Sacred gourds, spiral dances and home made witches...

Phew...that was a busy weekend, fun but busy.

On Saturday I attended the Samhain ritual with the Dorset Grove at Knowlton.

It was a dry day but VERY windy.

Last week the Arch Druid had asked me if I would like to respond to the Gatekeeper at the beginning of the ritual...

"Love to" I said
"Make sure you answer respectfully, honourably and spiritually" he said.

So we start the procession up to the Saxon ruin to meet the Gatekeeper and when we do he asks me who wishes to pass.

I reply in a very respectful and I thought honourable manner, that we were the Dorset Grove and that we came with pure hearts and pure spirits and wished to pass to celebrate Samhain and honour our ancestors.

To which the reply came:

"Well do you have any gold, or silver, money? jewels?"

"um"... was my response...

There then followed a hilarious scene from Monty Python which involved a 'sacred gourd' and much laughter - many thanks to Dennis and Ian for 'catching me out'.

There were so many lovely people at the ritual and the energy was AMAZING, thank you to everyone for joining us.

We shared a spiral dance (which thankfully didn't end up in total chaos), marzipan acorns, hot spiced wine, a fantastic 'make a witch' skit (thanks to Dennis, Rita and Amani) which involved throwing 'witches powder' and 'newts eyeballs' at everyone and shooting those in the circle with water pistols...fantastic :-)

It was a beautiful ritual which involved lots of celebration, honouring of our ancestors and laughs with friends.

Tansy
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A flaw in the plan, endorsements and wonderful people

I am still learning this author thing...and I have discovered a flaw in my plan...

When I wrote the first book Pagan Portals Kitchen Witchcraft I kind of thought it would be the only book I would ever write, so I launched myself full tilt into pimping it and asking complete strangers, all lovely and talented people, to write endorsements for it.  And I was overwhelmed at the response and got positive and excellent endorsements from everyone I asked (five in total - all for my little book, chuffed to bits!).

And then book two came into being, Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch, which is where the hiccup in the plan showed itself, who to ask for endorsements now?  It seems incredibly rude to ask the same people again.  I have however found some different and equally fantastic people to give me endorsements, four so far that have been good enough to agree to it, two have written the endorsements already (one of which includes a reference to Terry Pratchett - squeeeeeeeeee).

It's a learning curve...

I send out huge thanks and immense respect to those that have given me endorsements, I am incredibly grateful to you all and I am in your debt.

Tansy
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What does a witch wear?

Yesterday I met up with the lovely Raven and Sunchylde to write our Kitchen Witch Samhain ritual (and do some drumming and scrying...oh yes and eat yummy food and laugh a lot).

We got talking about what a witch wears.   We are asked this question quite a lot "what do I wear to be a witch?" - and our answer is always "whatever you happen to be wearing" - and that's the truth it.

It doesn't matter if you live in jeans and sweatshirts or full on velvet medieval dresses - being a Witch is in your heart and soul not in the outfits that you wear.

Now I have to admit in my younger days I had different wardrobes for different people or occasions - I had smart suits to wear to work, rock chick gear to wear to my husband's gigs, (and this next one will make my sister in law laugh) a trendy wardrobe for when I went out with my sister in law and then my hippy/witchy wardrobe because that is the style that I have always loved - a kind of Goth meets Stevie Nicks look.

Over the years I have stopped worrying about 'fitting in' with my surroundings, experience and life has taught me to be ME and not worry about matching my outfit to those around me, but to wear what I feel comfortable in - so I only have one wardrobe now and I have to admit it is made up from quite a lot of floaty dresses and a huge amount of velvet ;-)

I don't wear jeans very often, in fact it scares my besties when I do - they don't like me looking 'normal' LOL - I don't feel comfortable in jeans, I am most at home in a long floaty skirts and dresses, not because I am a witch but because I am ME.

I do however like to make an effort when I am in ritual, I dress according to the season and the Sabbat and I wear my cloak and circlet or top hat - to me that is a mark of respect to deity.  But I didn't always have ritual wear, when I didn't I just made an effort to look nice for the occasion.

So even if I am the odd looking mum at the school gates wearing a full length purple velvet dress I don't care, I am me being me.

Whether you live in jeans or look like a witch clothing store sneezed on you - it doesn't matter...if you are a Witch then you are a Witch whatever you are wearing :-)

Tansy
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How many hats do you wear?

Yesterday got me thinking about labels that we give ourselves and others.  

How many different hats do you wear each day?  I like hats by the way, especially top hats ;-)

I am a Wife, I am a Mother and I am a Witch – all labels, or titles if you like and all ones that I am extremely happy and proud to be.  You can add to that the labels of Friend, Personal Assistant, Housewife, Team Leadership Member and all the other job titles that come from being a human being with a husband, family and working life.

But what about the other titles we earn in life?

I am also a High Priestess, I earnt that title, it took a lot of work and a lot of experience but when I was first honoured with it, I was embarrassed when people starting addressing me as such – why?  I am not sure really, self esteem perhaps?  Even after nearly thirteen years of solid study and getting out there to practice the Craft I think I felt that I wasn’t deserving. It was a lack of confidence in a new area but my wonderful friends reassured me and now a year and a half later I know I worked very hard to earn the title and I hopefully live up to the expectations of it.

And now the newest title for me is that of an Author.    I have had a couple of people use that ‘label’ when addressing me in the past week and it seems very weird to hear it.  Yes I have now written two books that will be published in 2013, but does that make me an author? well I guess just one book does. 

Perhaps I will feel more comfortable with the title of author when the first book is published and actually ‘out there’…maybe…

I know many people in the pagan world that don’t like the idea of labels – are you a Druid, a Witch, a Wiccan or any of the many other titles.

I guess it is about knowing what you are or more importantly who you are.

I know I am a Witch, a Witch of the Old Ways, I practice witchcraft but I also bring in Green Witchery, Kitchen Witchery and Hoodoo  - I wonder what that makes me?  A KitchenGreenWitchHoodooist ?

So which title am I most happy to be?

ME

…that’s exactly who I am

Tansy

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Pagan Children

Our eldest is 11 years old and started secondary school in September, she has loved the school work so far and found the lessons interesting and challenging.

Last week in her Religious Education lesson (to my great surprise) they discussed deity, not just in the usual religions but also the Pagan gods and goddesses.

I have never actively encouraged my children to follow my path, at ages 11 and 6,  I think they are too young to be pushing religion on them, so I let them be.  If they ask questions about what I do I answer them honestly, they both know who and what I am, it is not unusual to them that their mum is a witch as they have grown up with it.  They have both joined in craft activities with me when I have done them, such as making their own wands and Yule decorations.

However our eldest said to me after the RE lesson that she was a bit embarrassed that she didn't know much about the pagan deities so could she learn about them and the pagan religion as a whole please.  So I had a look through my books (my large selection of books LOL) and gave her the Kate West - Real Witches Book to have a read through.  I have also given her the address of  www.pookapages.com website to have a look at.  Although I haven't read it yet but I thought I might also get a copy of Let's Talk About Pagan Festivals by Siusaidh Ceanadach as that is specifically aimed at children.

And we shall see what happens...although I think she is still too interested in pretty dresses (OK goth dresses...) makeup and trashy TV at the moment LOL

Tansy
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Opinions, putting it out there and mind your manners

Over the past couple of weeks I have seen several facebook statuses turn into battle grounds and that makes me sad.

Your personal facebook page is your own and you are certainly more than entitled to share your own thoughts and opinions, but what I have seen lately is ... and these are well known and respected people within the pagan field...asking a question, seeking out thoughts and opinions from others and then slamming them down when they answer with their own views - sheeeesh...

If you don't want to know others opinions...then why ask?

I know we all get worked up sometimes, especially when it is on a subject that we are passionate about but what makes you think that your way is the only way?

I love that within witchcraft there is no right or wrong way, of course there are guidelines and if you follow a particular tradition you might stick to certain practices, but being the witch that I a, I take bits and pieces from all over the place and make the Craft mine, it is personal to me and I do the things I do, I use the herbs I do, I cast the way I do, I have the beliefs that I do etc etc because it all works for me.

I am of course open to new ideas, new ways of thinking and new ways of doing things - that's what makes it fun to investigate and work with to see what happens.

I haven't always gotten things right, I make mistakes the same as everyone else does - hey I am human after all.  But it is by making those mistakes that I learn.

There are a lot of people in the world and whatever you say and do is not going to be agreed with by everyone - that's a fact, it would be a boring world if everyone was the same wouldn't it?

By being on facebook and twitter and blogging and being part of the Kitchen Witch School and now patiently (OK not so patiently LOL) waiting for my books to be published I am 'putting myself out there' and possibly putting myself in the firing line so to speak for opinions, but hopefully I will be able to deal with any that come my way with respect for the other person and well to be honest - good old fashioned good manners.

Peace and love people :-)

Tansy
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Full diary, bullies, tarot and pumpkins...

Life seems to be going at about 100 miles an hour at the moment or at least it feels like it...but it is all good :-)

My diary for the rest of 2012 is now pretty much full, an invitation came in today with the request "shall we put a date in the diary for 2013 before that gets full up too?".

My gorgeous hubby has just asked me if I have a lot to do today, to which I answered actually not really, a couple of tarot readings that I want to do this morning but pretty much everything else on my to do list is not hyper urgent.  So he suggested I have a 'me' day - bless him.

The draft book cover for my first book Pagan Portals Kitchen Witchcraft came in yesterday and it has a toad on it which made me laugh ... I will share the image with you once it has been signed off.

I also received the most wonderful endorsement for my second book Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch :-)

This week we have dealt with our daughter being bullied at school which was totally unpleasant but I have to say dealt with by the school in the most professional, thoughtful and considerate way and it was all dealt with speedily.

I put together a medicine bag for her to keep in her blazer pocket, I asked what colour made her think of courage and she answered 'yellow', then I asked what colour made her think of protection and she said 'pink' so her medicine bag has pink and yellow crystals in.

And the wonderful Riverford Organics delivered a big box of beautiful pumpkins today, they are so pretty I am not sure I will be able to carve or eat them...

This week has been one of getting soaking wet on many occasions, dealing with bullies, being excited about the book process, chatting with good friends, spending time with my lovely family, building up for Samhain and even a touch of preparing for Yule.

So I shall do my tarot readings (for our lovely Kitchen Witch School students) and then go meditate for a while...I will see what the rest of the day presents to me after that.

Have a lovely day people.

Tansy
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Late, soggy and skeletons

So today did not start well...

Got up late (unintentionally) and had 30 minutes to shower, wash my hair, get dressed, put makeup on, have breakfast, check emails and get out of the door with youngest for the school run - needless to say I was a bit hassled and stressed as I left the house...

Weather was clear and dry when I looked out of the window so I put on a velvet (and very non waterproof) coat...three minutes into the walk to school the skies opened and it started to rain persistently...thankfully I don't have the same reaction to water as the Wicked Witch of the West otherwise I would be a puddle of nothing but a soggy wet velvet coat now...

After dropping youngest off at school I had to pop into town to run some errands for poorly mother in law. I decided that what I needed first was a nice latte in the cafe to smooth out the stress before I started the shopping list.  Nice hot frothy latte arrived in front of me as I got my Kindle out of my slightly soggy hand bag to read whilst drinking said coffee...to find the battery was dead on the Kindle *sigh*

So I people watched whilst drinking...which included a rather loud young man in the cafe on his mobile phone swearing and cussing...thankfully he left shortly after I arrived.

Then set out to run the errands, got everything on MIL's list, except at the bank that wouldn't let me pay her credit card bill with her debit card because I wasn't her...however a very nice lady in the bank chatted to me and we came up with a solution so that was eventually sorted.

Did find some rather splendid small skeletons to put on my top hat for the Samhain ritual though...(not in the bank, in another shop LOL).

Now back home, very soggy indeed and still slightly stressed out, so I am off for some meditation, a few candles lit and some nice incense to clear my head before I start on my chores for the day.

So I am taking the bad start to the day and turning it around, nothing is insurmountable and in the scale of things the events of this morning were mere blips, I have an awful lot to be thankful for - a little rain and a flat battery won't keep this witch down ;-)

Have a good day everyone.

Tansy
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Getting the balance right and apologies...

I have received so many invitations by lovely groups to some wonderful moots, meetings and rituals.

The sad thing is, I can't make it to all of them - much as I would love to.

It's all about getting the balance right...

I have a wonderful husband and two fabulous young children and I love to spend time with them but I am also a Witch, High Priestess of the Kitchen Witch Coven and a member of the Dorset Grove Druids along with being a Team Leadership member of the Kitchen Witch School, a new author with two books due to be released in 2013 and  I have a part time secretarial job too...

So it's about fitting everything in so that everyone is happy and everything gets done.

I got my diary out today to organise a get together with my lovely sisters in the Craft from the Kitchen Witch leadership team ... I only had two free Saturdays to offer them for the rest of 2013 - that's mad.

Hopefully I get the balance right most of the time, but it is unfortunately those invites to the other rituals and moots that I lose out on - and I am really sorry, my apologies to all those that have invited me, I do hope to get to them, I really do, if you are kind enough to keep inviting me.

Tansy
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Book titles, manuscripts and twiddling thumbs...

So I submitted the the manuscript for Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch last night...all proof read, but I am very sure that the lovely editors will spot all my mistakes LOL

Deciding on the final title was the hardest part (thank you to everyone on facebook that gave me their input, it was very much appreciated).

And today was a weird kind of day...no book to write...what to do?

It is a very strange feeling, with the Pagan Portals Kitchen Witchcraft done, submitted, final proof agreed, just waiting for the cover now before printing and now the Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch submitted - what do I do now?

Well have a day off was the first thought...and tomorrow will be spent decorating my youngest's bedroom - back to mundane stuff...

I guess now I just play the patience game...until I have some release dates to work with and then it all gets exciting again - and I can drive you lot nuts again with book blogs LOL

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend.

Tansy
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More book blogging, deadlines & more endorsements...

Yep more blogging about the book writing (my apologies):

So book one is under way with the publishers and I am working on book two.

I had a fair amount of book two written and then I faffed about for a bit, I know what I want to put in there but life distracts me *ooh look shiny things* but then a gentle reminder from the publishers arrives...all very polite and not pushy at all but basically saying "get off your butt and when are you going to send in the finished manuscript"...

So this weekend is the deadline.   And I am actually nearly done, just adding the last bits and pieces, but having the deadline has really made me focus, which is a good thing.

This time last year if you had said to me that I would have a contract for one book let alone two I would have laughed...a lot.  But then I knew 2012 was going to be a BIG year, didn't know what to expect but I knew that lots was going to happen this year and it certainly has.

I LOVED writing the lessons for the Kitchen Witch School (not all of them, coz my lovely co-team leaders wrote their share too) but it was an enjoyable process, which then led on to the book writing which again I have LOVED.  Not the actual sitting at the computer for hours because that quite frankly isn't good for my body - just need to remember to get up occasionally...

But the actual writing process, I get the subject in my head and then just let the words flow out, they seem to almost have a life of their own, thank goodness I can touch type...because when I am on a roll my keyboard sounds like a flock of demented woodpeckers... (I am not sure flock is the correct term for a group of woodpeckers but it will do for now).

I have also been pleasantly surprised by the teamwork and support from other authors, I have been in contact with some amazing, lovely and extremely supportive fellow writers.

So for today, I shall leave you with some more endorsements for the first book - Pagan Portals Kitchen Witchcraft:

Melusine Draco | Author of numerous popular books
I like this ... it's light, friendly and good fun to read. One important facet of traditional Craft is the use of the kitchen and everyday implements to create magical goodies. I like the way the author brings the reader into the kitchen and makes the whole thing inclusive like having a cosy chat over the cauldron. A great addition to the Pagan Portals series.

Mark Carter | Author of Stalking the Goddess
Rachel Patterson's Kitchen Witchcraft is an excellent introduction to witchcraft's system of correspondences, and reminds us that the ingredients of nature's magic surround us whether we live in an Old World witch's cottage or a modern high rise.

Janet Farrar & Gavin Bone | authors A Witches Bible, Witches Goddess and Inner Mysteries
‘A wonderful little book which will get anyone started on Kitchen Witchery. Informative, and easy to follow.’


Tansy

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Certificates and learning...

Now those of you that know me well are familiar with me being a total certificate tart.

I do have certificates hanging on the wall in my hall and I am extremely proud of each and every one of them - because they all took hard work and effort to obtain.

But as a witch do I need certificates?  The resounding answer to that is no...

I know some witches that are the most knowledgeable and experienced witches I have ever met and they don't have a certificate to their name, but then I also know some witches that have stack loads of certificates but don't have experience or seem to have the knowledge to back them up.

Do I know it all?  Not by a long shot, I am still learning even after fourteen years of full on study and experience, will I ever know it all? definitely not - there is so much to learn and experience if I learnt it all I would firstly be a total nightmare to live with (more than I am already ;-) )and secondly life would become pretty boring if there was nothing left to learn.

Have all my certificates and all my knowledge and learning about the Craft come from the same place? Nope.   I have studied with several witchcraft schools, I have studied from books and the internet, I have taken several courses on various subjects and studied one on one with knowledgeable people.  All of these avenues have provided me with different aspects and experiences of study.

Whilst I learnt the basics from my Wiccan degree lessons, they were only the basis for me to step out from, I took the subjects given to me and I researched outside, I read books on the subjects, I experienced them outside in the natural world and practised any exercises I could find relating to them.   I took and completed my first and second Wiccan degrees with one school and worked most of the way through my third degree with them, but as happens sometimes I decided to go in a different direction and I completed my third degree training and was given the honoured title of High Priestess with a different group - but all of it was a learning experience and I worked very hard to get there.

With the various courses I have taken I have done the same, taken the basic lessons and then added my own research and practical experiences to it.

But I have also learnt a huge amount from actually meeting like minded people and working together face to face with sisters and brothers from the Craft.

I work best with a structure of learning, which is why I took the courses that I did, but I also added to them, stretched myself to do the best I could.

Learning the Craft is to me, fluid, it moves, it changes, it flexes to work with you and the stage that you are at in life and within the Craft.

I will still take further courses in subjects if they interest me, I learn each time I attend or lead a ritual with like minded people, I learn from the lovely students at the Kitchen Witch School, I learn each time I work with my sisters and brothers in the Craft - always learning.

Whatever pathway you choose, always do your best, research, experience, really push yourself to stretch your knowledge and experience, it will be so worth it in the end.

And remember, if you succeed at something, if you attain recognition for what you have achieved, there will always be one or two people that resent you for it and will try to knock you down... my advice?  Stand tall, rise above it, you know that you have worked hard to get to where you are, be proud of that.

Tansy
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Charity cake eating, faffing & endorsements

I have spent this morning in a pub with my mum eating cake for charity :-)  A very worthy cause, the Macmillian Nurses.

So this afternoon I am back home and really ought to be actually getting on with work but I find myself faffing about - I am putting it down to the sugar overload consumed this morning or it could be the numerous cups of coffee...

The current excitement (well for me anyway...) is that my first book Pagan Portals Kitchen Witchcraft is now at the final proof stage awaiting sign off by the editor...

So I thought as I am looking for things to do other than those that I am supposed to, I would share a couple of the endorsements that wonderful people have kindly given me:


Tylluan Penry | Author of Seeking the Green, Magic on the Breath, Magical Properties of Plants, Staying on the Old Track and the Essential Guide to Psychic Self Defence 

I am very proud to write this endorsement/preface for Rachel’s book, Kitchen Witchcraft. Rachel is very sensible and down to earth, both qualities that are rare nowadays, but which I really admire. Kitchen Witchcraft is becoming increasingly possible as people try and merge spiritual and everyday life. Rachel’s book contains plenty of great suggestions for kitchen witchery and I particularly like her emphasis on learning to love what you have, yet learning to adapt and grow too, which is an essential part of the Craft.
The beauty of this book is the ease with which Rachel blends the magical with the everyday, something I consider to be the true essence of all witchcraft. Her writing is a friendly, personal account that immediately invites us to feel we are there in the kitchen with her. This is particularly helpful for those who work as solitaries.

Kitchen Witchcraft contains plenty of ideas about the seasons, elements, festivals, gardens, working with candles and crystals and – best of all in my view – recipes for potions and incense etc. These will make even the newest beginner feel very ‘witchy’ indeed!

and

Siusaidh Ceanadach | Author of A Ceremony for Every Occasion & Let's Talk About Pagan Festivals

It’s a great little book, it’s packed with all kinds of information any Pagan would find very useful from candle magic and cleaning fluids to details of the elements. This is something you need to keep handy in your kitchen for helping you with your spells, your incense and your day to day magical life.

Tylluan has a blog tylluanpenry.blog.co.uk
Siusaidh has a website siusaidhceanadach.com

Tansy
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