Practically Witchy

Greetings everyone! Hope you all are well! On one of my few and far in between Saturday's off, my  hubby surprised me with a special visit to a really cool "witchy" shop located in Blandon, PA called, "Practically Witchy" ...

The atmosphere was almost like a scene right out of the movie, "Practical Magic"! With LOTS of great items available - handmade herbal candles, essential oils, books, and MORE! ...

Among the many goodies which I had purchased ...

A bottle opener.

 A clear crystal Reiki pendulum!

A cute little table book!

Don't know about you, BUT I am, counting down the days until the movie sequel to "Practical Magic" - "Practical Magic 2" gets released in our local theatres on September 10th!!!

https://youtu.be/Ho10_4IX1jE?si=BKfo-aMabFj7gTTb

Alternatives to Conventional Medicine (Part One)

For many long years my father had suffered from chronic arthritis pain throughout his entire body. His doctors had tried several different treatments including physical therapy in combination with pain meds.

Until they finally decided to try something different. It is an alternative to conventional methods and is called Radiofrequency Ablation for arthritis pain. It is a procedure which involves using an electrical current by a radio wave to heat up a small area of nerve tissue, thereby decreasing pain signals from that specific area. This procedure is known for producing very good results which typically relieve pain for about 5 or 6 months.

A pic of my dad, Bill and my mom, Elrita taken on Mother's Day 2012

I remember my dad told me that he had noticed immediate results. His appetite had returned and he was able to function much, much better than before. My mom told me that he was doing great! I can't tell you all how happy and relieved that made me! I also continued to give him his reiki treatments as he loved how they relaxed him so.

Throwback Thursday: "Check your egos at the door ..."

Upon reading an article in the most recent issue of "Reiki News Magazine" by Reiki Master Deb Karpek, I thought I'd share some things with you which I feel are important to know for anyone who either is or is thinking about learning the practice of reiki.

In her article, "Knowing When to Take the Next Class," she discusses the issue of practitioners who feel that rushing their studies is a good idea? While it is true that everyone must learn at their own individual pace, knowing "when" to take things to the next level is key! As she very intelligently puts it, "There isn't any hurry; it's not a race. It's an honor and a privilege and we need to respect it." May I also add that it is not some sort of "knotch on your belt,"and, as my Reiki Master had said during our Reiki Level II classes, "Check your egos at the door!" In fact, one of the last things she taught us is that we should never make the mistake of calling ourselves "healers" as we are merely a conduit per se, a "go-in-between" the client and the Divine. How right she is!

My Reiki Master & very dear friend, Frances M. Moise

Reiki Master Karpek also points out the fact that there is a discernible difference between "wanting to be a Reiki Master and being called to be a Reiki Master." This article really hit home with me because I have seen so many practitioners make these mistakes and it simply makes me cringe! My own Reiki Master in Usui Shiki Ryoho, told us some of the things she had to learn while she was in her Master training ~ learning how to pronounce, write and memorize over 100 different ancient Reiki symbols, etc. during the course of her very intense studies. That being said, it is next to impossible and I personally find it absurd to think that you can go from a Certified Reiki Level I to a Reiki Master level in a matter of only a few months.

At this point in my Reiki training, I have no desire to become a Reiki Master and I am completely at peace being a Level II practitoner. Perhaps in time this may change should I receive the "calling." None-the-less, I have to say that I totally agree 100% with the above views of these Reiki Masters. After all, what is the hurry, really?

Throwback Thursday: That's What Friends Are For

I’ve known Fran, a.k.a. Lady Sabrina Rhiannon, for about 22 years now. I first met her while working for the same insurance company back in 1999. She is a Reiki Master/Teacher of Usui Shiki Rhyoho and Shamballa Multidimensional Healing, a nondenominational Minister for the ULC and a Registered Nurse whose specialty is OB/GYN-Maternal Childcare. She is also the High Priestess of her Eclectic Wiccan group, “The Coven of the Silver Moon Circle.”

 I consider her my High Priestess and the Pagan clergy to whom I can turn to when needed, she is my Reiki Master, my confidant and my close friend. Goddess knows, we have seen each other through some good times and bad through these many years. She is like family to my sister Aurora Skye and I. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for this woman for she has always been there for me and I know that no matter what, I can always count on her as much as she can count on me.

When it comes to friends, I have been very blessed in that I have always managed to surround myself with a lot of good people. Today, I just wanted her to know how much I appreciate her and how grateful I am to have someone as special as her in my life. The following poem is dedicated to her and our long-time friendship.

One of my favorite pics taken on Fran's birthday.

Touched

She came into my life,

Goddess-sent from above,

With her kind, caring ways

I was touched by her love

My teacher, my friend

She’s taught me so much,

From her true Wiccan ways

To her soft healing touch

A spirit so strong

A soul with a heart,

She gives of herself

Her knowledge impart

How grateful I am

To know her as such,

And so shall now be

Forever touched

 ~ Lady Caer Morganna

What's new?

Welcome all! Here it is Monday already and the start of yet another week. I am asking for prayers and some reiki healing energy to be sent to my friend Renee Nichole's precious fur baby Moose. He had lost A LOT of weight very quickly and was taking in a lot of water so Renee immediately took him to her local Animal Hospital and they diagnosed him with thyroid problems and, of course, diabetes. He had been on insulin for three days when he began vomiting and heaving and screeching in pain. The vet told Renee that Moose was experiencing  diabetic ketoacidosis. He is currently still at the hospital and they told her they will be keeping him and monitoring him until probably Tuesday. 🙏🙏🙏  

In other news, we are still trying to figure out what to do with the stray kitty we have been watching over and trying to take care of since the end of last year, Chester. He trusts my husband but still does not trust me - in fact, he swats at me all the time even though I  feed him twice a day - lol ...

The latest pic of Miss Ginger taken this past weekend. She is such a snuggle bug and cuddles on my lap every chance she gets ...

Have a blessed day everyone!

Throwback Thursday

 

A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You ...

Of all the marriage ceremonies for which I have had the pleasure of officiating, the one wedding which has meant the most to me has been my dear friend and fellow clergy woman, Lady Sabrina Rhiannon's. She and her husband had decided they wished to have a legal Christian-Pagan Handfasting ceremony. In other words, an inter-faith wedding.

Lady Sabrina Rhiannon had performed the legal handfasting for my husband and I just a couple of years before and I was elated to have had the opportunity to return the favor - most especially because we had become such close friends. The wedding ceremony, written by Lady Sabrina Rhiannon herself, was a lovely union between  Paganism and Christianity.

To my delight, the wedding took place in the exact same Lutheran church I had grown up in. As it turned out, her husband had attended the same Sunday School there as I so many years ago. 

The ceremony had all the elements of a Pagan Handfasting such as the calling of the corners, invoking the Goddess and God and the joining of the couples' wrists to represent the "tying of the knot," together with the parts of a Christian wedding including the couples' vows and their exchange of rings. Add to all of this the love and support of your family and friends and you end up with a beautiful ceremony and a lifetime of memories you will never forget.

As with my own Handfasting ceremony, there were pamphlets handed out to all of the guests, explaining what they were about to witness. This is particularly helpful to the non-Pagan guests in attendance.

(This was the pamphlet which my husband & I gave out at our Handfasting)



Quite truthfully when it comes down to it, we are all a part of the same "religious family", so to speak, and in the end it's all about the love.

Three generations of reiki - My Reiki Master Fran (Lady Sabrina Rhiannon), me and Fran's Reiki Master Vladimir Cucura, Jr., CRM.

Throwback Thursday

Greetings everyone. It is time for another 'Throwback Thursday' share. My friend, Kristy, and I go way back from our High School and band days when I was a twirler and she was tenor saxophone player. She lived right up the road from me when we were growing up and we used to spend many good times - sleepovers, birthday parties, etc., at her house. After graduation, she moved away and went to college and I only saw her a couple of times when she visited her folks back home here. It was not until a couple of years ago that we met back up again via Facebook. Ironically, we found out that we were both ordained U.L.C. ministers who also practice Wicca/paganism and reiki - I am a certified Reiki Second Level and she is a Reiki Master. Oh yes, and she is also a huge cat lover and enthusiast like me! Small world as they say ... 👐

An old pic from my little Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party get-together with my friends back in 1981 - Kristy is the gal sitting aside of me.

And a pic of "Rev" Kristy having a little fun while attending a rites festival in MA - circa 1990. I really love this photo of her! She is such a beautiful soul both inside and out. 💟

Brett and I from my friend's wedding I was a bridesmaid in back in 1994. This was before we got married - he caught the garter belt and I caught the bouquet. 👰

And a photo taken on our wedding day - September 2001 with my parents in our backyard.

Happy first day of Spring!

Yup, you guessed it, it's Ostara/Spring Equinox! I will post more on our ritual celebration within the next few days, but I do wish everyone a very BLESSED FIRST DAY OF SPRING! And oh yes, just a little reminder that at approximately 9:43pm tonight the Super Full Moon will be showing Her beauty here in the Northern Hemisphere as well as the start of the Spring Equinox which officially begins at 5:38pm EDT (only hours before the Supermoon)  - very rare and very exciting!

 

(Photo credit: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/keepingherkeys/2018/12/supermoons-facts-versus-fiction/)

 

While at the Barnes & Noble bookstore the other day, I picked up the latest issue of Reiki Magazine . There was an interesting article in it about reiki aiding shelter cats  ...

I also used my new Yankee votive candles this week to burn in my used Hershey's Syrup tin after the original chocolate-scented wax was all done. I placed the Chocolate Layer Cake votive candle inside a small votive candle holder then put it inside the tin. It smells heavenly!

Last night for dinner, I decided to make some pork chops in the air fryer with taco rice on the side ...

And while I was at it, I made myself some chicken breast patties for grilled chicken sandwiches for the next few days. This was the first time I tried using the Power Air Fryer to make these as  I usually cook them in my George Foreman Grill - and OMG, they got really yummy good! 

LOL!!!

)o(      )o(      )o(     )o(     )o(     )o(     )o(     )o(      )o(

💙💚💛💜 Brightest Blessings everyone!! 💙💚💛💜