* A Witch and Her Broom*

A Witch without her broom is like a police officer without handcuffs - their sense of power becomes diminished.

Witches have long been associated with flying - whether its on a broom, or on the backs of animals or birds such as ravens, crows, or owls.
There are known Goddesses or Deities if you prefer, that are associated with broomsticks. As part of my own magickal development, just last month I worked with Baba Yaga who flew through the skies in a mortar and pestle whilst using her broom for spell work by sweeping the path behind her. Interestingly, a Chinese Goddess called Sao Ch'ing Niang also known as Lady of the Broom is thought to be in charge of the good weather (I'm suspecting a lot of research in to this Goddess will now commence as we all want good weather instead of the floods, fires and smog we've been having the world over or late). Farmer's used to call upon her to ensure healthy crops.

 

 



My last sample of Broomstick Goddesses is an Aztec Goddess, Tiazolteotl. She is involved in sweeping away the wrongdoings when called upon. Although she inspires sin, she is also actively involved in sweeping it away. So you see, the world over, despite cultural differences; A Witch and Her Broom are symbols of power, change and abundance.

So how can we use the broom in our craft?

So glad you asked. Brooms are most known for sweeping away negativity and also guarding your home by being placed upright thus invoking protection. But did you know that you can anoint the handle of your broom using oil and perhaps sprinkling a few drops on the bristles to add some extra witchy substance to your magickal broom workings?

You can use; Rosemary and/or Lemon for protection, Rose and/or Geranuim for Love, Peppermint and/or Cinnamon for prosperity - the list is endless. Follow your witchy senses and all the natural witch within to guide you.

It is bad luck to loan your broom to anyone, even a friend

As well as oils, you can perhaps weave and tie on herbs for added power to. And why not try decorating your broom a little more elaborately if you feel guided to and placement of the broom permits it. You could try hanging empty egg shells for Ostara perhaps with the blessing you wish to invoke written on them, butterflies and faeries for Midsummer, Holly for Yule, etc. go wild and decorate your broom in a way that feels empowering to you.

This is my broom that I decorated with Ivy that was growing in my garden. Also, there is lots of coloured ribbons invoking certain aspects of magick that I desired and a handmade twigged pentacle at the top of the handle.


 

 If you like the idea of working with a broom to enhance your witchcraft practice and would like more information including; wood selection, the making and buying of a broom, broomstick meditation, spell, rituals and charms, along with so much more valuable and practical information, then I can't recommend "The Witch's Broom" by Deborah Blake highly enough.

Published by Llewellyn, in paperback and kindle, it really is a witch's companion on working more deeply in your witchy practice, to develop the level you currently work at. Head to AMAZON UK or LLEWELLYN to order yours. I absolutely LOVE mine :)

What Makes A Witch Authentic?

Hello my Witchlings,

I've been gone for far too long. You could say that I've been off zooming on my broom but the truth is, that broom has been standing in the corner gathering dust. Bad Witchy. No cookie for me. I truly hope to make more of an effort with this blog by posting at least once a week - although the book reviews will be little rather than often.

I realised I've been spending far too much of my precious witchy time reviewing books, and as enjoyable as it once was, we all know that we head to amazon to check out previous buyers opinions rather than trawling blogs. So I asked my friends what they would like me to do; book review or blog authentically with creations. It was a resounding BLOG AUTHENTICALLY WITH CREATION along with the sweetest "We miss YOU" message. It touched my heart very deeply. I have listened and here I am with a rather brilliant topic and question I think. (Please do let me know your opinions).

 

The other night I dreamt of having animals outside of my bedroom door, I'm still deciphering what this dream actually means based on the animals that were there, but I really believe that there is a deep and meaningful message to it. I have always believed in the power of my dreamtime, and have over the quarter of a century of my existence (goddess that makes me sound old - I'm only 25), had a great many of prophetic dreams that many have scoffed at. The thing is, I never asked for anyone's permission or validation of these dreams, I simply shared them with whom I thought were like minded folk. I know my self, I know my own inner mechanical workings, I have all the validation within. Which, going back to the subject I am discussing with you here means that when it comes to me and my dreamtime - I am authentically assured.

 

But what makes a witch authentic?

 

 

This is a question that I began my day with this morning when my darling little Mr Magick Man woke me up at 5:15am and we snuggled and purred (You do know I'm talking about my Cat here don't you? ;) ) and I grabbed a witchy book from the side and began reading. I began to wonder exactly what does make an authentic witch, and I knew from that moment it would make an excellent discussion here amongst us.

 

So what does make a witch authentic in her/him self, in her/his practice, and perhaps in her/his teachings? Is it the clothes they wear, the jewellery they display, the ritualistic photos that are splashed across social media, or is it even the branch of the craft that they practice? I don't think it is at all. Before, when I was just starting out on my path I thought it was so super important for me to have the elaborate altar in my home, because that would make me a witch, and I thought that if I had witchy items displayed in my bedroom and home and even garden that would make me a witch for sure. I was young, naive, and a beginner. Who hasn't got some "Oppsy" to share about their beginnings in the craft. 

 



Over time I have come to realise that it really doesn't matter how often you miss a lunar cycle ritual, or even that you forget to cast a spell on the full moon, and you don't always have a witchy altar on display, heck you may not even pick up a book on the craft for months. Your pentacle is in your jewellery box, the candles are low on stock, you may even have forgotten some of the theory you once learnt. But NONE of that matters. Not one tiny bit. Not to the Goddess, Not to the God, and it certainly shouldn't matter to You.

What does matter however is the intention and purity within your heart. Do you always try to be grateful? Do you smile at passers by? Do you try to help whenever you can, in whatever way you can? Do you feel fondness for Mother Nature; the trees, flowers, plants, grass? Do you feel the love for the animal kingdom and realise just how blessed you are to share your existence with all of them and the beauty of this world? Then I believe within my heart that all of that is what makes you an Authentic Witch. When you feel a calling to the craft path, and you honour that calling AS and WHEN you can with or without the extras, then you are being authentic in your craft practice, your life as a follower of the craft, and as a teacher of the craft as you go about your day to day living setting an example to those around you. All the other stuff is just glitter. And we can sparkle with or without the physical glitter.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about what you think makes an authentic witch, and how you remain authentic in your craft practice. If you have time, please stop by my lovely friend Lyn Thurman's blog where she's posted a blog of a sister theme to this one on how you can feel more witchy. It really is a most excellent read. Just click on the picture below and don't forget to mention who sent you :)

 

 

Until Next Time, May the Goddess Guard and Guide you Safely

 

Dawn

xXx

 

All written content on this blog belongs to © Dawn Brierley, Life Coach, Love Your Money Coach ©, Intuitive Angel Therapist, Tarot Lover & Hedgewitch.

PLEASE DO NOT COPY ANYTHING WITHOUT WRITTEN CONSENT FROM DAWN BRIERLEY

Pagan Portals : Hoodoo by Rachel Patterson

 

 

Pagan Portals Hoodoo 

by Rachel Patterson aka Tansy Firedragon

ISBN-68-3459876038524

Publication 30th August 2013

Published by Moon Books

£4.99 (available for pre-order from Amazon UK / Amazon US)

 

I was pleasantly surprised when the manuscript to this phenomenal soon-to-be-released book landed in my email account. Written by a Facebook friend of mine; Rachel Patterson who is also known by her craft name of Tansy Firedragon - a name perhaps many of you may know her as.

 

Hoodoo is a topic that I have never in my life read anything about, perhaps due to the media mis-conceptions of it all, which I feel is a great saddening cloak to be placed upon society. After reading this book that I feel would be a perfect introduction to hoodoo for beginners, novices, and even more experienced practitioners, I am now intrigued by the implantation of hoodoo into my own life and those of the people around me.

 

In the past I had had friends who were more knowledgeable about the subject of hoodoo but I chose to allow them to dip their toes or go for a swim in a topic that I personally was not ready for.

 

So as you can see, I had drawbacks and concerns about such a topic, and for that reason I can wholeheartedly declare to you that Hoodoo as explained in this marvellous book in the Pagan Portals series by Moon Books seems to be a very natural practice of incorporating spirituality and witchcraft into your life in a way that doesn't require you to advertise the fact that you practice it.

 

I leant so much from this book and I am sure that anyone can benefit from Rachel's words of wisdom even if it just to try a different blend of creating oils, incenses and such.

 

Here's a few things I learnt:

 

• how to cleanse your house spiritually and physically correctly
• just how magickal fluids can be ;)
• how to uncross and protect myself
• numerous oil blends, incense recipes and candle usage
• how to create my own candles
• the difference between a petition paper and name papers
• hoodoo deities
• and foot track magic to name only a few!

I was so impressed with this book and also excited by all the wonderful information one book contained that I simply had to catch up with the author herself and find out more about Hoodoo. Luckily for you, we created the whole interview just for you!

 

 

 

 

1.) How long have you been interested and involved in the practice of Hoodoo?

About five or six years ago I read a book on hoodoo that was recommended to me, as I read it I realised that it echoed a lot of the European folk magic that I already used within my witchcraft so it inspired me to research more and I have been working with it ever since.

2.) What is it about Hoodoo that appeals to you and you feel will appeal to readers?

The simplicity of it, when you take it down to the basics it is traditional folk magic. It uses natural ingredients and objects that are easily found and readily available and it uses a lot of symbolism – it just makes sense!

3.) What inspired you to write the book; "Pagan Portals : Hoodoo"

Having already written Pagan Portals: Kitchen Witchcraft I suggested Hoodoo as a subject that would fit in with the Pagan Portals theme of ‘introductions to pagan pathways’ thankfully Moon Books liked the idea! It is such a fascinating subject and works very well with witchcraft. I wanted to share how I use it within my own craft.

4.) What do you hope the book will achieve in it's readers eyes?

Hopefully it will take away some of the mis-representation that the media and Hollywood have given to the art of hoodoo and encourage people to investigate folk magic more and see how effective it is.

5.) Do you have any exciting plans for another book?

Happily I have another Pagan Portals book at the publishers already, this time on Moon Magic which is very exciting as it is such an important area within witchcraft and who knows after that? I have lots of ideas whizzing around!

6.) You do many things aside from writing fabulous and insightful books, can you tell us a little about them?

I am blessed to have such wonderful friends and supportive family that allow me to do what I do. I am High Priestess of the Kitchen Witch Coven, we meet regularly in a local forest to hold rituals, I am also part of the Leadership Team for the Kitchen Witch online School of Witchcraft, we also run workshops in Chi Coffee (a spiritual café locally where I am also involved in lots of other workshops and gatherings) and I am honoured to be able to give talks on witchcraft for various local groups.

7.) Lastly, how can people contact you to find out more about the work you do, work / learn with you, and really just get to know more about you?

I have a website www.rachelpatterson.co.uk

And a facebook page www.facebook.com/rachelpattersonbooks

And the school website & free forum is www.kitchenwitchhearth.com

School facebook page is www.facebook.com/kitchenwitchuk

I am always happy to help and answer any questions that I can for anybody on this path either via the websites or facebook pages.

 

 

Thank you so much Rachel for taking the time for the interview, I sincerely wish you many blessings for the publication of this book, and I am already eagerly awaiting your next upcoming book!

 

If this book sounds like something that would definitely add sparkle to your life, use the links at the start of the review to pre-order /purchase your copy, and don't forget to let us know what you think of it, Rachel and I would love to hear your reviews.

 

All written content on this blog is the work of © Dawn Brierley, Life Coach for Sassy Women & Celestial Life Coaching CEO. No written contents of this blog may be reproduced in any way (in part or in entirety) without the express written permission of the author, © Dawn Brierley