What is Wicca, Really? by LadySeluna
Wicca is often mistaken for Witchcraft. The truth of the matter is, Wicca is a religious faith all of its own. What might surprise many people even more is that Wicca is a very loving religious practice, one that demands its followers to adhere to strict ethics and high morals. Summed up, these ethics convey the Wiccan Law of "Harm None", which enforces those of Wiccan faith to be consistently mindful of their daily actions and resulting effects, and their interactions with mankind, animals, and the environment in which we live.
Wicca incorporates a combination of religious beliefs and practices. These include; Eastern Philosophy, Mystical Quabalah, and old European traditions. From Eastern Philosophy, Wicca derives its belief system of Cause and Effect, Karma and Reincarnation. The Quabalah lends its principles of Spiritual Evolution through 'path-working', as well as Esoteric Knowledges. And, from European tradition Wicca receives its passions and understandings of nature and many of its Deities.
What Do Wiccans Worship?
The foundation of Wicca is based on the teachings and belief that there are many forms of 'Divine Spirit' which reside with us here on Earth, as well as in 'Heavenly' Realms, all of which are benevolent, and accessible by mankind to assist us with our needs - both physical and spiritually. Many of these Divine Beings are found in Nature - in the elements, the sky, and the Earth 'Herself'.
How Do Wiccans Worship?
Wiccans base their primary observances on what is referred to as 'The Wheel of the Year'. This 'Wheel' contains eight times in each year where the changes of the seasons are celebrated by Ritual to pay tribute for the gifts and opportunities inherent in each season.
Examples include the asking for protection and needs to be meet during winter months, the 'calling forth' of spring (seed and planting time), and giving thanks for crop abundances in the autumn.
What Are "Wiccan Tools" and Why Are They Used?
During Rituals, Wiccans use 'tools' - or 'altar items', to assist them with their performances. These include athames, wands, chalices, bowls, candles, and pentacles. Most all of these items correlate with an element of nature, and each has a specific purpose to aid in rituals - which are often performed to portray the roles which Divine Spirits play in interacting and impacting our daily lives.
Wicca and Magick:
Much of the misconceptions about Wicca stem from its practice of performing 'magick'. This magick is often (wrongfully) attached to some type of devil-worship by those who do not take the time to research the facts. In truth, most Wiccans do not even believe in a devil. And, if they did, the Code of Ethics and Principles of Wicca would enforce its followers to stand clear of "him". Wicca promotes well-being unto all.
The Origins of Magick:
The art of performing magick dates back to prehistoric man, whereas tokens of appreciation were offered during semi-rituals by the tribes in hope of being granted particular blessings from the Gods of Old. The most common documented proof of the Gods that were believed in during this era were those of Fertility Goddesses and Gods of the Hunt, both of which were honored frequently in exchange for food and safety.
Magick Today:
Today, much of the makings of magick in Wicca is based on the same platform: Celebrations, dances, and feasts are performed to pay honor to particular Divine Spirits in exchange for blessings which are bestowed. Crafts are made and tokens are offered in the same fashion. These magicks range from elaborate gatherings of wiccan multitudes, to the less casual practices of solitary wiccans, whereas an individual (or group of a few) will perform smaller rituals to gain more personal-type blessings.
Other Tools of Craft:
It is believed by Wiccan's that most all natural materials, from stones to plants, with hold specific 'energies' which may be utilized in magick as additional aids for attaining specific results. The Most popular of natural materials is perhaps the usage of herbs. Herbs are incorporated into magick by way of making crafts by them for offerings and tokens of appreciation and honor. Herbs are a also incorporated into magickal workings for their large variety of pleasing fragrances, and for this reason are commonly used in incenses - which are burned during all religious ceremonies in effort to attract and compliment the Divine Spirits.
Wicca, during the past many years, has done much in the way of promoting religious tolerance in the publics eye. It is not within the religious practice of Wicca to solicit new members or reform those of other religious creeds. But rather, to teach, by example, the many blessings bestowed upon those who abide by the Law of Love, and kindness to all.
Each of the Great Religions of the World is based upon the teachings of making personal improvements and rising above our environments, helping those in need, and becoming more spiritually evolved. It seems impossible, therefore, that with so many similarities among various religions - that any particlar creed could be right or wrong.
With all of the struggles that separate mankind in today's world, I maintain that Religion should not be one of them. But in fact, should be a common ground that unites us all - despite a cultures 'name' for its God (or Goddesses) and the origins or mythic tales attached. I believe that "God" - in any aspect, is most likely BI-LINGUAL (speaking many languages) and is present to all cultures. I further suggest that any Almighty Being has better things to do than play monopoly among religious creeds. Education is the key, and there are many informative books on Wicca available.
The author of this article is Lady Seluna. To learn more about Wicca, please visit her site at http://www.Sacredshadows.net. For those of you in search of wiccan supplies, please visit: http://www.Sacredshadows.net/WiccanSupplies.htm for all of your magickal needs. You'll love our products and prices.
Wiccan Supplies
Article Source: NewAgeArticles.com
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The 13 Preambles of Wicca
The 13 Preambles of Wicca by H.P. Thomas Moore
In addition to the “Wiccan Rede” there are also 13 articles that are followed. These preambles as they are called aid in attuning the self and becoming one with the earth and the spiritual world through study, self exploration and action. Each has lessons that are learned and not all are easy to complete. It is the drive to complete them and the knowledge that is rewarded as well as the spiritual alignment that makes them worth while. What follows is the list of the 13 Preambles, as well as a deeper understanding of each.
1: Know Yourself
2: Know your Craft
3: Learn
4: Apply Knowledge
5: Achieve Balance
6: Keep your thoughts in good order
7: Keep your words in good order
8: Celebrate life
9: Attune with the cycles of the Earth
10: Breathe and eat correctly
11: Exercise the body
12: Meditate
13: Honor the Goddess and God
As you can see from the preambles the worship of deities falls last on the list. I would like to approach that first before we go in depth into each article.
13: Honor the Goddess and God
The Goddess and God are within us as they are also within all living things on this Earth. In this case by following the first 12 articles you are already honoring the Goddess and God because they are a part of you. The 13th article is more about honoring the spirit or energy of the Goddess and God. This can be better achieved after one has attuned themselves by following the other articles. So though at first the 13 Preambles may seem egotistical in a way they are not once you explore them more fully. These 13 Preambles are nothing new, in fact many religions and cultures have them, though they are less stressed in other religions unless you plan on becoming a Priest or Pastor. They are known to us all on some level or another, and we may even follow these preambles without being a Wiccan. That is ok too; these are 13 good things to live by and can benefit anyone regardless of religious background or inspiration.
1: Know yourself
Self knowledge and awareness is something that we all strive to have. How are we going to work with the delicate energies that surround us if we first do not know what is self? This is a difficult one to achieve as there are still so many things out in our world that do not allow us to fully express ourselves as individuals that are aware and filled with love of the self. Once you come to a full understanding of who you are then it becomes easier to accept others for who they are as well. This acceptance becomes one of the first paths to peace. This is not only knowing the self, but accepting the self as well both must be achieved.
2: Know your Craft
How many people do you know that are fully aware of their religion? I’m not just talking about what their places of worship teach them, or what their holy book says. I am talking a full understanding from the conception of the religion to the modern day interpretations of it. Chances are that you do not know many. People tend to follow the teachings that they hear but do not look further into their religion as a whole, unless of course they have a degree in Theology that is. This article talks about having the full knowledge of what your religion is about. Wicca, like most religions is much deeper than the surface information that we are all aware of. It has tradition, it has its guiding forces and it has its incarnation. I know a lot of people that claim to be Wiccan or Pagan and yet have never read or studied the origins of the religion. How are you going to gain a deeper understanding and spiritual awareness if you do not know where you came from to start with? Know your Craft is just that, it is attaining the wisdom and knowledge of your religion.
3: Learn
What does the word learn mean? The dictionary defines Learn as “To gain knowledge, comprehension, or mastery of through experience or study” Learning is something that we do everyday. Each moment that we are alive we are learning and experiencing things. It is the knowledge that we get from experience and study that allows us to make choices in life as well as live our lives to the best and fullest that we are capable of. Think about what the world would be like if no one ever learned anything? Chances are you wouldn’t be reading this article right now because you didn’t learn to read! When we talk about learning here we are not only talking about the lessons that we have each day, we are also talking about the knowledge of the craft and learning our lessons on a spiritual and karmic level as well. To learn is to know, and to know is to grow.
4: Apply Knowledge
Once you have the knowledge from the learning you need to put it into practical application. Wisdom cannot be spread if people were to hide all of the knowledge that they have attained. This isn’t to say that you need to be pushy, but freely share what you know so that you can learn from someone else what they know. This also talks about the application of knowledge of the Rede as well as the Preambles in your life. Apply them fully and you can experience a life you had never thought was possible to explore.
5: Achieve Balance
Balance is important in any metaphysical way of thought just as it is in any religion or philosophy. You strive to achieve a balance of body, mind, and spirit through various forms and knowledge. Many of us have moments when we feel like this balance has been achieved, and yet it fades after a while. Remember that we are all human, and therefore a prone to making mistakes and it is ok to do so. There are of course some individuals out there Sai Baba for instance that has fully attained this type of balance, but for most of us it will come and go. The main lesson is to allow it to come and when it leaves learn and apply what you have learned to attain it once again.
6: Keep your Thought is Good Order
This article is twofold in nature. First it talks about the power of positive thought. Not allowing negative thought patterns to enter your mind is a large part of keeping thoughts in good order. The more that you focus on positive things the more that you will attract those things, as we know from learning about the power of intention. Second, it talks about thinking before you speak. So many people blurt out what they want to say regardless of if it is going to damage someone else in thought or emotion. Think hard about what you are going to say before it is said. Make a conscious effort to plan your words carefully so that what you say can aid in allowing for the greatest good for the persons that you are speaking to.
7: Keep your Words in Good Order
This follows suit to article 6 above. After you have thought about what you are going to say carefully speak those words. Speak in a manner that is soothing and peaceful and try to avoid emotions like anger, hate and frustration in your speech. We can get so caught up in an emotional swirl that we sometimes forget to not express that in our speech. We can certainly tell the person how we are feeling and that sort of discussion is great, that way no one leaves feeling unwanted or insecure with themselves.
8: Celebrate Life
Live each and every day to the fullest that you can experience it. See each day as a new lesson to be learned and do not hold grudges or allow things to bring you down. Sometimes focusing on the day to day living can be the most rewarding, then we are not feeling any anxiety about what the future may hold for us and instead can truly experience life.
9: Attune with the Cycles of the Earth
For Wiccans this one is done quite often. Every Sabbat that we celebrate aids us in attuning to the cycles of the Earth, but there is more to it than just that. Attuning with the Earth also means to love and care for the planet on which you live. Strive to aid the Earth in life. Living Green, planting trees, aiding nature and its inhabitants all help you to attune yourself with the Earth. If we learn to attune ourselves sand aid in taking care of our planet than Mother Gaia will see to it that we are taken care of as well.
10: Breathe and Eat Correctly
Remember that old adage “The Body is a Temple”? As we talked about before with article 13 the Goddess and God inhabit us all, just as they do all creatures. Taking care of the body by incorporating healthy living plays a part in honoring the Goddess and God. This does not mean in any way that you have to live on nuts, twigs and berries! It only means that you are being cautious of what you put into your body. Be aware of what you ingest and how it is going to affect your body and its systems.
11: Exercise the Body
This falls into the article above in a stronger fashion. Not only taking care of the body through eating correctly but also through exercise. It is the strength of the body that aids in the strength of the spirit and mind. Doing these can aid as well in achieving the balance from article 5.
12: Meditate
We are all aware of the importance of meditation. It helps us to know what is self and what is not self as well as to connect us with our Higher Self and Guides. Meditation is exercise for the mind and spirit. Meditating in addition to the two articles above become the base foundations for achieving the balance in life. Finding the time to relax the mind can aid us in so many ways and becomes an important aspect to living.
These are the 13 Preambles of Wicca. They are guidelines to follow in order to experience life to the fullest and attune oneself with the spiritual world as well as the physical. Work slowly when following the Preambles, don’t rush them or jump ahead, or you will only cheat yourself in the long run. Take each for what it is and learn the lessons that they have to teach you fully.
Rev. Thomas Moore is High Priest of The Coven of L.I.G.H.T in South West Florida, as well as a professional Psychic and Healer. He teaches a variety of classes in the metaphysical field as well as Wicca and is the Store Manager for Starchild Books in Port Charlotte Florida.
www.starchildbooks.com
http://inperfectloveinperfecttrust.webs.com
Article Source: NewAgeArticles.com
In addition to the “Wiccan Rede” there are also 13 articles that are followed. These preambles as they are called aid in attuning the self and becoming one with the earth and the spiritual world through study, self exploration and action. Each has lessons that are learned and not all are easy to complete. It is the drive to complete them and the knowledge that is rewarded as well as the spiritual alignment that makes them worth while. What follows is the list of the 13 Preambles, as well as a deeper understanding of each.
1: Know Yourself
2: Know your Craft
3: Learn
4: Apply Knowledge
5: Achieve Balance
6: Keep your thoughts in good order
7: Keep your words in good order
8: Celebrate life
9: Attune with the cycles of the Earth
10: Breathe and eat correctly
11: Exercise the body
12: Meditate
13: Honor the Goddess and God
As you can see from the preambles the worship of deities falls last on the list. I would like to approach that first before we go in depth into each article.
13: Honor the Goddess and God
The Goddess and God are within us as they are also within all living things on this Earth. In this case by following the first 12 articles you are already honoring the Goddess and God because they are a part of you. The 13th article is more about honoring the spirit or energy of the Goddess and God. This can be better achieved after one has attuned themselves by following the other articles. So though at first the 13 Preambles may seem egotistical in a way they are not once you explore them more fully. These 13 Preambles are nothing new, in fact many religions and cultures have them, though they are less stressed in other religions unless you plan on becoming a Priest or Pastor. They are known to us all on some level or another, and we may even follow these preambles without being a Wiccan. That is ok too; these are 13 good things to live by and can benefit anyone regardless of religious background or inspiration.
1: Know yourself
Self knowledge and awareness is something that we all strive to have. How are we going to work with the delicate energies that surround us if we first do not know what is self? This is a difficult one to achieve as there are still so many things out in our world that do not allow us to fully express ourselves as individuals that are aware and filled with love of the self. Once you come to a full understanding of who you are then it becomes easier to accept others for who they are as well. This acceptance becomes one of the first paths to peace. This is not only knowing the self, but accepting the self as well both must be achieved.
2: Know your Craft
How many people do you know that are fully aware of their religion? I’m not just talking about what their places of worship teach them, or what their holy book says. I am talking a full understanding from the conception of the religion to the modern day interpretations of it. Chances are that you do not know many. People tend to follow the teachings that they hear but do not look further into their religion as a whole, unless of course they have a degree in Theology that is. This article talks about having the full knowledge of what your religion is about. Wicca, like most religions is much deeper than the surface information that we are all aware of. It has tradition, it has its guiding forces and it has its incarnation. I know a lot of people that claim to be Wiccan or Pagan and yet have never read or studied the origins of the religion. How are you going to gain a deeper understanding and spiritual awareness if you do not know where you came from to start with? Know your Craft is just that, it is attaining the wisdom and knowledge of your religion.
3: Learn
What does the word learn mean? The dictionary defines Learn as “To gain knowledge, comprehension, or mastery of through experience or study” Learning is something that we do everyday. Each moment that we are alive we are learning and experiencing things. It is the knowledge that we get from experience and study that allows us to make choices in life as well as live our lives to the best and fullest that we are capable of. Think about what the world would be like if no one ever learned anything? Chances are you wouldn’t be reading this article right now because you didn’t learn to read! When we talk about learning here we are not only talking about the lessons that we have each day, we are also talking about the knowledge of the craft and learning our lessons on a spiritual and karmic level as well. To learn is to know, and to know is to grow.
4: Apply Knowledge
Once you have the knowledge from the learning you need to put it into practical application. Wisdom cannot be spread if people were to hide all of the knowledge that they have attained. This isn’t to say that you need to be pushy, but freely share what you know so that you can learn from someone else what they know. This also talks about the application of knowledge of the Rede as well as the Preambles in your life. Apply them fully and you can experience a life you had never thought was possible to explore.
5: Achieve Balance
Balance is important in any metaphysical way of thought just as it is in any religion or philosophy. You strive to achieve a balance of body, mind, and spirit through various forms and knowledge. Many of us have moments when we feel like this balance has been achieved, and yet it fades after a while. Remember that we are all human, and therefore a prone to making mistakes and it is ok to do so. There are of course some individuals out there Sai Baba for instance that has fully attained this type of balance, but for most of us it will come and go. The main lesson is to allow it to come and when it leaves learn and apply what you have learned to attain it once again.
6: Keep your Thought is Good Order
This article is twofold in nature. First it talks about the power of positive thought. Not allowing negative thought patterns to enter your mind is a large part of keeping thoughts in good order. The more that you focus on positive things the more that you will attract those things, as we know from learning about the power of intention. Second, it talks about thinking before you speak. So many people blurt out what they want to say regardless of if it is going to damage someone else in thought or emotion. Think hard about what you are going to say before it is said. Make a conscious effort to plan your words carefully so that what you say can aid in allowing for the greatest good for the persons that you are speaking to.
7: Keep your Words in Good Order
This follows suit to article 6 above. After you have thought about what you are going to say carefully speak those words. Speak in a manner that is soothing and peaceful and try to avoid emotions like anger, hate and frustration in your speech. We can get so caught up in an emotional swirl that we sometimes forget to not express that in our speech. We can certainly tell the person how we are feeling and that sort of discussion is great, that way no one leaves feeling unwanted or insecure with themselves.
8: Celebrate Life
Live each and every day to the fullest that you can experience it. See each day as a new lesson to be learned and do not hold grudges or allow things to bring you down. Sometimes focusing on the day to day living can be the most rewarding, then we are not feeling any anxiety about what the future may hold for us and instead can truly experience life.
9: Attune with the Cycles of the Earth
For Wiccans this one is done quite often. Every Sabbat that we celebrate aids us in attuning to the cycles of the Earth, but there is more to it than just that. Attuning with the Earth also means to love and care for the planet on which you live. Strive to aid the Earth in life. Living Green, planting trees, aiding nature and its inhabitants all help you to attune yourself with the Earth. If we learn to attune ourselves sand aid in taking care of our planet than Mother Gaia will see to it that we are taken care of as well.
10: Breathe and Eat Correctly
Remember that old adage “The Body is a Temple”? As we talked about before with article 13 the Goddess and God inhabit us all, just as they do all creatures. Taking care of the body by incorporating healthy living plays a part in honoring the Goddess and God. This does not mean in any way that you have to live on nuts, twigs and berries! It only means that you are being cautious of what you put into your body. Be aware of what you ingest and how it is going to affect your body and its systems.
11: Exercise the Body
This falls into the article above in a stronger fashion. Not only taking care of the body through eating correctly but also through exercise. It is the strength of the body that aids in the strength of the spirit and mind. Doing these can aid as well in achieving the balance from article 5.
12: Meditate
We are all aware of the importance of meditation. It helps us to know what is self and what is not self as well as to connect us with our Higher Self and Guides. Meditation is exercise for the mind and spirit. Meditating in addition to the two articles above become the base foundations for achieving the balance in life. Finding the time to relax the mind can aid us in so many ways and becomes an important aspect to living.
These are the 13 Preambles of Wicca. They are guidelines to follow in order to experience life to the fullest and attune oneself with the spiritual world as well as the physical. Work slowly when following the Preambles, don’t rush them or jump ahead, or you will only cheat yourself in the long run. Take each for what it is and learn the lessons that they have to teach you fully.
Rev. Thomas Moore is High Priest of The Coven of L.I.G.H.T in South West Florida, as well as a professional Psychic and Healer. He teaches a variety of classes in the metaphysical field as well as Wicca and is the Store Manager for Starchild Books in Port Charlotte Florida.
www.starchildbooks.com
http://inperfectloveinperfecttrust.webs.com
Article Source: NewAgeArticles.com
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Share Your Altar Day
Today Kicks our first Event!
Share Your Altar Day!
Concept of Share Your Altar Day
This allows you to share your sacred altar your joy of honoring the divine.
This allows those new to the craft to see the creative ways to decorate there altars.
Over the next several Blog posts we will go over Altars and what is basically on them.
You do not have to participate if it interferes with your beliefs in sharing your space.
Altars are sacred and will be treated as such, by no means is this a way of dishonoring them, rather a celebration of them and our fellow brothers and sisters that create them, In essence a celebration of You!
All Day event! (if you have a time crunch all week too!)
How to participate:
Post up images of your altar.
Where: On our Face Book fan page, On Our Social site, In your blogs, Photo bucket, Flicker, You Tube, (you get Reply to this post with your link to your altar pics!
Who Can participate?
Anyone and every faith, all are welcome!
Have fun, Be creative, Use the seasons.
In a few days look to our You Tube for our new Video on Sacred Spaces and Altar Tools!
Blessed Be
~Willow~
Monday, June 28, 2010
The Passing of Morningstar
Beloved Friends and Family of Morningstar,
We are in shock and mourning today by the news of the loss of our deeply beloved sister Lindy "Morningstar" Morris who, after a tragic accident yesterday in New Jersey, crossed into the Spirit World to open her wings and fly homeward. ... See moreMorningstar is loved the world over and we send our love, prayers and support to her beloved children, sister, parents and family in Australia. Her love had no bounds and she got deeply into the hearts of all us here in America. She will never, ever be forgotten.
Here we honor our beautiful Aussie sister Lindy Morningstar, (Previously Lindy Little Wing) who had the vision to be the first Australia Tour Host of the Grandmother Drum International Peace Project in 2002 and who came to America to volunteer and tour with The Grandmother Drum Project in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Belize and Guatemala throughout 2005-2007. She continued in 2008-2010 to tour her own medicine work, "Wings Across the World" with many of the Drum Project's USA host sites. Lindy lived with us all, loved with us, cried with us, prayed with us, sang with us, danced with us and laughed with us all. She is indeed a pure soul, who loved all, cared for all living beings, had a childlike innocence, was tender at heart and lived full of joy. Her love for our animals brothers and sisters was extraordinary and her generosity of spirit unmatched. She was loved by so many hearts across the world and may she now continue her mission and fully take her " Wings Across the World." WE LOVE YOU MORNINGSTAR!
PHOTO ALBUM TRIBUTE
RECENT VIDEO of Morningstar Playing Flute:
Morningstar's website: http://www.animalspiritmedicine.webs.com/
Morningstar's last post on Facebook ( truly Morningstar!)
"Arrived in Philadelphia last Thursday - had a ball walking through the airport , wearing my long kangaroo tail vest and the new bull snake rattle, which did not fit completely into the backpack, but hung out about 6 inches - so funny standing in the security line with curious passengers, peering over my shoulder to ask - is that a snake in your bag?..."
Our blessings to all,
White Eagle Medicine Woman (Suraj Holzwarth)
Director, International Healer and DrumKeeper
The GrandMother Drum Intl. Peace Project
The Whirling Rainbow Foundation
Po Box 2822
Palmer, Alaska 99645
011-1-907-745-5636
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Dream Catcher
The Dream Catcher originated in the Ojibwa Nation and was adopted by the Native Americans of many different nations. Traditionally made on a willow frame with sinew strands, the finished item was hung over the bed and used as a charm to protect sleeping children from nightmares. The dream catcher wasn’t intended to last forever, but to dry out and collapse over time as the child it protected entered adulthood.
The Ojibwa believe that a dream catcher changes peoples’ dreams, allowing the good to be filtered through, and the bad to hang in the net and disappear in the light of day.
To make your own, you will need:
- A supple piece of wood or branch,
- about 1m in length
- 4 yards / 12 feet of wool (or suede)
- 3 yards / 9 feet of string (or sinew / imitation sinew)
- Beads
- Feathers
- Scissors
- Glue
- A Clothes Peg
- The colour scheme is a personal choice.
- Bend the branch around into shape and bind the ends together with a dab of glue and some string.
- Cut 8ft of the wool (or suede). Glue one end to the ring and clip in place with the clothes peg until the glue is dry.
- Wind the strand around the frame until you reach the starting point, leaving the entire outer ring wrapped neatly before gluing into place; again using the clothes peg to hold it until it dries. Be careful not to twist the thread as it goes round, it must lie flat.
- Tie one end of the string (sinew) to the ring and then make nine half hitch knots around the ring, spacing them around ½” to 1” apart. Make the last knot a little closer to the first – this will prevent a large gap forming. Make sure the thread is pulled snugly between the knots.
- Make the next row of the web by tying the hitches into the middle of the pre-woven row. Continue weaving in the same way until you have a small hole left in the centre. Once finished, tie a double knot in the cord, add a tiny drop of glue to the knot to give it extra security. When the glue is dry, cut off the remaining thread as close to the knot as possible.
- From your remaining wool (suede), cut a 12” piece and fold it in half. Tie a knot in the open end.
- At the top of the ring, attach the cord by slipping the loop end through the ring and then around the ring and over the knot. Pull the lacing tight to secure it in place.
- Cut three 8” pieces of wool (suede). Tie two of them approximately one third of the way up the ring on each side, use a double knot and a small dab of glue to keep them in place. Slip on the beads in whatever order you’ve chosen, then secure with another knot and spot of glue.
- Take the last piece and attach any remaining beads or decorative piece, like a concho to the top middle of the ring.
- Finally, push two feathers up inside the beads on each piece of lacing. Glue the feathers if they’re loose.
To make larger sizes:
Follow the same instructions as above, but the materials needed will vary.
12 inch rings needs approx. 7 yards / 21 feet of wool or suede lacing to bind it
9 inch ring – approx 6 yards / 18 feet
6 inch ring – approx 4 yards / 12 feet
Remember that you will need extra suede for the laces and hanger.
9 inch ring – approx 6 yards / 18 feet
6 inch ring – approx 4 yards / 12 feet
Remember that you will need extra suede for the laces and hanger.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Dr. Masura Emoto's prayer for the Gulf of Mexico
Dr. Masura Emoto is the scientist from Japan who has done all the research and publications about the characteristics of water. Among other things, his research revealed that water physically responds to emotions.
Many people have the predominantly angry emotion when we consider what is happening in the Gulf. And while justified in that emotion, we may be of greater assistance to our planet and its life forms if we sincerely, powerfully and humbly pray the prayer that Dr. Emoto, himself, has proposed.
I am passing this request to people I believe may be willing to participate in this prayer, to set an intention of love and healing that is so large, so overwhelming that we can perform a miracle in the Gulf of Mexico.
We are not powerless.
We are powerful.
Our united energy, Speaking this prayer daily...multiple times daily...can literally shift the balance of destruction that is happening. We don't know how...we just have to recognize that the power of love is greater than any other power active in the Universe today.
(The prayer)
“I send the energy of love and gratitude to the waters
and all living creatures in the Gulf of Mexico and its surroundings.
To the whales, dolphins, pelicans, fish, shellfish, plankton, corals, algae...humankind...
to ALL living creatures...
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I Love You.”
Please join me in often repeating this Healing Prayer by Dr. Emoto. Feel free to send it around the planet. Let's take charge...and do our own cleanup!
Thank you and
Blessed Wishes!!!
Melanie Harrawood-Messmer
Many people have the predominantly angry emotion when we consider what is happening in the Gulf. And while justified in that emotion, we may be of greater assistance to our planet and its life forms if we sincerely, powerfully and humbly pray the prayer that Dr. Emoto, himself, has proposed.
I am passing this request to people I believe may be willing to participate in this prayer, to set an intention of love and healing that is so large, so overwhelming that we can perform a miracle in the Gulf of Mexico.
We are not powerless.
We are powerful.
Our united energy, Speaking this prayer daily...multiple times daily...can literally shift the balance of destruction that is happening. We don't know how...we just have to recognize that the power of love is greater than any other power active in the Universe today.
(The prayer)
“I send the energy of love and gratitude to the waters
and all living creatures in the Gulf of Mexico and its surroundings.
To the whales, dolphins, pelicans, fish, shellfish, plankton, corals, algae...humankind...
to ALL living creatures...
I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I Love You.”
Please join me in often repeating this Healing Prayer by Dr. Emoto. Feel free to send it around the planet. Let's take charge...and do our own cleanup!
Thank you and
Blessed Wishes!!!
Melanie Harrawood-Messmer
Friday, June 25, 2010
Craft: Fire Starters
This was given to me at a Girl Scout meeting I thought I would share this to all of you.
Decorative Firestarters
Cupcake tin
Cupcake cups -DO NOT use the foil type
Wax, recycle old candles!
Pine cones
Wick - any size
Scent - Opt.
The usual candle making equipment
Step 1
Sort through your scrap box and collect wax in the desired color.
Place in melting pot and heat until melted.
Step 2
Place paper cupcake cups into the cupcake pan.
Step 3
Let wax cool to 140 degrees F. Pour to within 3/8 inch of the top.
Step 4
Lay a piece of wick through each cup. Allow to cool.
Step 5
Once the wax is firm to the touch, gently press a pine cone into each cup.
Step 6
Top off each cup with hot wax to bond the pine cone in place.
Step 7
Trim the wicks to about 1/2 inch long.
Decorative Firestarters
Cupcake tin
Cupcake cups -DO NOT use the foil type
Wax, recycle old candles!
Pine cones
Wick - any size
Scent - Opt.
The usual candle making equipment
Step 1
Sort through your scrap box and collect wax in the desired color.
Place in melting pot and heat until melted.
Step 2
Place paper cupcake cups into the cupcake pan.
Step 3
Let wax cool to 140 degrees F. Pour to within 3/8 inch of the top.
Step 4
Lay a piece of wick through each cup. Allow to cool.
Step 5
Once the wax is firm to the touch, gently press a pine cone into each cup.
Step 6
Top off each cup with hot wax to bond the pine cone in place.
Step 7
Trim the wicks to about 1/2 inch long.
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