Songs of a Cricket - blog

Ending a Relationship With a Deity

12/12/2018

In an email from a subscriber / viewer of my YouTube Channel I was asked, "How do you end a relationship with a god when you feel the time with them is done?" Honestly I had never really considered this topic throughout the time I've been involved with my spiritual path though I do not have a specific god or goddess that I worship or work with at this time, I have in the past. Over the years I've been following a pagan spirituality my matron and patron deities have shifted and I've had rich and full relationships with; the Christian god, Mother Mary, Jehovah, Bast, Isis, Thoth, Danu, and Cernunnos, so I took some time and contemplated how my relationship with one god ended and another began. I wanted to give an honest answer to the inquiry I was given.

ABC of Paganism: T is for Tarot

12/5/2018

Tarot is a large part of my spiritual path. I have had a relationships with the cards for many years even before I knew what they were and once I became aware of their purpose I consciously decided to utilize them within my spiritual path, gaining sight to situations and relationships when I felt lost. Tarot has become a beneficial tool for me not only for personal purposes, but within my business career as well.

I know that many individuals hold a fear of the Tarot similar to the fear they possess concerning Spirit Boards, but I've never held such a fear. I was always intrigued with the image of an old "gypsy" woman sitting at a small table with the Tarot spread out in front of her, flipping

Am I a Lightworker?

12/2/2018

Recently within the YouTube community there has been discussion centering on the topic of Lightworkers and whether or not we identify as one. Well, I think we should first define what a Lightwork is before I can share my thoughts about myself concerning this concept. A Lightworker as defined by Rebecca Campbell, a Hay House author and oracle creator, is an individual with an awakened soul, who devotes their life to being a light in the world. Lightworkers make the conscious decision to make the world a brighter place by being present in their life and the lives of others. When faced with a

ABC of Paganism: S is for Seasonal Tides

11/21/2018

Just as the Moon has different phases Witches use as a correspondence for their magicks, the Earth has phases, too that can be harnessed. From the mundane perspective we recognize these phases as Seasons and even if the location of where you live doesn't have recognizable seasons, there still is an energetic shifting that occurs at these times, which can be used as a correspondence when spell casting. Witches recognize these seasons or energetic phases and refer to them as Seasonal Tides.

Empath, Psychic, Medium … Witch

11/14/2018

I was engaged in a conversation the other day pertaining to the differences and similarities of an Empath, a Psychic, a Medium, and a Witch. The individual I was speaking with wondered where the boundary lay between these labels and if the boundaries were really clear or if there was a blending somewhere. I think there is a boundary, but I do believe that there are many individuals who may easily adopt more than one of these labels for themselves because I find that sometimes these abilities overlap though I have also met individuals who are simply one of these things and nothing more.

ABC of Paganism: R is for Rest

11/7/2018

The seasonal tide is shifting and we're moving from the Harvest season to the Winter; from the energy of the element of air to the energy of the element of earth, which will be prominent with the coming Winter Solstice, but for now we are in the Tide of Planning and for me planning happens when I am resting.

With Samhain behind me I have time to rest and consider all that I experienced up to this point in my life. I contemplate the situations and relationships I released and the situations and relationships I have gained. I consider how these shifts have changed the direction of my life and what it is I still desire for myself in the days ahead.

Blessed Samhain

10/31/2018

As the year turns, just as day turns to night and life turns to death, let us welcome the quiet of the Dark Mother. Let the stillness of the land calm and satisfy our spirits, allowing us to receive the harvest's bounty. Let the gain of the passing year be ours, to fill our lives with contentment. May we rest content as we pass the threshold of new beginnings. So mote it be!

This is the first year I am not holding an Open House. It is the first year that I am not standing on the earth of my birth place. Tonight I will be standing out in another part of the country where the energies feel very different to me. I will be holding ritual alone; communing with my Beloved Dead, The Ancestors, and The Mighty Ones and formally introducing myself to the Spirits of the land I now call home.

I Call Myself a Witch

10/24/2018

I've been identifying as Witch for years now since about 2004 when I held a Dedication Ritual to my path and my goddess after experiencing an Initiation by God Herself, though if I consider my life experience and personal spiritual journey it is clear to me now that I've always been Witch, I just never understood that it was a label that described me and what I was practicing. This thought causes me to consider that perhaps I was born Witch and the whole concept of born or made that I discuss in a video on my channel; Are Witches Born or Made?, but I don't have a definite answer to that very question for myself and would never assume to know the answer for anyone else. All I am confident about for me is that I am Witch. When I became Witch? I'm not certain, but I know it is who I am in this moment in my current incarnation. There are many reasons why I identify with Witch, some of these are touched upon in the following poem that I stumbled upon when watching videos on YouTube. This poem is not written by me, but by a fellow YouTube creator and I have included her video in which she reads her poem as well as a link to her channel. She has many wonderful videos discussing numerous topics pertaining to witchcraft and magick that I recommend.

ABC of Paganism: Q is for Quarters

10/17/2018

Being as my spirituality is based within Wicca I have established a relationship with the Quarters or the natural forces of the cardinal points (North, South, East, and West) and during Ritual I will call or summon them within my cast Circle. Each of these Quarters hold a specific energy that I merge with in order to work my magicks, whatever it may be at that time, but my relationship reaches beyond casting a Circle for Ritual or casting a spell for manifestation. As I live my life here in the physical realm I work to balance the energies of the Quarters within me and continuously work with the natural forces of the Cardinal Points to live a life I desire for myself. Some days this practice is more challenging and difficult than others as I am aware of the

A Poem - Primordial Oak

10/10/2018

I published a book of poetry earlier this year titled A Witch's Voice. It's available on Amazon or if you desire an autograph copy you can purchase it here through my website by following the link in the sidebar, but this blog post isn't to promote the book, well not directly. It is to share with you that I still write poetry even if it is not for the purpose of publishing another poetry book, but rather to express my love for my Craft and to share the experiences I encounter while doing so.

Since relocating to Seattle, Washington from Massachusetts I have come to recognize that the energies between the two locations are very different and after having a conversation

You CANNOT Become a Pro Tarot Reader in 1 Day!

10/4/2018

I was clicking through YouTube videos as I do when I have a few minutes to spare and I stumbled across a video that informed me that I could become a Pro Tarot Reader in just one day. Well, I was confused and skeptical of the information the video contained. The title had me wondering what the creator meant by “Pro Tarot Reader”, was she inferring that in just a day you could become a qualified person to read the cards to such a level that other people would pay you for your service? Or was she suggesting that you could become professional as in someone reading the Tarot as their main paid occupation rather than just as reading the cards as a hobby? If it was the second option then I might agree … I mean honestly as soon as you accept money for a skill you are entitled to call yourself a professional (_ fill in the blank _),

ABC of Paganism: P is for Pendulum

9/26/2018

Pendulums are simple tools that can be used numerous ways in any Witch’s Craft. The most common use for a pendulum is divination. When my children were younger I had them chose a pendulum at the local metaphysical shop, purchased them, and taught them how to use it to ask simple “yes” or “no” questions. It was their first experience with divination.

In my own Witchcraft practice I’ve used a few different pendulums over the years; metal, rose quartz, and the clear quartz I currently use most often. I have a strong bond with this particular pendulum and don’t see myself exchanging it for a different one any time soon. I encourage anyone interested in trying pendulum work to find one that really calls to them or draws them, just as when choose other tools of the Craft.

Witchy Aesthetics

9/19/2018

Witchy Aesthetics has been a hot topic as of late in the YouTube Witchy / Pagan community and I have reserved recording a video regarding the topic, but I do have an opinion on the topic that I would like to share with my readers who are either creators or viewers.

While I am concerned about the basics of making a video such as overall quality from sound to visuals my priority is the information I am sharing whether that is general knowledge of the topic or my personal experiences, insights, and opinions. I don’t generally wear make-up or do my hair for videos … I’m not overly concerned about how pretty I look though if I am feeling ill or have a cold and appear sick I will not

How Can I Thrive as a Witch While Living in a Christian Community?

9/12/2018

Recently I was emailed by a viewer of my YouTube Channel and in the correspondence was asked how he could thrive in their Craft as a Witch while living within a Christian community. His neighbors, coworkers, friends, and the majority of his family members were Christian, which made him uneasy to openly practice his Craft for fear of being attacked and mocked for his beliefs. I empathize with this individual. I know not everyone has the ability to be unconcerned about what others think especially if there are children or jobs at risk. In answering this viewer's question I can only speak from my personal experiences and as someone who lives in The United States where we have a greater freedom than many other countries.

Firstly I believe it is important for the individual Witch to define his or her practice. What I mean by this is that each of us has a focus that permeates our Craft. There is something that we do most often or maybe it is the only thing we ever do. It is something that we love to

ABC of Paganism: O is for Oils

9/5/2018

Essential Oils have been a part of my Craft since the beginning. I have an emotional and psychological association with the sensation and scent of oils. I was raised within a Roman Catholic home and have been anointed with the Oil of Catechumens to strengthen me to turn away from evil, temptation, and sin when I received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Matrimony. The act of anointing someone or something with oil always made the occasion feel sacred and important and was something I was eager to continue when I transitioned to my Wiccan practice.

Within sympathetic magick it was a common practice to anoint with the fat of sacrificial animals as it was perceived to be a powerful charm second only to the blood of the animal. The practice of anointing with oil is believed to be rooted in this ancient practice, which makes sense to this Witch.