unlikely History.

Users of “White Magic”. This term makes no sense. It’s most often used by those who swear up and down that witchcraft is not evil and was in fact only called evil by the Church as part of a smear campaign. If that’s the case, then why the clarification? The existence of white magic implies an existence in black magic. The simple fact is that magic, like any tool, is neither good nor evil, although it can be used toward either purpose.

Odd spellings of magic. While some people have specific reasons for speaking of magick, a great many users of this term are simply looking for attention. It doesn’t prove you’re more knowledgable. It just shows you can’t spell. More extreme Fluffies will even speak of “majick” or (good grief) “majik”. For more on why strange letters get added to “magic”, check out Magic.

Of Poppy Flowers

Black Poppy, Flower of Ease, Opium Poppy, Papaver somniferum

This flower of the night-ways only blooms for a short while before turning into a bulbous ovary upon a stem full of bitter, white blood, characterizing its Lunar properties. This blood can be cultivated for its vision inducing properties. She is the Maiden in the Field, the Severed Head of St John, the Queen of Nightly Visions. 

Black poppy (the picture shown is a variety of black poppy from my own garden) was in pagan Greece and Rome associated with more Chthonic deities, such as Hekate, Hypnos, Nix, Thanatos, and Somnus (from which we get the word somniferum). The drug which is extracted from Poppy, Opium (as well as other narcotics, such as morphine and codeine) has a narcotic, stupefying effect akin to a dreaming sleep. Opium became a very popular drug prior to the first World War. A tea made from the dried flowers was used to suppress coughs, and the pods were sometimes made into a tea as a mild alternative to smoking the opium tears. 

We know that humans have been using Opium for its medicinal effects for a very long time, evinced of the fact that the Greeks would make it into a potent wine, Vinum opii, as well as as a suppository and fumigant, but there is evidence that it was cultivated as far back as the Neolithic era. The Ebers Papyrus (1550 BCE) lists its use as “Remedy to prevent the excessive crying of children”. It was also used to ease the pangs of childbirth, a very early anesthetic. It was also used, naturally, for its more recreational uses. Opium is a powerful (and highly addictive) psychoactive, and has been used as a visionary plant for both ritual and mundane use for ages. There is evidence that the juice of the plant was used in recipes for flying ointment along with hemlock, belladonna, and the feared mandrake. 

A Tuscan Divination

Place poppy leaves on hot coals and read the flames. 

Scatter poppy seeds on burning coals, and listen for the voice of prophecy. 

As a Lunar plant, the plant is sacred to Our Lady of the Night Ways, such as Hekate, Lilith, Black Anna, and Diana. Cakes sprinkled with the toasted seeds of Poppy may be offered unto Her and Her host of night flying beings. The seeds can also be ground up into an incense and combined with other herbs such as myrrh, mullein, red sandalwood as an offering to the Witchmother. The plant can also be used in dream work. Harold Roth gives an excellent use of the dried pods to make into little “charm bags”. The pods dry naturally on the Poppy’s long stalks, and can then be plucked therefrom (the seeds may be saved, and toasted for cooking, or scattered about for the next crop, or saved for magical work; Schulke lists that the seeds can be scattered upon the enemy’s property to cause confusion) and anointed with various oils and filled with fragrant herbs according to the spell made. If one were making a dreaming bag, one may use Chamomile, Clary Sage, Mugwort, and Hops. The flowers might also be steeped in wine, along with Cinnamon and Cloves, and taken as a tincture (a few drops only).

A Poppy Spell

This Italian spell can be adapted to any type of prophetic dream, not merely one concerned with matters of love. 

Make a hole in a poppy pod and empty out the seeds. Now fold up a small piece of paper with the question you want answered written on it, insert it in the pod, and place it under your pillow last thing at night, saying these words:

‘In nome del cielo, delle stelle, della luna! Fate mi face il sogno secondo…’

‘In the name of heaven, the stars, and the moon May I dream, and that full soon,  If this I see [name your wish].’

If you dream of your wish, it’s sure to come true.  ~(Mastering Witchcraft, Huson)

As Poppy has these chthonic connections with gods of the dead, such as Thanatos, and Hekate, the flowers can also be used to honor the dead. We see this today in Canada where a Red Poppy Flower is the symbol of Memorial Day. We get this tradition from the poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

The flowers and seeds may be burned, or offered in some other way to the spirits of the dead. Harold Roth in his book  The Witching Herbs gives a recipe for Chthonic Cakes for the dead which are not to be consumed by the living, but rather burned on coals like an incense. 

Papaver Chthonios Cakes for the Dead

4 oz ground myrrh A few tablespoons of dark red wine ¼ cup dark honey 1 oz black poppy seeds

Dampen the myrrh with some red wine and let sit in a closed jar overnight. Boil the honey to remove the water. The honey will foam, so don’t let it overboil, it’s terrible to clean up. Add the poppy seeds. Cook the honey and seeds for a bit, then pour over the myrrh and mix well. Before the mixture cools too much, form the mix into little crescent moons. Dry on a low heat, but not in the sun. Burn them on a charcoal tab as an offering to the dead. 

Care need be taken with the Poppy plant. She is the Maiden in the Field. You will sleep under Her; sleep too long and you will surely die. Many men have fallen under Her influence, never to wake from their glorious dreams. She caresses our throats, and whispers into our ears; we do not even notice that She is slowly choking us, so entranced are we by the stories She tells us. Be wary of this Lunar flower. She is as deadly and gentle as the goddess who rules Her. 

🔮3 OF SWORDS–ACE OF PENTACLES–KNIGHT OF CUPS🔮

This week (and every day) a lot of pain has been surfacing for survivors and resistors. There is heartbreak in the fact that with the way things are set up, we are all trained to hate women/femmes/gender non conforming folx and not be surprised when they are hurt, traumatized, and/or killed. Take the space that you need to recover from the weight of this. You might also be processing the fact that the men/masc ppl in your life haven’t shown up for you in this life, that they still have so much to learn and still do that learning at your expense. It is ok to be angered by this. It is ok to live into the fullness of whatever emotions surface for you, now. You are allowed to feel big, cry big. Remember that you are far more powerful than any person who comes for your dignity. Remember your self-knowledge, the fact that you have survived your whole life until this point. Remember all that you have striven for and worked towards in your healing process, whatever that looks like for you. Celebrate, my loves, because an opportunity to make real change is possible. Where do you fit in the change process ? What is your place in the revolution ? Where do you find your work ? Maybe it’s in direct service, in healing work, in planning, in organizing, in balancing budgets, in waking up each day so that you can continue to support others. Wherever your work is, know that there is a lot of potential for success. Together, we can move into the next way, the next moment. Into a time when ppl arent afraid to walk on the street or wear a piece of clothing or have a conversation in fear of pain and death. This is a time to mourn. To feel. So that we can move forward with the lessons from that mourning. Don’t ever let someone tell you what it looks like for you to grieve. Do what works for you, live into the whole self. With what you have to offer, we can start building stronger communities. Even if what you have to offer right now is your depression or anger or joy or comfort, we can use all of these in conjunction with our collected knowledge to make things happen. There is power in vulnerability and emotion. . 🔮: Rider-Waite https://www.instagram.com/p/BojubQoF-vn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mimm3me666aw

If you call pedophilia a kink please unfollow me and never talk to me again

CHEESY BACON AND TOMATO PASTA

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Is this how you roll?

Venus rx in Scorpio - ♡🖤 October 5 - November 16, 2018

the venus rx cycle opens the door for resolving the residue of past issues that cause conflict and misunderstandings in the present. in scorpio, it means a curse and a curative on persephone’s heart, freezing her in the autumn where she can still see the flowers of life but cannot touch them.  the heart becomes encased when venus retrogrades. we may become less responsive and seemingly distanced to the behaviours and actions of our partners, which may seem alarming or like we have ‘switched off’  but this process provides the insight of a clear and delicate view of the person and the entire relationship - free from the distortion of our emotional reactions, projections, immediate judgements, and confusion. we become more aware of the responsibility we singularly have in our relationships and in the lives of the people around us, these are people who respect and regard us so highly that they have chosen us to share their lives with. from this perspective, we can certainly approach our relationships with a refined honour and the dignity they deserve. 

in simple terms the retrograding planet is just returning to the path already crossed and doing it again. from this backward step we can see the beauty of people from a light and reflection we have never seen before, or simply forgotten existed in them. sometimes in the heat and chaos of the moment we move on without resolving or receiving any validation, and the poison starts to weep from places unknown within us and manifesting in the presence of this person sometimes we need to return over the past pain to recover it and let it spill out from us completely so we can really move forward, truthfully and authentically. because venus is in scorpio, we have no real need to worry about the false promises of our ideals and fantasies. whatever path is taken - leaving relationships, remaining in a strengthened one or developing greater relationship with the inner self and the sight for beauty unseen, or returning to a past relationship  you can rest assured that each should be met with peace, and no decision made could be wrong 

C

Flowers that Help Save the Bees

- Lavender

- Thyme

- Sage

- Borage

- Fennel

- Cilantro

- Hollyhock

- Crocus

- Buttercup

- Snowdrop

- Geranium

- Aster

- Poppy

- Calendula

- Sweet Alyssum

- Sunflower

- Zinnia

- Heliotropium

Blueberry Coffee Cake

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Is this how you roll?

Tarot Tips

🃏 Find The Empress in your deck. The card behind her will reveal what you need to do to nurture and care for yourself. 

🃏 When in conflict or competition with someone, look for 5 of Wands. The card behind it will reveal the solution to the problem.

🃏 If you see the same card over and over again in readings, it is a sign and you must pay attention to its message for you.

🃏 For a better understanding of each card, observe it closely and form your own interpretation that follows its themes. It will help you interpret readings better.

🃏 To find out what is making you feel stuck or delayed, look to The Hanged Man. The card underneath him will show what is holding you back. The card in front of him will show you how to overcome it.

🃏 When shuffling your cards, if any card drops out of your grasp, take it as a sign and read the card. 

🃏 You do not need crystals with you to do proper readings, but a good way to cleanse your deck is to place a clear quartz on the top of your deck before each reading. Keep in mind; there’s a variety of ways you can cleanse your deck.

🃏 Often when The High Priestess appears in a reading, she is trying to tell you that you know the answers and that you should listen to your inner voice.

🃏 There is no wrong way to shuffle or cleanse your deck. Do what feels right for you!

dip your head and feel your antlers, worn, moss-dripping, gouge the earth below. you are stirring things forgotten. They are dark. They are lovely.