Wednesday, July 11, 2018

The Symbolism of the Fearless Sigil


I sketched a sigil in my hotel room during my recent trip to New Orleans to sign books at the American Library Association conference. This vision of this was fueled by the positive energy that filled the whole weekend; the intention of this design is to fill our lives with magic and live fearlessly in the moment. Being true to yourself is the best psychic shield from negativity in the universe. I'm calling it "Fearless!" 

Fearless Sigil


I ended up creating some hexenspiegles using the design and also some beads that I picked up while shopping and exploring on my trip. People seemed to like the sigil and wanted to see it on other items too so Dan and I created a few items to put in our shop with the sigil on them. I'm really glad it's energy is speaking to others as well. I had a couple people ask me about the symbolism and the process, so I thought I would share it here.

I have several different ways of creating sigils depending on how I’ll use it and the circumstances, there are probably as many methods as there are witches in the world.  I seldom use the method of creating sigils from the letters of my intention, it just feels less organic to me.  Sometimes I construct them purposely and logically using magical symbolism. Other times I connect deeply with my emotions of the intention while visualizing the outcome and then closing my eyes I create a small bit of “automatic writing” pushing my feelings and intention through the pen then clean that squiggle up and turn that into a sigil. This one was kind of a result of both methods in a way but also included meditation and being open to Spirit. I didn't set out to design a sigil, it kind of presented itself from my subconscious.

Having faced some fears in my personal life head on using self-care, practicality, and meditation in the previous months and had gotten confirmation that I had overcome a big scary obstacle to my future on the summer solstice; just one day before my New Orleans trip.  This recent catharsis made the trip very joyful and brought me into a place of mindfulness and living in the moment while discovering a place I had never been and just exploring life to it’s fullest. The elements for this sigil came to me in flashes, I knew immediately what it meant and what it was for. I felt that all the magical work I had done over the last couple months to get me through a hard time and face my fears head on was manifesting in imagery appearing in my mind, I sketched it out on a scrap of paper in my hotel room. When I got home I cleaned up the imagery and created this sigil. The energy behind this design is to fill your life with your own core magic and to live mindfully in the present without fear. Being true to yourself creates a powerful psychic shield from negativity surrounding you, therefore it’s a sigil to provide protection and boost personal power. Finding balance and knowing that you’re spiritually protected can make you fearless in the face of obstacles before you. If fear is the mind killer, I’d rather be fearless!
Fearless Coffee Mug


Because of how this sigil was created, breaking down the symbolism of this sigil was more like dream interpretation (or daydream interpretation) as to what the elements of this sigil mean. The symbols came first, and then I looked at the symbolism and said, “Aha, yes, it makes sense to see this here.”

Corvid: The crow or raven in this sigil is a messenger of the dark aspect of the Goddess. Representing battle and the strengthening against strife and injustice, the corvid with wings outstretched support us in both literal and metaphorical battles while guiding us to success. An equal armed cross appears in the center of the corvid as a symbol of magical protection.

Eyes: The eyes on the corvid's wings are the eyes of the dark Goddess watching out for her own and showing us our own strength to face our fears and overcome them with wisdom.

Moon: The moon is a waning crescent moon to banish and clear away fear and previously programmed emotional constructs that are false and no longer serve us.  The moon is emotion and is linked to the element of water and the tides reminding us that we can build power through self-care.

Skull: For me the skull has always been a symbol to remind us of our mortality and the temporary nature of all things. Knowing that everything is temporary gives us power because it reminds us that everything that happens will pass and change is a sign of life.

Pentagram: A symbol of both magical energy and a psychic shield, the elements in balance with spirit above them all. This pentagram also is connected to the wings of the corvid combining the powers of both and has tridents coming from the other three points to oust incoming negative energy.

Circle: The circle envelops the eyes, and the corvid, reminding us our physical body and connection to Spirit combined is the way to personal power. It’s wings extend beyond the circle to symbolize unlimited possibilities.

Line Intersecting the Tail: The line stemming from the crescent moon below the corvids wings that marks where the body ends and the tail begins reminds us that the past is just that, the past. It gives us the power continue moving forward and rid ourselves of past trauma in order to release the fears associated with those experiences. We can then bring the lessons along but leave the destructive energy behind us.

 I hope you find this sigil as empowering as I have. Below I'll drop some examples of where this sigil is used in my shop for anyone interested.

Blessed Be!

Mickie

Fearless Sigil Hexenspiegel 
A hexenspiegel is a special kind of mirrored charm used in folk magic traditions, the term is German for "witch's mirror." Hexenspiegel charms were sometimes worn as jewelry or displayed as small household mirrors with the belief that the hexenspiegel would reflect away the evil eye, harmful magic, or other bad intentions from others. The common belief was that the malevolent energy once sent would still belong to the sender until you received it, according to folklore a witch's mirror prevents it from being received and therefore the bad juju remains with the sender. It's a pretty neat little charm. Read more about these magic mirrors in my book The Witch's Mirror, The Craft, Lore & Magick of the Looking Glass.

Fearless Tarot Tin

Fearless Oval Tile
Books about making your own sigil magic:




Friday, February 2, 2018

Lesson of the Hazelnut and Brigids Hazelnut Crusted Salmon Recipe

I've been a flamekeeper to honor the Irish Goddess Brigid for a few years now with a group called Bridgis Mantle. I keep an altar to her all year.  Flamekeepers light and tend a flame, usually a candle from sundown on their day until the sundown the following day. Flamekeeping groups usually have 19 members, and each takes a shift on different days the 20th day the flame is kept by the Goddess Brigid herself, as per tradition. There are many ways to honor her during flamekeeping. Writing, making or listening to music, artistic projects, caring for your animals, blessing your home, and healing work are among the many activities sacred to Brigid. Among her many attributes, Brigid is a Goddess of the hearth, and in a modern home, that's often the oven and stove, she is also a Goddess that feeds the hungry, so I love to make a special meal on my flamekeeping days.

Imbolc (circa February 2) is also Brigids feast day, it's another day when I light candles in her honor, blessing my home.  I also like to make a special meal on Imbolc so I decided to make hazelnut crusted salmon for dinner and a dessert of blackberry strudel topped with vanilla bean ice cream, all are foods associated with the Goddess Herself.

I lit my candles at sundown on my Brigid altar, Once I lit the candles on my altar,  next, I needed to get dinner going, I had been so busy throughout the day I hadn't cracked those hazelnuts yet, so I needed to get on it.

I found a recipe online to use as a guideline. (here is the original) Being a pretty creative kitchen witch and often changing things as I go, I knew I would do the same with this recipe and make it my own.  The one ingredient I knew would not be altered was hazelnuts, and I knew of a store in town where I could get them in the shell.

Just one problem...I couldn't find my nutcracker. Not anywhere! Dan and I tore apart the kitchen and the dining room but to no avail. Everything was put away from Yule and that was the last time we had nuts to crack, so I finally gave up on the nutcracker.  As far as the hazelnuts though, I would not be undone! I grabbed a couple bowls and a hammer and marched undaunted to the concrete front porch. I'm sure the joggers passing by thought I was nuts, no pun intended.

I went forward with my hammer (a tool of Brigid's forge incidentally) and one by one I not only cracked those nuts, but I did it with more speed than I probably could have with the nutcracker. As I worked I figured out the best way to do it, and after crushing a couple, I found the optimal way to do it removing the shell and freeing the meat within with the greatest of ease! The hazel is a Celtic tree that represents inspiration, wisdom, and creative energy, and it occurred to me as I worked that creativity is the problem solving ability that has helped mankind survive and prosper since the beginning of time! How to crack a nut, make a weapon for hunting from bone, flint, and wood, making fire, and every invention since from the printing press to the smart phone was worked out by a creative mind. We think of the term "creativity" in connection with the arts, painting, music, writing, but in fact, humans use the power of creativity in every aspect of life every time we look at a problem from a new perspective. So I listened to the lesson of the hazelnut as it taught me the best way to get my family fed in style, and thus the lesson of the Goddess Brigid as well as she whispered to me on my porch on Imbolc evening, did she plant the idea in my head? "Try turning it point side up, resting on the flat side. one blow with the hammer and it just might work." And it did, just about every time! More about the Celtic hazel tree wisdom here!
I balanced the flat top side of the hazelnut on the concrete and delivered one quick blow with the hammer. The shell popped right off pieces shooting to the sides and leaving the meat of the nut right where it sat and most were in one piece!
Pow! It worked again! Perfect!


I chopped the nuts up for my recipe.
Salmon on parchment lined baking sheet, covered with the mayo and Dijon mustard mix, sprinkled with salt and pepper. Now top with crushed hazelnuts!
Orange zest! Here's what my orange looked like when I was done, if yours does too, you did it right!
Hot from the oven!


I served it up with tiny potatoes, beans and carrots.
It was delish!

Want my version of the recipe? Here you go! I hope your family loves it as much as mine did and I hope it inspires some inspiration!

Hazelnut Crusted Salmon

Ingredients
2 lbs salmon fillets, boneless with skin on, I used Aldi brand 
1/2 cup olive oil mayonaise
2 tbsp dijon mustard
1 1/2 cups chopped hazelnuts
1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary (or dried rosemary ground)
1 tsp. fresh thyme (or dried)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp orange zest

Preheat oven to 400 degrees f. Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. mix the mayo and dijon together. Put the salmon on the baking sheet skin side down. Brush or spread the dijon/mayo mixture over all the fillets. Top with the chopped hazelnuts. Sprinkle the herbs over the tops of each piece of salmon then top with orange zest. Bake about 15 minutes.


Blessed Be!

Mickie

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Free Candle Labels and Spell for the Super Blue Rowan Moon Lunar Eclipse


If you love this art, you can view the print here an read about the inspiration behind it: Lunar Eclipse

Are you ready for the Super Blue Blood Moon tomorrow? It's kind of a big deal and a confluence of energies that magic users can take advantage of.  In order to decide what kind of magic to do during this special day, we need to examine each of these energies in play and what they mean. 

I have a free spell and printable candle labels click here!

Date: 1/31/2018 in the early morning hours. What time is it happening? I don't know where you live, but here's a link to find out where it's happening near you:  TimeandDate.com 

Here are the energies we're talking about: 
full moon
super moon
blue moon
lunar eclipse
rowan moon

Full Moon 
We all know that the moon goes through phases over the course of 28 days. The full moon is traditionally the time of power for magic users. The moon has great energies, love, intuition, spirituality, healing and is related to the Goddess or feminine aspects of Deity. The Moon pulls the tides and also our emotions with it's cycles. The full moon is a time when it's energy and magnetic pull is at it's pinnacle. The full moon is the best time in a month to manifest and bring about big changes.

Super Moon
This Full Moon is due to be about 16 percent brighter than average and will appear larger in the sky, because it's the closest it will be to the earth enhancing the moons energy.  The super moon will exert about 42 percent more tidal force than the moon when it's at it's furthest from us. But fear not, in reality the super moon should cause no natural disasters or anything, but some bonus moon magical energy and a great show, for sure!  If you look at the moon when it's close to the horizon or through a trees branches it's easiest to see the effect because it gives your eye a point of reference. Magically work magic during a super moon to enhance all the qualities of a regular full moon.
Blue Moon
Ok, it's called a blue moon...that does not mean it's color is blue though. A blue moon doesn't refer to the color of the moon, but instead can refer to the fact that we usually have only one full moon in a calendar month, but occasionally we get a second full moon in a month and that moon is sometimes  known as a Gregorain "blue moon."  The third full moon in a season with four full moons is referred to as an Astrological or Astronomical blue moon, for a further explanation of that, click here.  They don't happen often, which is where the term "once in a blue moon" comes from. A blue moon is a moon for wishes! It's a good time to work magic that's monumental taking advantage of the unlikely appearance of a blue moon.

Lunar Eclipse

A lunar eclipse happens when the shadow of the earth passes across the full moon. You can observe something very similar to the phases of the moon, unfolding over merely a period of hours, instead of the month as usual. I say similar, because it looks different somehow, the dark section isn't black, but an otherworldly color, sometimes gray sometimes a brownish-red, which is why it's sometimes called a blood moon. The shadow as it crosses the moon is different than usual, not a sharp edge, but a bit fuzzy. From a magical standpoint, a lunar eclipse can bring about change, it is a good time for letting go of the past and unveiling something new in your life before you. 
 
Rowan Moon
According to the Celtic Tree Calendar the Jan. 31 full moon is the Rowan moon which is the full moon falling between Jan 21-Feb.17. It was believed if a traveler carried a rowan wood staff, it would offer magical protection on their journey.   Rowan wood or berries are considered a powerful protective amulet.  Rowan is associated with the goddess Bridget, music, poetry, fire, good luck and protection, and the Rowan month falls within Bridget’s sacred day of February 2, known as Candlemas or Imbolc. So this is a great full moon to work on projects such as: protection, healing and strength. 

Wow! That's a lot going on, many magical elements to work with, so it seems like a good opportunity to work some big magic. 


If you don't have something already planned for this full moon,  I have a spell for you, it's my gift to you in hopes that we can all persevere and gain strength in ourselves to the benefit of humanity.

Spell for Strength and Healing in Hard Times

What are you facing? This is a time when the world is in turmoil and sometimes we feel that the winds of change and the forces of fear and hate around us are just too much to handle. We need healing for our spirits so that we can continue the good fight. We need to keep our shields strong against forces that we feel are out of our control. We need to boost up our compassion and send out compassionate energy to the rest of the world in order to bring about the changes needed when the dust settles. Ok, that aligns with all of the energies of the powers of the 1/31/18 Full, Super, Blue, Rowan Moon! What if many of us do this spell? if we're all connected perhaps this energy will ripple out bringing more balance, protection, and healing to the world. I hope so.

I created a sigil specifically for this celestial event and magical purpose and I've included some beautiful candle labels as well. You can print the sigil included in the free download (or draw it yourself by hand) and use any of the candle labels included on your altar. To use these labels for candles simply cut them out and apply them to a jar candles or jars or candle holders for smaller votive or tea light candles using a glue stick.  Never leave burning candles unattended. The candles are a nice way to hold space for the lunar energy happening right now, you can perform this spell either at your altar with the candles or outside under the moon.


If you can either perform this spell during the lunar eclipse itself or any time during the full moon if timing it to the eclipse is a problem due to work, school, or other activities. Here's when to catch it in your area:  TimeandDate.com 

Hold the sigil included with this spell. Gaze at the moon or your lunar candles while you visualize the moon removing all fear from energy field, banishing negativity as it pours off of you and into the ground where it will be neutralized.  Feel the power of the moon filling you with it's magic, beaming it's energy down to you as you soak it up. Feel it filling you with the power of protection freeing you from fear, awakening compassion, and empowering your spirit. Now look at the sigil in your hand for a moment and then hold it to your heart as you repeat the following:

"Fear and hate are not to be,
I eclipse destructive forces.
Magic flows from the rowan tree
Protecting me through challenging courses.
Once in a blue moon this wish for me
Heal my spirit with magical sources
Awake compassionate energy
This super full moon power reinforces!

Without looking at it, crumble the sigil, state, "So mote it be!" burn the sigil in a fireproof dish, cauldron, or fireplace so that it becomes part of Spirit.

I hope you enjoy this simple spell and that it empowers you to keep on going with dignity, grace, and wisdom!  If you used this spell, drop me a comment and let me know how you liked it.

Blessed Be!

Mickie

Total Lunar Eclipse times in US time zones

EST (Eastern Standard Time)

5.51am EST - Penumbral Eclipse begins
6.48am EST - Umbral Eclipse begins
7.51am EST - Totality begins
If you live in the East head outside at 6.45am to watch the start of the eclipse. 

CST (Central Standard Time)

4.51am CST - Penumbral Eclipse begins
5.48am CST - Umbral Eclipse begins
6.51am CST - Totality begins
The best viewing of the eclipse will be from 6.15am to 6.30am.

MST (Mountain Standard Time)

3.51am MST - Penumbral Eclipse begins
4.48am MST - Umbral Eclipse begins
5.51am MST - Totality begins
The peak of the blood moon will start at about 6.30am.