Witchy Musings After The Holidays! Time is Precious!

Hi there everyone!

Sorry I haven't been doing many postings lately. We have been busy, both with the general holiday season, as well as doing a bit of traveling to see family. I can truly say I did all holiday shopping online this year, because I find it generally annoying and impossible to deal with the snail traffic and attitudes of other shoppers this time of year.
Why does it seem that the one time of year that we are "supposed to" count our blessings and remember what we have, happens to have become the most stressful, materialistic, expensive, and most ruthless time of year when people are so rushed and busy that they ignore the real reason behind it. Take religion completely out of it, because obviously I don't follow the Christianity based meaning behind Christmas, but we are still supposed to look at this time of year as a time to self reflect on the past year, love our friends and family, give them little tokens of our appreciation for them, and try to treat others with more kindness.
Instead, over the last few years, I have seen businesses staying open later and not paying their employees overtime or holiday pay, (something you are obviously not going to dare to make a scene about because you are probably just happy you have a job - and believe me, they know this, and that's why they are getting away with it) people cutting other people off in traffic, having arguments over the last toy on the shelf, my personal favorite, having accidents in department store parking lots and then yelling back and forth about whose fault it is, trying to attend all the concerts, events, christmas parties, new years parties, family gatherings, while still trying to plan and grocery shop for your own family meal, and the whole thing has gone from a humbling and joy filled occasion, to an absolute Hallmark style nightmare. Pretty sad really. Although I can say I was pretty happy with my online Christmas shopping this year, not only because it didn't cost me any gas mileage, but also because it saved me so much precious time. In fact, I am not even sure I would have had gifts for anyone had I not done the shopping online, because getting from one end of my town to the other end was taking over 30 minutes alone.
Anyway, the purpose of what I was getting at is that this Christmas I spent a lot of time doing self reflection about the meaning of life and why it is so important that we realize how precious our time is. Especially with those who are older than us. I got to spend some quality time with my Uncle who is suffering from cancer and I was so glad that I did. I don't keep in touch with him like I should and we don't know whether we will get another Christmas with him, so it was a truly magickal Christmas to be able to spend with him and the rest of my family. The chemo is killing him and he knows it. But what can he do? If he stops going, the tumors grow rapidly, and when he goes, they don't grow - so in effect its not cancer that's killing him, its the chemo. But the chemo is essential to stopping its growth. Time is the most precious thing we have. I was able to give him several Reiki treatments while we were there so I am hoping that will help him some, and we will be continuing to send him distance healing as well.
On a more light note, we are finally back home and back to work, and our cats are sure happy to see us! We are going to be working with some new vessels soon, and are quite excited to see what  2013 brings us for experiences and opportunities. Has everyone created some sort of new resolution for this year? I hope you all have. I can share with you that I have chosen to work more on my own healing level. What I mean by that is that I want to clear out all of my blockages and work on healing and forgiving. I also want to strengthen my Reiki healing, as I and my family have been Reiki Masters for many years now, but recently haven't been using it as much as we should!
I want to do more personal art this year - and even work with some intuitive painting and drawing. I will be working on that and will have to post pictures as I do some. Working on a lot of new things that I will be happy to share as I get going!

Well, that's all for now. Love you all. Remember that time is precious. That's really the most important thing. You are going to remember fun times you had and memories with your loved ones, not how you "always went to work" or "put work before your family." Its those people and animals that are near to you when you are having a hard time, and we don't have nearly enough time together. Good thing we are enlightened beings, we understand more what and where our loves ones go when they pass on to another dimension, but it's still never easy.

Talk to you all soon!

xxx Rebecca

Superstitions

I've always been intrigued by Superstitions, because although, while some of them seem quite ridiculous, there are others that are quite viable. Yes, indeed, there are some superstitions that I have found to be true, through personal experience.

I ran across this rather lengthy list of Superstitions in a blog last year, and decided to keep it for future reference. I think this is a great time to share it with you. As you read each of these, think about whether there has been any time that you have experienced this Superstition, and whether the circumstance causes you to believe in that particular Superstition.

I would love to hear your response to some of the Superstitions on this list. Please share your experiences that have caused you to believe in a Superstition, or any other stories or comments you might have about Superstitions that have been handed down in your family, etc.

Superstitions

It is unlucky to give or receive parsley because only the wicked are thought to be able to grow it. Transplanting parsley is also bad luck because it was believed that to transplant parsley was to transplant death.
Flowers carried on to an airplane are ill omened, especially if they are a bouquet of white and red flowers.
Never carry an axe on your shoulder through a house.
If you must carry one through a house, carry it lowered.
To insure good fortune for your baby throughout life, be sure that his first gift is a silver coin. Place it yourself into the child's hand. If the child drops it, s/he will have difficulty holding onto money throughout life.
Gift the child with an old fashioned red coral and silver bell teething ring.
The coral to ward off the evil eye, the silver bells for good fortune.
Spit on your new bat before using it for the first time.
A bat falling in front of a ballplayer foretells an injury in the next game played.
A bat falling in front of the team manager foretells a loosing season.
Never place your bed pointing north and south. It brings misfortune.
Never kill a bee, it is as unlucky as breaking a mirror.
If a bee enters your home, it is a sign that you will soon have a visitor.
However, if you drive the bee out of your home, you will have bad luck, or the visitor will be unpleasant.
In some parts of the United States, a black cat crossing your path is thought to be unlucky. In Britain, it is considered good luck.
Having a black cat as your household companion is considered very good luck.
If a strange black cat enters your home uninvited, you will have great fortune throughout the year. If you shoo it away, it will take it's gift of good luck with it.
A black cat aboard ship is a very good omen... if your man is a sailor keep a black cat in your home to insure his safety while at sea.
It is bad luck to sweep dust out of your house onto the porch. Always sweep towards the center of the room, and take it up in a dust pan from there.
"If you sweep the house with broom in May "You will sweep the head of the house away."
To insure a loving marriage, both bride and groom must join hands and jump over the besom laid on the floor.
To prevent an unwanted guest from returning, sweep out the room they stayed in immediately after they leave.
Blue flame augers death in the family.
The Yule Candle should be burned until it burns out naturally.
Never light three candles with one match...nor have just three candles burning.
If a cat sneezes rain is not far behind
If a cat sneezes thrice, the household will get the sniffles
It is good fortune, for a bride, on her wedding day, to be near a cat which sneezes, on that day.
A child born with a caul will have second site.
The caul must be preserved and carried with the person born with it, for good luck.
The caul must be buried or cremated with the person born with it, or that spirit will never be at rest.
Carrying a lump of coal brings good luck.
The first person to enter your home on New Year's day should bring a bit of coal, so that the household enjoys good luck throughout the New Year.
Never pass up a piece of coal lying on the ground. For good luck pick it up. If you do not wish to keep it, you must throw it back over your shoulder.
If someone dies in your family, you must:
· Stop all the clocks
· Cover all mirrors with a black cloth or turn it face towards the wall.
· Let the household fire go out.
· Open all doors and windows
ALL omens lose their meanings during a SOLAR eclipse, and for up to three days before, and three days after. This period of time is completely neutral; meaning neither good nor ill omens have effect.
LUNAR eclipses are just plain unlucky. The effects last for 7 days total.
People said to have the 'Evil Eye':
· People with eyes of different colors.
· People with eyes set too deeply in the sockets.
· People with eyes too close together.
· People with one eye lower than the other, which squints.
People with long fingers are spendthrifts.
Vampire's have an index finger as long or longer than their second finger.
People with crooked little fingers will be rich someday.
If you drop a glove, never pick it up yourself; bad luck will follow if you do.
It is a very good omen if a stranger picks it up for you.
Only cut your hair during the 14 days between the New Moon and the Full moon.
If anywhere on the right side of your body itches, it's a good omen.
If anywhere on the left side of your body itches, it's a bad omen.
If your right palm itches, you will soon be getting some money.
If your left palm itches, you will soon be paying out money.
If your right ear itches, someone is talking nicely of you.
If your left ear itches, someone is talking bad about you.
If your right eye itches, you will get a nice surprise.
If your left eye itches, you will get a nasty surprise.
If your eyebrow itches, you can expect a visitor.
If the soles of your feet itch, you will soon be going to a strange place.
When going on a journey, do not look back at your house; to do so is a
bad omen.
If you drop your keys, it means something bad is going to happen.
If you lose your keys, you will hear of a death.
Carry an old iron key in your right pocket for good luck.
Never walk under a ladder.
Don't reach for anything, or hand anything through the ladder's rungs.
You will get a letter if:
· A moth flies towards you.
· If your nose itches.
· If you develop a white spot on the nail of your ring finger.
· If you sneeze on a Wednesday.
· If you are expecting a delayed letter; hang a found hairpin up by a nail on your wall.
· Never put a letter into the left hand of your friend, or your friendship
· will end.
Never refuse a piece of mincemeat pie that someone offers you, to do so
brings a full year of bad luck.
Break a mirror, have seven years bad luck.
Never let a baby look in a mirror until it is at least a year old; to do so the baby will not grow well.
A whole nutmeg carried in the pocket wards off rheumatism.
If the nutmeg is filled with quick-silver and plugged, it brings the carrier good luck.
If you hear a hoot owl persistently screeching near a home, death will come to a member of that household.
If an owl perches on the roof of a house, or flies around it three times, a member of that household will die soon.
If an owl hoots within the hearing of a mother giving birth, her child's life will be difficult.
If you are walking and find a steel pin on the ground, pick it up and keep it for good luck.
It is unlucky to lend pins to a friend; lest your friendship end. If your friend gives you something in return, the ill omen is averted.
Ancient Roman bridal couples shared a quince to ensure marital happiness.
Dress your little girl in red, or at the least put a red ribbon in her hair, to protect her from evil.
Finding a spider in the evening is always lucky.
Finding a spider in the morning is unlucky.
If a tiny spider runs over your clothes, you will be able to afford better clothes soon. Wind the spider around your head three times to be assured of it.
Never put shoes on the dining room table, it is very unlucky.
Never put a pair of bellows on the table.
Never set thirteen people down to dinner, or one will die within a year.
Never open an umbrella indoors, it brings bad luck and intensifies any other bad omen that is occurring.
Don't go out with your umbrella open on a sunny day, lest you attract rain.
Never lay an umbrella on the bed, or unhappiness will result.
Don't give an umbrella as a gift; or misfortune will go with it.
Hang Vervain over your doorway to protect your home from evil.
Rub vervain over anything that has been exposed to the evil eye.
An old French superstition is that every time you wash your body, you wash off some of your life essence.
If you and another wash your hands under the same flow of water, at the same time, you will argue before nightfall.
If someone gives you Xanthium, they are saying that you are rude.
Carry yarrow to attract love, and old friends.
Carrying three white tail hairs and three black tail hairs of a zebra will let you find lost items.

Borrowed from a post by Justine Marie in the Fall Equinox Newsletter October 2, 2011 from THE CUPWA Blog

 

Energy Chant To Try

A chant to feel positive and more energized.

First thing in the morning, while the sun is rising, light a yellow annointed candle, and chant: I am healthy, strong, and energized. I am so full of joy, energy, and spirit that I have tons to share with others. I draw up energy from the earth. I fill myself and am happy. I am awake and alert, full of energy and enthusiasm. I feel great. I feel healthy. I feel fantastic. I am energetic and full of vitality. I allow nature to nourish me. I take time to fuel all levels of my being. I have all the energy of the universe inside me, and need only let it out, let it flow Repeat until you feel energized. Leave the candle burning. (In a safe and non-fire hazardous palce of course.)

This was contributed on Spells of Magic from Phoenixnite.