We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Getting Ready for Ostara

Wow, it looks like it's that time of the year already. With Spring just around the corner, we at Old Path Enlightener's Circle are starting to get ready for Ostara and we are so excited! For not only is this the time for honoring the Goddess Eostre and the God in His aspect as Young Lord, but it is also a great reason for taking time out of our busy day to day lives to get together with family and friends!


Everyone in our group plays an active role in the ritual ceremony. For example, Draco is responsible for "saging" (cleansing everyone within the sacred circle with the sage smoke from the cauldron) and making the Ostara incense, Rhiannon purifies the circle by sprinkling the blessed water around the perimeter while Page follows behind her using the salt to seal it. I anoint everyone's third eye with the Goddess Oil which I prepare before the start of the ritual, as well as cast the circle, call the corners and so forth.


Each year; however, I add a little something different to our sabbat ceremonies. This helps to keep our rituals fresh and also allows us to continue to learn new and interesting things. This can be something as simple as a sabbat blessing or perhaps a new activity of some kind.

I can honestly say that, through all these years, I have never gotten bored with Wicca - largely due to the fact that there is always so much more to learn that it seems we are constantly feeding our minds with something new. Besides, it is hard to get tired of a religion which offers so much natural beauty!


Ostara Incense                                          Goddess Oil
3 parts Frankincense                               3 parts Rose
2 parts Sandalwood                                 1 part Jasmine
1 part Benzoin                                         1 part Sandalwood
1 part Cinnamon                                     1 part Gardenia
A few drops of Patchouli Oil     
       
          Eostre Poem
  The snow has all melted
And winter has gone,
Now Nature is singing
Springs’ most beautiful song;
As we honor the Goddess -
The Devine Eostre,
While she breathes her life
Into the birds and the bees;
She's fertile and loving
Ancient Mother is she
From the youngest child
To the oldest tree
      ~ Lady Caer Morganna


 

Monday, March 07, 2011

An Elemental Break (Water): "Calypso" by John Denver



In keeping with my musical Elemental Break post, I have added the videos and lyrics  for Water, Earth & Fire. Hope you like them!!

"Calypso" lyrics

To sail on a dream on a crystal clear ocean,
to ride on the crest of a wild raging storm
To work in the service of life and the living,
in search of the answers of questions unknown
To be part of the movement and part of the growing,
part of beginning to understand,

Aye Calypso the places you've been to,
the things that you've shown us,
the stories you tell
Aye Calypso, I sing to your spirit,
the men who have served you so long and so well

Like the dolphin who guides you, you bring us beside you
To light up the darkness and show us the way
For though we are strangers in your silent world
To live on the land we must learn from the sea
To be true as the tide and free as a wind swell
Joyful and loving in letting it be

Aye Calypso the places you've been to,
the things that you've shown us,
the stories you tell
Aye Calypso, I sing to your spirit,
the men who have served you so long and so well

An Elemental Break (Earth & Fire): "Rocky Mountain High" by John Denver



"Rocky Mountain High" lyrics

He was born in the summer of his 27th year
Comin' home to a place he'd never been before
He left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again
You might say he found a key for every door

When he first came to the mountains his life was far away
On the road and hangin' by a song
But the string's already broken and he doesn't really care
It keeps changin' fast and it don't last for long

But the Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
The shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullabye
Rocky mountain high

He climbed cathedral mountains, he saw silver clouds below
He saw everything as far as you can see
And they say that he got crazy once and he tried to touch the sun
And he lost a friend but kept a memory

Now he walks in quiet solitude the forest and the streams
Seeking grace in every step he takes
His sight has turned inside himself to try and understand
The serenity of a clear blue mountain lake

And the Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
You can talk to God and listen to the casual reply
Rocky mountain high

Now his life is full of wonder but his heart still knows some fear
Of a simple thing he cannot comprehend
Why they try to tear the mountains down to bring in a couple more
More people, more scars upon the land

And the Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
I know he'd be a poorer man if he never saw an eagle fly
Rocky mountain high

It's Colorado rocky mountain high
I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky
Friends around the campfire and everybody's high
Rocky mountain high

Saturday, March 05, 2011

"Spirit" by John Denver



(Seriously, the words to this song are beautiful whether you are a John Denver fan or not - LOL!)

"Spirit" lyrics

His spirit joined and so was formed
Ten thousand years ago
Between the swan and Hercules
Where even dark clouds glow

To live with grace, to ride the swell
To yet be strong of will
To love the wind, to learn its song
And empty space to fill

Apollo taught me to rhyme
Orpheus taught me to play
Andromeda cast down her sign
And vega lights my way

Smoke rings in a galaxy
An endless flight through time
Lyra gave her harp to him
And left him free to climb

A winters journey from the moon
To reach the summer sun
To rise again, to sing for you
A song thats yet unsung

Apollo taught me to rhyme
Orpheus taught me to play
Andromeda cast down her sign
And vega lights my way

His spirit joined and so was formed
Ten thousand years ago
Between the swan and Hercules
Where even dark clouds glow

To live with grace, to ride the swell
To yet be strong of will
To love the wind, to learn her song
And empty space to fill

An Elemental Break (Air): "Fly Away" - John Denver




Today, I felt like taking a muscial "elemental break" so to speak. I have always LOVED John Denver's music growing up and still do so I thought that I would add this beautiful song about the element of Air onto my blog. He had written so many wonderful songs about Nature -  I hope you enjoy it!

"Fly Away" Lyrics

All of her days have gone soft and cloudy
All of her dreams have gone dry
All of her nights have gone sad and shady
She's getting ready to fly

Fly away fly away fly away.

Life in the city can make you crazy
For sounds of the sand and the sea
Life in a high rise can make you hungry
For things that you can't even see

Fly away fly away fly away.

In this whole world there's nobody as lonely as she
There's nowhere to go and there's nowhere
That she'd rather be.

She's looking for lovers and children playing
She's looking for signs of the spring
She listens for laughter and sounds of dancing
She listens for any old things

Fly away, fly away, fly away

Faery Boats


You can get to know the faeries and gnomes who live in the trees and shrubs on your property by enticing them with Faery Boat lights and tiny bells.

What you will need ~
  tea light cups (or if you really want to get creative, walnut halves)
small birthday candles
 wide bowl of water
 tiny bell

Light one the of the birthday candles and melt a little bit of wax into the walnut or tea light tin then stick a candle in each until the wax dries. Find a nice and quiet place to sit and enjoy the lights.  Ring the bell to invoke the faeries and gnomes while chanting three times:

“Come, little ones! Join in my play
  And we’ll be friends both night and day,
  Strange realms we’ll seek in fantasy
  Explore the Earth and sky and sea,
  Show me the powers of the Elements,
  Knowledge old ingredients
  Of spells and potions, magick true
  And I shall be strong friends with you!”

We usually add this activity to our Midsummer/Litha ritual every year.  They are easy to make,  fun and kids always seem to love them. too!


Thursday, March 03, 2011

A Thoughtful Letter

Last month, I decided to donate a little cash and some home-made cat nip mouse toys to a local no-kill animal shelter called, "Animals In Distress" (A.I.D.).

 Today I received a very nice "Thank you" letter from them, (dated on my birthday, ironically enough) and I would very much like to share it with you all:

(please click on image)


"THANK YOU, Rose" for your very kind words. I am always more than happy to help in any way I can!