Hedge Rider

A few week ago with some friends, we happened to be discussing what our next topic would be. We decided on Hedge Witchery. Now there was some confusion as to what that is. Perhaps that is the wrong term. I think it would be more correct to say we all didn't have the whole story or picture. You see Hedge witchery is a very green approach to your magic. It is working directly with nature to bring about change. It is a very simple life style that in the old day would have been a life of the wise woman or sage man. That in it's self is not the whole story.

For you see Hedge Witchery is also a form of Shamanism of the Germanic pagans. Eric de Vries wrote a wonderful book on the subject called Hedge Rider. In this book you will learn everything you need to know about hedge riding. The concept is very straight forward. All the in between place like dawn and dusk, doorways, window and the like. Well there is yet another, there was a time when the village or town was bordered by hedges. This was to keep the wild out and the civilization in. this hedge is the in between place that you can gain access to other worlds. Hedge Riding or riding the hedge.

Hedge Rider will give you all the information for you to understand this accent path. From Defining Witchcraft to contemplating the Wyrd Sisters. An even a discussion on your Fetch. With everything in between to fully understand the ways of a Germanic Shaman.

So if you are a person that is interested in Hedge Witchery. Then I strongly suggest that you not only study the folk magick. But you should pick up a copy of Hedge Rider to learn the shaman side of this path. Then you will have the complete picture of what it all means.

Garden Charm

While I was reading my new crafty witchy books. Especially on prayer beads I had thought of creating one for gardeners. My thought was to create a set of beads that you can hang off your belt loop. To have with you as you garden and take care of your plant. The point of having them is to bring your energy more in tune with the plant's energies. So this would help with those that have black thumbs, for you to easier communicate and also see nature spirits with a bit of ease.

So what I did was do a little research on some stones or crystals that help with plant's. Moss Agate is one of the top leading stone to aid in the garden and with plants. Some other stones that work with plants based on there astrological correspondence are Amber, Amethyst, Obsidian, Aventurine, Pyrite, Citrine, Jade, Lapis lazuli, Moonstone, Turquoise and finally Clear Quartz.

All of the above crystals have energies relating to certain plants. So I decided to incorporate all of them in the charm. That way you have the largest connection with the variety of energies. The charm it's self needs to be blessed, consecrated and programmed. But when it all said and done I believe it will be a worth wild tool in your nature magick tool box.

Pagan Prayer Beads

It is very interest when you find the history of these beads to predate Christianity. But then in reality all things do. But in the modern day when one thinks of prayer beads you may think of Buddhist or Hindu Prayer Beads. Or perhaps more of the christian version the rosary. All of these beads consist of a preset number of beads. All in one color or sets of colors (rosaries). Pagan Prayer Beads with take you through the history and give you examples of what a pagan prayer bead can consist of.

Pagan Prayer Beads takes you through the designing, creating and finishing of your beads. There are discussions of the correct materials to use. All the different potential beads that you can create. Plus how to finish them to be wearable beads or to have them as a continues round of beads.

After all the technical information of creating your beads. There are chapters that they give you patterns to get you started on creating your own. Later in the chapters there are rituals, meditations and prayer given to get you started on using your beads. They even give a suggested ritual on concentrating of your beads.

Pagan Prayer Beads is a book for anyone who loves working with there hands. An wish to take there faith to a new level. With all the possibilities and uses for prayer beads you can have one around your neck as jewelry, one around your wrist, one in your purse or pocket. All for different reasons and purposes. So if you lit to work with beads I suggest you get you self a copy. It will give you much to ponder and create even if you don't work with beads this book will get you started.

Element's Prayer Beads

I was being creative again in the prayer bead area. Actually I wanted to create myself a set of beads linked to the elements. I did all five elements and my original thought was to make it just big enough to were as a bracelet. Well after I sting all the beads on it was a little bit bigger than I had originally planned. No worries though It can be used one of two ways. Either as a bracelet, you just need to wrap it three time around you wrist. Or you can use it as a necklace if you prefer.

I of course used beads, but mainly as the separators. The main “beads” are actually bells, lava beads, shells, seeds, and metal butterfly's. Each section is made up of the main “bead”and the spacer. The spacer I choice to use the color of that element. Yellow for air, red for fire, blue for water, a green for earth and purple for spirit. The only other thing I did was I started and ended the strand with wooden beads. Plus I added a white bead to be more like the moon which separates each section of bead.

I think it came out very well and despite it's length. I'm quite fine with wrapping it around my wrist. I also like the different elements that I used to symbolize each one. So let me know what you think and if you decide to make your own send me a pic.

Thirteen Moons Prayer beads

I created a second pair of prayer beads. This set is a gift and is the thirteen moons. For this set you need to pick out thirteen beads of four different styles for each faze of the moon. So you need one type for full, one for waning, one for new and finally one for waxing. Here there are spacers beads as well in the beginning, in between each bead and at the end.

Here you start at one end since I used a bar and ring closer. I started at the ring end, with this set you sting starting with the full moon and end with the waxing moon. You of course need thirteen sets of the beads. Just as with all the prayer beads in this book (Crafting a Magical Life) you can were it. So you can keep it with you at all times. Plus the added advantage with wearing your prayer beads is not only multipurpose. But for the general public, they wouldn't know that they were prayer beads. So if you are shy about your faith or in a place that may not be cool with it. You have apiece of your faith with you with no one the wiser.

If you decide to make your own set of beads. Let me know and send me a picture if you can I would love to see them.

Manifestation Prayer Beads

I just finished a very good book Crafting a Magical Life. From that I got many ideas, two of which I would like to share. I'll do this in two different post's to make the reading lighter or perhaps not as long is a better statement.

In this wonderful new book is a chapter on prayer beads. It got me thinking of some idea's on how to utilize them. The first is a set for myself and is a manifestation prayer bead set. I plan on using it in conjunction with my vision board. Using the board as the focal point while saying the prayers on the beads to bring forth the manifestation.

This set takes a total of 21 beads not including the spacers. The spacer also make up the beginning and ending of the set and there is also a drop that is attached to the one end. Spacers begin that set as well, the cool thing about these prayer beads is there are made to be worn. So you will always have them with you if you wish.

This set consists of a command, invitation, belief, readiness and attraction bead. You repeat this sequence two more times and end with a command bead. There are of curse spacer beads in the beginning and in between each bead.. With spacers of the same number at the other end.

The drop bead consists of spacers, affirmation, three declaration and one end bead or charm. There are just in the main piece spacers in between each bead. This drop is then attached to the ending side of your beads. What I did was use a bar and ring closer. So when you start your prayers you start at the bar end and finish at the ring end.

There are no set suggestion for what type of beads you need to use. What you have to do is see which bead resonates with that intention for what that bead represents. The final bead or charm should be something special that you admire or cherish very much. The picture below shows what my version of this set of beads look's like.

If you choose to make a set for yourself. Let me know and share a picture if you can. I would love to see it.  

Crafting a Magical Life

I just finished reading Carol Holaday's book Crafting a Magical Life. The book if full of ideas and craft projects to bring those certain energies into your life. The projects range from cloth bags, dream pillows to things I have never came across in these types of books before. Such as gem elixirs, feather wand, Crystals grids, crystal casting boards, secret journals and several more projects.

The first chapter of the book is called the Science of Magic. This chapter actually refers to positive thinking and how scientifically the energies and attitude we have can change out lives. That chapter alone is a good read to give you a better understanding of how it all can work.

The rest of the chapters are well written with history of the craft. Options on suggestions to make it you own. With well thought out directions and pictures on how to create the item. As I was reading several things popped out at me that I want to make. Plus there was as several other things I had thought would work with some other projects that I am working on. So there are many, many ideas to use in your magical life.

Also in the back of the book there are several index's and correspondences. She put a lot of thought into it. There are herbs and colors plus trees, crystals a couple of alphabets and some numerology. She Carol but thought into having all the information all in one place for easy access. In total there are thirteen correspondences in the back of the book.

So if you are looking for a magickal crafting book. Then may I recommend Crafting a Magical Life. With the twenty total projects I more than confident that there is more then one idea for you to use in your magical workings.