When I find something that is great I want to share!

I don't know how many of you saw the blog post a few days ago by September Witch about her free Tarot readings. Well I took her up on it and the reading blew me away! It was involved and accurate to a point that there was no way she could have known the things she came up with. She did not ask leading questions. I found her to be very intuitive and knowledgeable about the cards, not to mention very professional. And I feel I got a great deal of insight on a some issues in my life right now. I will be going back again in the future, even if I have to pay.

I have paid well over $60 at times for readings that have not even been that good. This one was free and very good. I also had one of my friends email her for a reading and she was shocked. I can't believe it was free... and good! I can't imagine she will be giving free readings for long so I am passing the word around to all of my friends but thought it was worthy of a blog post of my own here on Covenspace.

She says on her Tarot site that her reason for the free readings is because she is still practicing and wanting to gain experience so she wants as many people as possible to read for. If she is still practicing she is going to really be great one day! I am always skeptical when it comes to people wanting to give me something for FREE but this is the real deal.

I have her on my friends list so you can get to her blog from my site (just click on Septemberwitch) or you can just go to her site (where the link for free reading is) at Septemberwitch.Covenspace.com. I think the actual site where for her tarot readings is freewebs.com/tarotquests. So if you don't find it there go to her Covenspace blog. I'd love to hear if you guys had good readings too.

Blessed Be

I don't know how many of you subscribe to the About.com Pagan/Wiccan Newsletter. If you don't, I highly recommend it. Just Google "Patti Wigington - About.com Paganism / Wiccan Guide" and hit subscribe and follow the instructions. It is very informative and enjoyable to read.

Yesterday as I read the latest newsletter "British Shop Shuts Down After Protests" I was infuriated by the article. It is about a small Occult shop in England which is struggling to stay in business due to harsh protests and lack of business from the Pagan community. Reading this really made me think about myself as a Pagan Witch and about the people who were attacking the shop. I felt sadness, sad for the owners because when any shop closes it isn't just a building folding; it is someone's hopes and dreams dying. I felt sad for the people in the area who are losing a place they can go that represents them. I felt anger towards the people who were protesting and putting flyers in the books in the shop that spoke against what the store stood for - they were even throwing bibles at the store. How crude and ignorant, not to mention disrespectful to their own religion.

As my anger subsided and I began to think more clearly, I realized that the people attacking the store are a small part of the problem. I have befriended a few store owners and love these places of business. I also find the more Witchy the store the harder time they have staying open. Where are the patrons of these businesses? Are we all just sitting at home hiding in our electronic worlds, fellowshipping online and ordering supplies from the Internet (Paying shipping!)? Now don't get me wrong, I love Internet shopping and will continue to shop online. However, I am going to start supporting my local Occult shops more. I buy things; I buy herbs, candles, incense, books, etc. It is just as convenient to go to my local Witchy shop as it is to go to the nearest Whole Foods or health food store. If enough people each make a small difference it can mean a HUGE change for our world!

And no shop should have to deal with protests, but until people find the source of their fears and try to understand what they have no knowledge of, it is something that will continue to happen. Where are we when there is a protest like the one that happened at that little shop? I wonder what would happen if a lot of us showed up at an Occult store to shop every time a protest was going on? I feel it would make a big statement and a difference. I just think we could all work a bit harder to keep our stores alive and to offer to be there if ever a protest is happening or time of need arises. Can you imagine if the shop owners had a long list of volunteers they could call in those times of trouble and if people just started showing up every time that happened? Not with sharp words or to fight, just to be kind and shop and ignore those who are... um... uneducated and just plain mean. How alone does a shop owner feel when someone invades their space and attacks them verbally and throws things at their store?

When I picture this little store in England it makes me think of my favorite store in Austin, Texas called Ancient Mysteries. It is run by a woman named Midnight and every time I am in Austin I try to go in there and buy something. It is a store for Witches! She has everything, clothes, conical hats, cauldrons, everything a witch could want or need. The space is really small but there's lots of stuff in there. She also sells online so I am sure she has a good clientele there. However, the first time I was in her store Midnight mentioned that she was struggling. She did not say anything about protests but said sometimes people would come in, freak out and leave. But the reason she was having a hard time was because people were not coming in to buy. Her prices are great, the store is incredible. It is advertised because I found it online. Austin is a community that is full of all kinds of people and I have to think there are many Witches. Where are they to support this shop? I think we need our stores. I know for myself, I feel so good going into a store like Ancient Mysteries, knowing I belong there. It is a place of fellowship and friendship. But as much as I need to have a place like this to shop, I also need to buy things so that it will be there for me.

I am going to make a commitment to go to my local stores first. I live in Dallas and we have some great stores like Labyrinth and Silver Pyramid. I would be so sad to see them close. So, when I need something I am going to go there first or to the shop in Austin. Each one of us can make a real difference in our acceptance as a group in this world.

Blessed Be

Once in a while I feel I tap into something that is not of a positive nature. I have had some bizarre things happen to me throughout my life. These kinds of occurrences don't happen often but when they do it stirs questions. Why? Imagination? Did I do something that caused it? Am I being tested?

I had this dream last night. It was so strange and I knew I was dreaming. I was in this old house and heard a strange noise at the top of the staircase. I went upstairs and there were only two rooms at the top of the stairs. The rooms were connected by an inside door and there was a door to the hallway from each room. I kept hearing this growling and scratching noise. I couldn't see anything but I could feel something all around me. Everything was spinning and I was so off center. So much so that I could not think clearly - so chaotic.

My cat (the one in the picture on my site) came running up the stairs and started hissing and growling and flew at this thing I couldn't see. I was then better able to focus and wanted to wake up but couldn't. I started to run down the stairs and realized I had left my cat in the room to fight all by himself. I went back to save him and then I woke up. I turned on my bedside lamp and sat up and noticed my cat was in the middle of the bed just staring at me.

I calmed down - it was just a bad dream - right? I turned off the light and went back to sleep. The dream picked up again exactly where it left off. Now, continuing the same dream is something that has happened to me maybe 2 other times in my life and they were a similar kind of dream. I was back in the dream standing in the doorway to one of the rooms and I could hear my cat and this thing fighting. The sound was horrible. It was as if there was a chase (my cat chasing the thing) from one room to the other. I felt my cat was more in danger than I was. Items were flying around the rooms, sliding across the floor and hitting the walls and I could feel this thing as it would fly by me. Again I woke up - thankfully. And again I turned on the lights and sat up in bed. I got up and walked around and everything seemed fine. I calmed down and went back to bed.

Here is where it gets really strange. I am not sure if I was asleep or awake (think I was more in an in-between state because I had full consciousness but I think my eyes were closed). I saw this thing in the darkness. It was a dark face and it had red glowing eyes and I could make out the shape of the face and a slit of a mouth. It was in front of my face, staring at me and I was staring back at it. The eyes were glowing, not bright but vivid red and had an aura of red haze around them. It did not touch me but I felt the same thing that I felt in the dream - creepy. I remember thinking "That's it!" I had had enough and decided it wasn't just a dream. I sat up and turned on the lights (again) and thought about what to do. I put a protective circle around my room and I just stilled and quieted myself. Then I turned off the lights and slept great the rest of the night.

When I woke up this morning I was a little surprised that I hadn't stayed up all night with every light in the house on while constantly looking over my shoulder. I have had many thoughts about why this happened. The funny thing is that I wrote about fear in my blog post yesterday. How I am not so afraid of everything anymore. So I wonder if we are ever tested? Was my fear and ability to handle the situation being tested? I really, in the depths of my being, do not feel like I was going to be harmed. I just think (if there really was something there) that it just wanted to scare me and then watch my reaction.

I was happy that my cat came to my rescue though and now I am off to sew him a cape with an SK appliquéd on it - "Super Kitty".

I have only been involved in Witchcraft for a handful of years and waited a while before actually doing ritual and spellwork, I am still fairly new. There is so much to take in and this is such a process.

However, I have been thinking about how different my life is now since I have been on this beautiful path. In reviewing my journals and thinking about "the beginning" I realize just how different things are. I started my search into the craft the same as many others, with an interest in playing with the cool stuff and casting spells to make my life great (cringe). I browsed many forums and quickly came to feel that newbies were not looked on favorably so I kept to myself.

Not knowing really what to do I started collecting supplies and tools and visiting local Pagan shops and dug into books. One of the things I kept seeing and hearing in those early days was that Witchcraft will change you. I did not understand. Looking back I see how true that is. I wanted to share some of the areas of change for me.

One of the biggest areas - patience - In the beginning the amount of patience required annoyed me.  I liked instant and found that my interest in most things faded if I had to wait too long. It was different with the craft. I was annoyed at the process but I guess it must have been worth it because I learned to work through the frustration. There is so much to learn and sometimes it is slow because the more you learn the more unanswered questions pop up that beg to be answered. Then everything started coming together and it is such a good feeling.

And spells - even though it is possible to decide on a whim to cast a spell and run inside and throw it together - you get better results following the process. I learned that timing is important, the reason is important, how you perform it is important, and knowledge is important. And... sometimes no spell at all is important. It takes time and planning. It is a process that has to be worked. But now I enjoy the learning, the waiting, the planning. I have found myself slowing down and at the same time being more productive in all areas of my life. That is a huge bonus for me.

Another area of change - Nature - I have always loved nature and have had a respect for it but there is so much more there for me now. Knowing that everything (even humans) is made up tiny little dots of moving energy is so incredible. It is sometimes too big to wrap my brain around and other times it seems so simple. Small areas of change I have found in myself are recycling, driving less, caring for stray animals and helping to have them spayed and neutered and/or find homes for them, even taking better care of my own yard and plants. Nature has become more special to me.

Learning to be quiet - Wow! Now this was, and is, a tough one. I find it hard to be quiet inside. Always thinking and studying and trying to push forward. I think the hardest things for us are usually what we need the most. I have found that when I do meditate and can get to that place of being in the here and now, stilling my mind, it is amazing. Sometimes a handful of minutes can feel like an hour of rest.

Balance - This is also a struggle. I find myself getting lost in the daily grind and am always trying to just get caught up. But now I know the importance of balance in my life and keep making small adjustments to get there. Work, spiritual practice, family, exercise, fun, friends, etc. are all important for a rich life. I am calmer, happier and better able to handle the conflicts and sadness that life brings when I have balance. Who knew!

Knowing me - This one is huge! If there has ever been a time in my life where I have began to know myself it has been in the past 3 or 4 years. One of the largest areas of change has been in the area of Fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of going against Christianity and my friends and family, fear of change, fear of having my own voice - fear was a huge part of my life.  Over the past few years I have found that I am not afraid of much - cautious yes but fear does not have a hold on me anymore.

For the first time I have felt it was okay to question all religion - especially Christianity (since this has been my background). That was the hardest fear of all to overcome - the fear of burning in Hell for all eternity. There was so much I did not know about the religion I had walked in for so long and I did not even realize my lack of knowledge. I feel all should follow their hearts with the religious path they choose. But it is so important to know the background of that religion. It is also important to know about other religions. How can you know you have made the right choice for you if you have no knowledge of what is available? And, how can you stand up for what you believe in when confronted by someone of another faith if you have limited knowledge of your own religion?

I remember the planes crashing into the World Trade Centers and the entire week all the television stations replayed it, over and over, and aired interviews of people sharing their thoughts and opinions. One day that week while I was watching television a little girl who lived in the same city as me, and who was of the Muslim faith was being interviewed. She was dressed in her religious attire and her head was covered. I watched and was feeling anger toward her at first. Then as I listened my entire world changed. She talked about her faith and how she was so afraid to walk out the door. She was this sweet little girl that was born into this faith that she seemed to love. It was what she knew and believed - and she was afraid. She hadn't done a thing.

Everything I ever believed about religion, faith and my life died at that moment. It was as if I had been thrown down - I sunk very low into a darkness that was smothering and it lasted for quite a while. I realized I did not know what to believe about anything because I had never allowed myself to have a choice. I believed what I was taught. I was in a marriage that others thought was right for me. I was in a faith that I had been born into, and the only knowledge I had of other religions was what I had been told by my own religion. And frankly a lot of that was just plain wrong teaching. If I had been born into a family who was Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. then I would more than likely be of the faith of family of which I was born. How many of us really look outside of what we know and decide what is right for us? How many feel they really have that freedom?

Even though it was a couple of years before I began searching for something - that moment watching a little girl on the news was the beginning of change for me. I am thankful to that little girl. It was time to erase all the programming in my head and find what I wanted for my life - as a religious path, career, hobby, friends, life partner, etc. Right or wrong - I had to make my own choices.

I now feel like I have come home. At first I thought this was because of the craft, maybe I was a Witch in a past life and that is why things just feel right now. But now I realize it is because I am at home inside of me. I am feeling more comfortable with who I am.

Fluffy Bunnies - I have a respect for those that are newer than I am to the craft, the ones that ask stupid questions (As I still do - oh my!) and who just want to dress in cool witchy clothes (It is all about the clothes - right?) and cast spells. They will learn and they will change in their own time - slower or faster. As frustrating as that can be to those more experienced, we all have to start somewhere. I hope I can be a mentor to those new to the craft and can share what knowledge I have as I grow and learn. I hope that I always understand the importance of feeding the change in others and that I never attempt to bring myself to a higher place by trying to make someone else feel small and unworthy.

I still love the same things that caused me to step onto this path but as time goes by I understand more and the mystery deepens and it just gets better and better.

I would love to hear the stories of others who have felt the changes in their lives because of Witchcraft or any other area of life that has made a difference. Please comment and share your story.

Blessed Be

Hi all.

My name is Leana (or at least for online pursoses). The picture in my profile is of my cat. He found me about 4 years ago - his timing was perfect as I had begun studying about Witchcraft and trying to decide if this was right for me. I did not know what I was doing at all and had heard about familiars. One day I was outside looking at my plants and asked for a familar. I heard a voice in my head tell me to look for an orange cat. Not much time passed and there he was. He moved in and made himself at home. Coincidence? He seems to read my mind and is a wonderful friend. He is quite smart and he wears a a lovely black and white colar with moons and stars.

My interests include bicycling, gardening, art, tarot, reading. I found Covespace when I searched for "Witches Tarot" and liked what I saw.

Professionally I am in sales and an artist. I am rambling so will sign off for now.

Leana