Nails are Better than Screws!
It's true!  My new bulletin board would not go in with the screws.  Or maybe it's the wall's fault.  Well, it's up now and a constant reminder of what I need to get done.  My New Year's Resolutions are on there... I have 14 of them.  So whenever I leave my room they will be there.  Always watching.


I will also be putting up a nice big sign with the word 'CALM' on there.  That is the word Lady Winter told me in my winter meditation.  If you go to Jamie Ridler Studios blog on my blog list it should still be on the first page.  It's a guided mediation and it really helped me.  It even gave me an idea for a necklace design!


Finally, I figured I would leave you all with this last little tidbit.

 I got that from a list about the phases of the moon.  Most of you know this already, I'm sure.  Why do I think this is relevant?  If you go by the zodiac, May 20- June 20 is a month.  The first new moon is right on May 20th and the second?  June 19th.  My birthday.  I am so totally geeked you have no idea.

Yule Magic Blog Party

So it's finally arrived.  Well... technically the solstice is tomorrow, which is when I'll be celebrating it.  I'm wishing all of you an abundant season, as that is what this time of year is good for.  I'm definitely going to be doing some magic to help get things growing, in terms of finances and relationships.  Just remember: how you think affects how you live.  Instead of reminding yourself of what you don't have, try to look on the positive side.  This helps abundance grow.


The gift I give to all of you is that of serenity.  This time of year can be stressful, what with gifts and family.  So when you feel like you can't take it, take a step back and relax.  Remember that this is the time of giving and receiving, so it's okay to ask for some help or take some time for you. 

Ugh
I have been in such a funk the past few days.  On the magical side of things, I'm trying to find a god (as in masculine) to work with on a more permanent basis.  I have a few I like, but none of them are really resonating with me.  I think that has to do with the lack of father figure gods out there.  Mother goddesses are in abundance, but gods who really embody the father?  Not that I've seen.  They don't even have to be father gods first and foremost.  I've always been drawn to triple goddesses, so gods with many facets in their duties/personalities are welcome.


On the more personal side, this house has been crazy.  Arguments and all that loveliness.  I really don't want to be around people that much and all I want to do is sleep.  Although I have been making surprising progress on my schoolwork and story.  But alas my emotions are all over the place.


If anyone has any suggestions, or just a kind word, I would appreciate what you have to say.

 The Witches' Yuletide Ball

Today is the day!  If you want to see who else has a party post, click on the banner over there ->.

My tradition is fairly new.  This will be my third Yule as a practicing witch and my goal is to figure out what I want my traditions to be.  My family celebrates Christmas, even though none of us are exactly Christian.  So I will be including the traditions from that here.  





 Our tree is already up.  Generally speaking we usually do the decorating the day after Thanksgiving but lately this has not been the case.  We decorated the tree on December first this year, much to Twinny's displeasure.  Of course another tradition of ours seems to be that the tree looks a mess once it's fully decorated, since we have so many varied ornaments.

So onto plans this year.  I have some pine needles and juniper berries that I will incorporate into an incense of some kind.  Seeing as we have a gas fireplace, I can't have a real yule log.  I could make a log into a centerpiece and put candles in it, but I think I'll try that next year.  This year I want to make a yule log dessert!  I need to go out and buy the proper pan and some of the ingredients, but I'm hoping it will be fun to make and good to eat.  If it is I'll post a picture and the recipe here.  Another thing I want to do is donate some of the things I have that I don't need.  I have a bag full of stuffed animals that have't come out for awhile.  Someone else could be playing with them and enjoying them.  I also have various toys and games that my family and I don't use, so those should go too.  Given that this is the time where a whole bunch of toys are donated, I want to see if I can convince my parents to donate anything else that would be more for adults like unneeded cookware.  I've seen our kitchen and I know we can spare something. 

Now for a recipe!  My family has always made a whole bunch of treats for Christmas so I'm going to share one with you.

Corn flake Wreath Treats
1/2 cup butter
30 large marshmallows
1 tsp vanilla extract
Enough green food coloring to make the color you want
4 cups cornflakes

~OPTIONAL~
cinnamon red hot candies
Twizzlers pull and peel licorice

So this is just like making rice crispy treats with a few differences.  Melt the butter in a large pot over low heat.  Add the marshmallows and stir until melted.  Remove from heat.  Add the vanilla and food coloring and stir until fully mixed.  I don't put a precise amount of food coloring since some people like their wreaths light green and others like it to look piney green.  If that is the case you may need to add a drop or five of blue.

Stir in the cornflakes until combined.  Quickly drop the desired amounts onto wax paper for shaping.  Coat your hands in cooking spray, butter or warm water to keep them from sticking.  Form the mixture into an 'O' shape.  Now you can decorate them with the candies and/or the licorice.  I've used Twizzlers pull and peel, pulled the strands apart and tied them into little bows.  Let cool for 20-30 minutes then enjoy!

Also remember to cook/bake with intent!  For most sweets I try to bake happiness into them, as sugar is good for that.  

You can make these with rice crispies, but the ratio of cereal to marshmallows is different.  The cornflakes are better in my opinion anyway.

Oh look!  Progress!
So today I went to the Secretary of State (or DMV) to get my T.I.P.  That's Temporary Instructor's Permit.  I had to stand in line, take a number and wait.  Once my number was called I stood in line again then submitted my paperwork and took a test.  Not fun.  When I finished the test I had to stand in line again and then had the test graded.  I was so worried the whole time that I would fail something.  The eye exam, not having the right papers or the test itself.  But I did fine and passed it.  So I can now legally drive with a licensed driver in the front seat.  


My name is Kristina, I'm twenty years old and I just now obtained my learner's permit.-_-;;

Witch or Wiccan: Which are you?
Aine talks about witchcraft, Wicca and the differences thereof in her experienced opinion on the most recent Witch's Circle.  That is one of the troubles with this form of Paganism... it varies depending on who you ask.  That very fact is one reason I chose this path, but it does make one or the other difficult to pinpoint exactly what either is.  But I will give my opinions in the form of answering the questions she list on the post, to be found here.

Are you a witch or Wiccan?
I consider myself a witch.  Most of the books I physically own are on Wicca, yes.  But some of the information contained therein is exactly why I don't think I'm Wiccan.  I don't believe in some of the same traditions that any of the major groups of Wiccans follow.


Do you belong to a group/coven or are you solitary?
I'm solitary, although I do practice some magic with Twinny (as seen on Samhain.)


Do you abide by the Rede or any other Rule in your practice?
I think the Rede is a bit too optimistic for any living thing to truly abide by.  It's a nice thought to be sure.  But if I get a job, I'm harming those who didn't get it and they might need it more than I do.  I believe in not trying to harm people intentionally.  I do eat meat, so animals will be killed for my consumption, but that is nature.  I do try to buy things that are humanely treated though.  I believe in doing one's best to try and better the world, and I don't consider it my place to punish people who aren't under my authority (should I have children/employees.)


Does your belief system include a deity/deities?
Sort of.  It's been an ongoing process of mine to find a God/Gods that resonate with who I am.  I'm speaking of the masculine specifically here.  There are many Goddesses I identify with, which makes it hard to choose one to be my patron.  But at the same time, it's difficult for me to work with an abstract idea that is 'the feminine' or 'the masculine'.  I do like to work with a God and Goddess that would be helpful to my specific magical needs at the time.  Like using Athena for wisdom and Hestia for home issues.  I don't worship these deities.  I respect them and see them in myself and others.  They are a part of what makes up everything, just as I am.  I just ask for their help and guidance once in a while and thank them for it after.


Does your path include magical practice?
Yes.  Orange candles with rosemary oil help me write!


How do you celebrate the Sabbats?
I'm too new at this for there to be a tradition per se.  I've been trying to attune myself to nature and celebrate what it has to offer at that given time.  I've noticed that actual rituals that are listed in the books I have don't work well for me.  I feel really uncomfortable doing them.  I'm more of a 'let's go out and do something to celebrate, not sit at an altar and pray.'  I don't tend to do magic that way either.  I'll ask for assistance and say a short blessing.  That's about it.


"All Wiccans are Witches, but not all Witches are Wiccans."  Do you agree?
I suppose it depends on what the person wants to be called.  I'm sure there are Wiccans who don't want to be called witches, but that do magic.  But if doing magic makes you a witch... then they would technically be one.  I do agree that not all witches are Wiccans.  A lot of them aren't.


Do you believe that Witchcraft is a religion?
It can be.  It can be a huge spiritual journey or a simple matter of doing spells.  Some people are okay with being a "Christian Witch" which I think is a Christian doing magic.  So for that person, Witchcraft isn't a religion.  But for some people (like me) it is a spiritual connection with nature, the divine feminine and the divine masculine.