Hello. There hasn't been much going on day to day other than the casual stuff. I went to a violen concert last Sunday with the Symphony Orchestra & this Sunday I am taking a trip to Los Angeles. I am really excited!! Woohoo.

I have been trying to put aside time to practice with developing my own craft.
There is a certain style that I have, I like to burn incense for one. I like to use tarot cards and I find them to be very grounding. I just bought these Medicine Cards to use and I like them. I would like to get into something more involved, like join a coven or something.

But for now I am just trying things out.  I would like to have a new book of shadows, and I am starting to lean moreso towards Wicca and Witchcraft, but there is just not much that I really know how to do, I mean there's plenty of information on it but there's just not enough ritual for me to practice to go from a beginner to someone experienced in the craft.

Hopefully someday in the future I will know what I believe.

Here I am and I am home again! The night before yesterday, mom and I arrived home from our trip to Holdon Beach. The beach was really beautiful, this island on the coast of South Carolina. I found about 30 shells and one that had writing on it. "Love never Fails, Corinthians" was written on the shell. I have been talking to someone about trading materials for craft supplies, and we've been writing back and forth about what we have been practicing. I am really into Wicca a lot more now. I also like Celtic Recon, but I need to pick something to base off of, and I really want to join a coven.

My table has the shells spread out across it. I have been feeling a lot better since the relaxing vacation to the beach. Everything was so nice, we decided to leave a day ahead of time because of the hurricane warnings. Hannah was coming to North or South Carolina so we decided it would be better to go the night before.

I painted this beautiful painting, and then I just somehow had to paint over it. Now I am trying to paint what I had before, which was a beach house on the ocean. I can't believe I painted over it, but it's alright. It's raining right now, and I think the weather is getting worse. I am getting into making crafts for E-Witch and I want to sell some stuff, but I am not sure what the best crafts would be to make. I have given my aunt a tarot reading when I was at the beach. I think she really liked getting the reading.

I haven't been writing as much lately, or I have but it hasn't been as successful as times before.  I am still thinking about what school I want to go to. Or if I should move all the way to California, alone. I hope someone comes with me. I am sooo nervous and excited. I can barely breathe.

Ouija Boards
This is a general overview of Ouija Boards. It includes how to handcraft your own out of just about anything and precautions to take when attempting to contact a spirit. It also includes some of my views on how it all works.
View more »

Questions:::

I have always been taught you have one life, one chance, and that then you either go to heaven or hades in this afterlife. I'm looking for a religion that embraces life's spirituality and celebrate life more-so than death, and in miracles that are more based on...the spirit of nature, not faith alone in one God. When people recite "I believe in one God etc." to me it sounds like indoctrination of beliefs. My father explains to me that it was in part created in the restorative movement when other Churches broke away, so as to compare it to say a Southern Baptist who can sin and sin again and is baptized, we believe we are only baptized at birth and go to confession when we sin, to a male priest. I wish the church were different, the songs seem so melancholy are grandiose, here we are...altogether in this one room and then we're praying to the Christ and yet, do those who pray really believe it?

My father is one example of someone who really doesn't take it all to heart. His mom is from italy and grew up Roman Catholic, so its to him a tradition. He likes the community and takes nothing literally but metaphorically. I think he might be one of the few? Or do more Christians take it metaphorically. I know everyone takes the word differently, so why even have this man telling you how it works?

I'd rather not be so pious and just read the bible myself. I love the psalms, although albeit some stuff in the bible isn't worded the way you would perceive Christianity. Then again, paganism doesn't scare me...I think I mentioned that, the fear of paganism is that I am somehow destroying my faith in God. I fear, even my family says things like "Don't mess with the voodoo" or that was something my great grandmother said. I for sure don't "mess" with voodoo. I'm pretty careful with it right now.

I have this sort of thing ingrained in me as well as Christianity, and that's learning about the Burning Times, and all the things done for sake of good in the name of Christianity. Not to say that it hasn't been that way with other religions. Hinduism still had the Caste system, where a peasant was basically the "untouchables" and were dirty and no one could touch them....so I know all religions have their downfalls. In fact, I may have labeled this "Fear of a religion deemed satanic by Christianity..."

I have joined a Christian forum to further my questions. One member actually brought up this idea that the reason that the pagans were being persecuted was because they were mingling with Satan, and that we had to be purified and cleansed of their evil deeds. People actually believe that, I mean I am sure there are many who do....but what if person practicing Witchcraft said that same thing about a Christian, that the Pagans were there first, and they were practicing dark magick as self defense against the Christian oppression and leaders. They wouldn't be treated well and would be shunned much so by whoever they said Well, here is a list of reasons why I feel like I am leaving the Catholic Church: 1. I think that women should be able to be Priests or Priestesses 2. I believe in a female and male counterpart to the God/ess aspect as well 3. Christ may have been a prophet, and he was there not to spread dogma...I believe 4. I believe all religions hold truth, as well as prayer and positive thinking 5. I believe in reincarnation because I chose this path and believe everyone has an individual choice 6. I believe in ghosts, ancestor spirits, and that we can communicate with them 7. I believe in angels as well as this idea that religion manifests over time, as collective thoughts 8. I also beleive in the subtle vibrations of the universe, which goes deeper than anything else 9. I believe to connect to the subtle hints of the universe, we must awaken our natural instincts 10. My last thing is, no one is a sinner, no one is impure and should be entirely shunned, but helped. I don't support the death penalty, I don't support torture, nor war, and I am a pacifist Finally, We cannot say "For our military to continue doing acts of peace" that doesn't make sense to me If what they are doing is killing people and suppressing a third world nation. That's all of my politics that I'm bringing into this.

As you can see I hold many convictions, some are in fact out of anger at what I've seen happen over the years. This is not against the Church, but why I am tired of being a Catholic as I feel going to Church has not brought me closer to God, only recently, I felt when I was in Church his presence...but all the singing and ritual, the talking and directions, it all sort of distracted from the feeling of his presence.... Maybe a part of me has always been a Christian, I believe we carry down some traits of our ancestors through our genes as well as subtle connections. I have very rich French Ancestors: Ferdinand De Lesseps http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_de_Lesseps A man who presented the statue of liberty, but also on my dad's side is Irish/Italian. My grandfather, Irish ancestors, traveled the countryside spreading folk music. So, I have a lot of different parts in me...that call me in different directions.

I hope some of you find this useful.

Spells are best achieved for me, Elle, when the moon is visible. I first open up with a blessing, I honor the elements of the earth. I think of nature's spring unraveling before me like a great mossy carpet. Journey through the realms to the path that leads to more paths.  My personal elemental is East, Air, I am actually a Capricorn...and so most of what I do is earth based and very eclectic.  I cannot perform spells if I am in spiritual distress, coming to terms with the truth that all faiths share one common thread helps me perform the task. I love The Spiral Dance, as well as In the Shadow of the Shaman. These books help guide me.  

I have made some crystal elixirs and yet am still wary as to I do not know the nature of their metaphysical properties and workings. I almost got too high. It doesn't work by boiling on a stove, contrary to some sayings. My method is to leave the crystals and gemstones in a clear glass jar, with no indents with its lid facing down in direct sunlight for about seven hours. Then I take them to my bedroom, make an offering to the Goddess and give her my thanks. I sprinkle herbs into the crystal elixir, then I only take a small sip if I were to drink it. Other uses, dilute in alcohol, this I have never tried. You can keep them in dark blue or brown bottles.

The effects are profound, depending on the metaphysical properties of the stones and your faith in their properties, in other words your belief in them counts, as it triggers the stone's properties. My favorite is onyx, as I have found it brings me into levels of greater insight as well as greatly stimulates my energy mentally. The quartzes are the major ones I believe, though be careful not to use any toxic stones. The quartzes aren't toxic mostly, just plain old quartz. I have found they have magical properties that bring wishes to come true. I have a small yellow citrine, she has brought luck and gotten rid of nightmares for me.

I have not used her in my elixirs because I am afraid it might be abusing the power. Plus, that certain crystal doesn't seem to enjoy the water...she prefers sand and soil and to be placed among other stones especially rose quartz. I love rose quartz, it healed my depression. And they don't want to call this a science.

It is scary when you have superstition, that takes training and understanding...and CAUTION. of course. I should have been more cautious, this doesn't mean you can't be free with your spells.

The best spells IMO are the ones you hold deeply within your psyche, that you carry within and achieve throughout. Life, is just a journey with twists and turns, there is no reason not to believe in things that are impossible, for nothing is permanent. to  believe there is only one truth may be a narrow perspective. Because we all have one truth, and everyone is different.

Recently I meditated with my crystal which I use for divination. She showed me the auras of things around me, my goddess statue has a green aura. I have a somewhat yellow brown energy...moving to different colorful levels, you can stimulate the chakras with crystals to change your aura...using candles with crystals that correspond to their color and attribute helps.

I have found it's fun to dye crystal water, but ruined it. I have also found that it doesn't work on your window sill as well as high up in the mountains or in direct sunlight, I have not yet experimented with crystalline moon waters.

Let me know if this has helped anyone,

peace