Witchmountain - a blog for your aesthetic witchy needs

This blog is something else. Someone dedicated to the aesthetics and art inspired by witch culture has created a website... I'm in love...

See it here

Three books to slowly introduce yourself to the Craft

If I could do it all over again (and I wouldn't have done it any other way) I would have bought these particular books in this order to introduce myself to the craft:

Scott Cunningham
'WICCA: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner'
This is a fantastic starting point for anyone getting into witchcraft. His down-to-earth, simple language means that you're not left feeling overwhelmed by images and phrases that you've never heard of before which can turn some people off. He gives the reader practical ways to approach Wicca whilst providing subtle and intelligent arguments as to the place of Wicca within society.


Fiona Horne
'Witch'
I believe this was my first official Witch book when I was a teenager in the late 90s when witchcraft was 'in vogue' with Madonna singing 'Frozen' looking all spiritual and s**t... I loved that look!
This book runs over a great deal of what Scott Cunningham looks at, as Fiona often recommends his books and she also presents a relaxed approach to Wicca as to not make you run for the hills and hide like an explosion of information has just threatened to spill forth in 10 seconds! This book also includes interviews with other witches and their approach to the craft within Australia and provides some links for those wanting to reach out to covens.

.......once you have a FULL grasp of that, this book is HIGHLY recommended but you have to feel really confident. When I say 'confident' I would advise that you also research Gerald Gardener and wiccan publications before leaping into this (i.e: give it a minimum of 6 month's experience before leaping into this):

Silver Ravenwolf
'Solitary Witch: The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation'
This is an amazing book which Silver spent 2 years writing - as there were so many historical facts that she had to look up and bounce off people to make sure that they were correct. It's a visual feast of symbols and complex details down to which hour corresponds to which planet, et cetera, which is impossible if you're only just starting. It is otherwise an incredible book which you will spend years going through with extended detail on astral projection, divination...... I could go on!

White and black magick in Mexico

I'm not big on the Youtube videos that are available on witchcraft - they teach you very little in general. This piece is by National Geographic on the folk healers and dark conjurering 'Brujos' in Mexico which is a combination of Cathlocism and pagan ideals... very interesting indeed, and as you can imagine I am sad to see that black magick is a part of this. I'm certaily interested in the tools which the white witch is using at the beginning of the clip.

Imbolc, what to do what to do?

It comes in 8 days now - on Saturday the 1st of August is Imbolc, signifying the end of Winter. The southern hemisphere is soon going to start getting warmer... although I don't look forward to the scorching Melbourne days!

IMBOLC

Clean your room and your house, light !

Place a yellow altar cloth upon the altar and bless Brigid -

The Celtic goddess Brigid is the traditional patroness of healing (represented by twin serpents), poetry (the ancient Celtic tradition of see-poets and Bardic lore were the primal retainers of culture and learning), and smithcraft (her sisters carry the alchemical sword and blacksmithing tongs). All of these elements are all practical and inspired wisdom and creativity.

Consistent with Celtic lore, Brigid's women are honoured and highly respected. Brigid is not compromised by allegiance to one lover or husband, so is free to utilise her healing powers for the good of all.

from www.goddess.com.au

In one of her many aspects, Brighid is known as the bride. She is a symbol of fertility and good fortune, and is seen as yet one more step in the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

from www.paganwiccan.about.com

Place snowdrop flowers on the alter, or another variety of white flower to signify the return of Spring.
I MAY also make this (also from paganwiccan.about.com):

Braided bread is found in many forms, in many cultures. This one is a simple one, and is perfect for serving at your Imbolc feast. The braid symbolizes Brighid in her aspect as the bride, representative of her fertility and position as a hearth goddess. Serve this tasty braided bread with warm butter for dipping.

Prep Time: 1 hours

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 3 loaves frozen bread dough, thawed (this is in the frozen foods section at the grocery store)
• 1 egg
• Water
• Sesame seeds

Preparation:

Allow the bread loaves to defrost at room temperature. Before it begins to rise, cut each loaf in half with a large pizza cutter or a knife. Roll each half out until it's about 18" long, and about an inch thick. You'll end up with six of these long strips.

Take three of the strips, and braid them together, trying not to stretch them out too much. When you've reached the end of the braid, tuck the ends underneath themselves. Repeat the process with the other three strips, making a second braid.

Place the braids either on a baking stone, or on a pan that has been sprinkled with cornmeal.

Beat the egg in a small bowl, and add 2 Tbsp. water. Lightly brush the egg and water mixture over the braids, and then sprinkle with sesame seeds. Let them rise in a warm place for about an hour, or until doubled in size.

Bake at 375 (or 190 celsius) for 30 minutes, or until a light golden brown color. Remove from baking sheet, and allow to cool for 15 minutes or more before serving.

** Note: if you want to really jazz this up, use different types of bread, such as white and wheat. The end result is visually very appealing, with the different colors braided together.

I'm also going to be leaving my favourite green scarf on the doorstep for Brigid to bless:

In Celtic Pagan stories, Brighid's mantle carries with it blessings and powers of healing. Many people believe that if you place a piece of cloth out upon your hearth at Imbolc, Brighid will bless it in the night. Use the same cloth as your mantle each year, and it will gain strength and power each time Brighid passes by. The mantle can be used to comfort and heal a sick person, and to provide protection for women in labor. A newborn baby can be wrapped in the mantle to help them sleep through the night without fussing.

To make a Brighid's mantle of your own, find a piece of green cloth long enough to comfortably wrap around your shoulders. Leave it on your doorstep on the night of Imbolc, and Brighid will bless it for you. In the morning, wrap yourself in her healing energy.

from paganwiccan.about.com

I'm going to make an oil blend rather than gather these forms of incense... hard to say - OR I will be burning an oil combination of simply cinnamon, orange and rose...... it could get too complicated otherwise!:

• 2 parts cedar
• 2 parts frankincense
• 1 part pine resin
• 1 part cinnamon
• 1 part orange peel
• 1/2 part rose petals

HAPPY IMBOLC!

Wonderful blog - all kinds of occult material

This is a very very interesting blog! It does cover a whole range of occult pictures and subjects from witchcraft to satanism --- *sigh*: we have been put in the same bucket here - which disturbs me! Anyone who knows anything about witchcraft though will know that we have nothing to do with Satanism and I cring at the altars in this blog - as with some of the voodoo images.

Certainly interesting though.

There are also images from Hermetic & voodoo culture and artwork from people such as Aubrey Beardsley who apparently was introduced to 'the black arts.'

...and I never thought I'd say this, but: it's almost too weird for ME!

http://fuckyeahoccultism.tumblr.com/

Group show I'm in this August

1895 Calendrier Magique Lithographs

Many thanks to the lead from Suzanne Gerber's website

This is absolutely gorgeous and I'm inspired - if there were more days in the week perhaps - to decorate my Book of Shadows in such a fashion:


This has been sourced from this blog which has a range of interesting entries according to category

Click on the link below to view the entire calendar - I tried to post them on here but only half of the calendar would turn up!

1895 Calendrier Magique Lithographs

The Power of Now - by Eckhardt Tolle, a book for everyone

This book is for everyone, of any religious background or creed. I have been reading it recently and nothing has cleared my head as beautifully as this piece.

I feel as though I'm advertising a lot of things on here for sale, but this book is a psychologically-cleansing experience which helps you to cognitivally look at your daily thought patterns and get you to push out negative thinking which restricts you from thinking in the NOW.

I'm very skeptical about these kinds of books usually, but Eckhardt's main schtick is similar to the buddhist theory of 'mindfulness' which reduces stress greatly in your life.

My life has changed dramatically since reading this book and I am able to eleviate so much stress from my life and get on with the journey rather than feeling frustrated about the destination and whether I'm getting there any time soon.

I grabbed a beautiful hard cover copy from Dymocks for $30 - small enough to put in a decent-sized handbag and as sweet as a prayer book.

Click Here

Brian Keats Antipodean Astro Calendar + other publications

Hello!

A friend of mine has given me the link to this fascinating page and she recommended it for "I found the biodynamic antipodean calendars the BEST when it came to southern hemisphere moon, rain, sun, star and even bee cycles."

I've pasted the images below so that you can scour straight through, but incase you're going to buy anything, go straight to his website here incase by clicking on the below 'add to basket' link that something strange might happen!

	2009 Antipodean Astro Calendar by Brian Keats For Southern Hemisphere - AEST 32 A4 pages Full colour see sample pages Price reduced to $Aus 20.00 ........ from $25 Price in $US 15.00 approx.

2009 Northern Hemisphere Astro Calendar by Brian Keats 32 A4 pages Full colour Based on Pacific Time Printed in USA and distributed by www.northernstarcalendar.com order from northernstarcalendar.com

	2009 Moon Planting Guide by Stefan Mager & Brian Keats (simplified beginners version of Astro Calendar) . Price reduced to $Aus 10.00 Price in $US 7.00 approx. see more information

	Biodynamic Growing Guide by Brian Keats & Stefan Mager 1st edition with wheels Price in $Aus 15.00 Price in $US 10.00 approx. see information and sample pages
Biodynamic Growing Guide Japanese Edition 32 A4 pages Full colour +Soul Calendar insert Based on Pacific Time Distributed in Japan Order from Japan

	Betwixt Heaven & Earth by Brian Keats A compendium of essays pertaining to the Earth as part of a Living Cosmos. 168 page book which includes a supplement to Biodynamic Planting Calendars.Published in 1999. Price in $Aus 15.00 Price in $US 10.00 approx. see information and chapter headings

	Botanical Guide by Stefan Mager Price in $Aus 15.00 Price in $US 10.00 approx. see information and pages

Even more reasonable candles, straight from the source

Nimbin Candles (the source of the taper candles provided below)

If you go straight through their website you get them EVEN cheaper, so that the two hour taper 20 pack below is $5.50.

They do not, however, have any cat candles or human figures which the site below has at a very reasonable price (they have skull ones!!!). Nimbin just sells ordinary candles.

They also have gorgeous pyramid candles for up to 1000 hours of burning (surely that's a lifetime!).

They also have gorgeous copper candle holders.

http://www.nimbincandles.com.au