Broomsticks and Cauldrons

Summer Solstice

2010-06-20T05:57:00.000-07:00

Summer Solstice

Merry Meet All,

June 20-21 is a very important day for our planet and its relationship with the sun. June 20-21 is one of two solstices, days when the rays of the sun directly strike one of the two tropical latitude lines. June 21 marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere and simultaneously heralds the beginning of winter in the southern hemisphere. In 2010, the solstice occurs and summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere summer begins early on June 21, at 7:28 a.m. EDT (11:28 UTC1).
The earth spins around its axis, an imaginary line going right through the planet between the north and south poles. The axis is tilted somewhat off the plane of the earth's revolution around the sun. The tilt of the axis is 23.5 degrees; thanks to this tilt, we enjoy the four seasons. For several months of the year, one half of the earth receives more direct rays of the sun than the other half.

When the axis tilts towards the sun, as it does between June and September, it is summer in the northern hemisphere but winter in the southern hemisphere. Alternatively, when the axis points away from the sun from December to March, the southern hemisphere enjoys the direct rays of the sun during their summer months.

June 21 is called the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and simultaneously the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. Around December 21 the solstices are reversed and winter begins in the northern hemisphere.

On June 21, there are 24 hours of daylight north of the Arctic Circle (66.5° north of the equator) and 24 hours of darkness south of the Antarctic Circle (66.5° south of the equator). The sun's rays are directly overhead along the Tropic of Cancer (the latitude line at 23.5° north, passing through Mexico, Saharan Africa, and India) on June 21.

Without the tilt of the earth's axis, we would have no seasons. The sun's rays would be directly overhead of the equator all year long. Only a slight change would occur as the earth makes its slightly elliptical orbit around the sun. The earth is furthest from the sun about July 3; this point is known as the aphelion and the earth is 94,555,000 miles away from the sun. The perihelion takes place about January 4 when the earth is a mere 91,445,000 miles from the sun.

When summer occurs in a hemisphere, it is due to that hemisphere receiving more direct rays of the sun than the opposite hemisphere where it is winter. In winter, the sun's energy hits the earth at oblique angles and is thus less concentrated.

During spring and fall, the earth's axis is pointing sideways so both hemispheres have moderate weather and the rays of the sun are directly overhead the equator. Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° latitude south) there really are no seasons as the sun is never very low in the sky so it stays warm and humid ("tropical") year-round. Only those people in the upper latitudes north and south of the tropics experience seasons.

(borrowed from about.com, summer solstice_)

It's Litha!, and that means the sun is at its highest point in the sky. Midsummer is the time when we can celebrate the growing of crops, and take heart in knowing that the seeds we planted in the spring are now in full bloom. It's a time of celebrating the sun, and spending as much time as you can outdoors. Try to set up your Midsummer altar outside if at all possible. If you can't, that's okay -- but try to find a spot near a window where the sun will shine in and brighten your altar setup with its rays.

Colors of the Season

This sabbat is all about the sun celebration, so think of solar colors. Yellows, oranges, fiery reds and golds are all appropriate this time of year. Use candles in bright sunny colors, or cover your altar with cloths that represent the solar aspect of the season.

Solar Symbols

Litha is when the sun is at its highest point above us. In some traditions, the sun rolls across the sky like a great wheel - consider using pinwheels or some other disc to represent the sun. Circles and discs are the most basic sun symbol of all, and are seen as far back as the tombs of ancient Egypt. Use equal-armed crosses, such as the Brighid's Cross2, or even the swastika - remember, it was originally a good luck symbol to both the Hindus and Scandinavians before it became associated with the Nazis.

A Time of Light and Dark

The solstice is also a time seen as a battle between light and dark. Although the sun is strong now, in just six months the days will be short again. Much like the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King3, light and dark must battle for supremacy. At this sabbat, light wins. Decorate your altar with symbols of the triumph of light over darkness - and that includes using other opposites, such as fire and water, night and day, etc.

Other Symbols of Litha

Midsummer fruits and vegetables from your garden
Gods Eyes4 in sunny colors
Sunflowers, roses
Oak trees and acorns
Sandalwood, saffron, frankincense, laurel

(About.com).

Psychic Children with Learning Disabilities

2010-05-16T09:26:00.000-07:00

People who are psychically sensitive are often erroneously diagnosed with learning disabilities or other forms of illness. They are simply sensitive souls that have a natural psychic ability. Psychic ability is inherent in everyone. It is a natural talent that when developed properly, leads to a better self-awareness and enhanced sixth sense. It is as normal as our other five senses. Some people are not aware of their sixth sense, some are aware and don’t develop it to its full extent. Some develop it fully and flourish. They are all usually known as sensitives, psychics or mediums.

 A person can have a learning disability and psychic or mediumistic abilities simultaneously. We are all psychic or intuitive to a degree. There are a significant percentage of children with learning disabilities in America today. It may be harder to calculate how many of those children have psychic abilities.  

The term psychic is used to describe all the metaphysical abilities: intuitive, psychic and mediumistic. Intuition is defined as knowing something without outside knowledge. It is a subtle way of reaching into energy fields unconsciously to know information. Children are strongly tied to this ability as their talents are highly tuned.  

Psychic is the next level of development beyond intuition. It is an awareness of intuitive information and eagerness to work with it. They can access magnetic energy from human fields and energy fields, known as auras. Psychics connect by sensing energy fields and the life energies of the past lives of people.  

Mediums channel through spirit and a lighter frequency than the earth plane. Mediumship is an awareness of the vibrations of spirit beings and receiving messages from them. It is the communication of a deceased loved one through a conduit-the medium. The purpose of sending the messages from spirit to a loved one is to offer a comfort to the loved one. A medium connects to the crown chakra (or seventh energy level) at the top of the head; a connection is made to the higher plane of existence.  

Some young children who display their talents at a young age are taught to shun their gifts by society, schools, and parents. Unfortunately, in today’s society, it is still viewed negatively. It cannot be defined in the science world. There is a growing number of psychically gifted youth and adults emerging today. However, tradition or science still frowns on those blessed with an above average psychic gift. One person I know had a six-year battle with a doctor to get her daughter off the prescribed medications for treatment for a supposed mental illness. The girl had nothing wrong with her. She had simply inherited her mother’s psychic abilities. This is an indication of the way that psychic ability is viewed so negatively in the health or science world. It is a natural ability that can be developed much like a muscle can be strengthened.  

Often psychic ability is viewed as strange or that there is something mentally wrong with the person. To some doctors, it is viewed critically and regarded with suspicion. Sadly, this means that those gifted with psychic abilities are often given medications that are unnecessary and expensive. Parents send their children to the nurse’s room in schools to give them their daily dose of Ritalin. The children develop addictions to other worse drugs. The drugs are used as a type of ‘control’ over the child, which significantly diminishes their behavior or energy levels and psychic abilities. Six million children take Ritalin in schools today in America.  

There are classes that an individual can participate in. Workshops and psychic fairs offer an opportunity for people to meet other like-minded people. This bolsters one’s confidence in one’s own talents. The support system also leads to friendships, networks and opportunities to do psychic readings at fairs.  

Being a sensitive psychic soul requires practice and positive self-care. Epsom salts clear the aura and etheric body of any negativity. The etheric body is made up of Chi and forms a structure of meridians throughout the body. These meridians run through all the major organs, glands, nerves and energy centers. This system of etheric energy permeates the physical body, supporting and sustaining it. Plants and animals have an etheric body. The etheric body feeds the physical body with energy, which is vital to its survival.  

Rock salt candles release negative ions in the air, purifying the air. Candles, like tea lights, can soothe the mind and spirit. Herbal teas can also be relaxing. Essential oils can fragrance a room when burned in oil burners or added to a hot bath. These items are available at most health and wellness stores, farmers markets and psychic fairs and are relatively inexpensive. Meditation also aids in reaching higher awareness and improving one’s gifts.  

Lavender and chamomile are gentle herbs and oils that soothe when the world is overwhelming. Often, psychics feel bombarded by the manic media and world issues on our planet today. They require some quiet time to regroup and meditate, until they feel refreshed.  

Crystals can play a role in aiding a person’s psychic abilities. Clear quartz is a crystal of power and it is like a battery for spiritual communication, healing, protection and balancing. Rose quartz is a healing gentle crystal. Smoky quartz is grounding and protective. Hematite is protective, and aligns the spiritual world with the physical. Amethyst is purple quartz and is a healing and calming stone.  

There is a current phenomenon occurring in our world today. There is a new type of child, known as the Indigo child that is a good example of a child misdiagnosed with a learning disability. Not all children with learning disabilities are Indigo children and not all Indigo children have learning disabilities. The Indigo child is special and unique. It is highly common that Indigo children are gifted with above average psychic gifts. “An Indigo child is one who displays a new and unusual set of psychological attributes and shows a pattern of behavior generally undocumented before.” (Nicole Humphrey). Even autistic or young or older people classified as having Asperges are diagnosed with that instead of the doctor looking at the psychic gifts they possess. People believe these children have higher levels of spiritual consciousness and awareness.  

Characteristics of an Indigo child:  
Very intelligent 
Feel greatly misunderstood by their family 
Very creative and enjoy making things 
Always want to know WHY 
Hate repetitive work 
Are rebellious in school 
Experience depression 
Hate service-oriented jobs 
Prefer to be a leader or work alone 
Are empathic 
Can cry at the drop of a hat 
May have trouble with Rage 
Have trouble with systems 
Feel alienated 
Frustrated with American dream 
Have a burning desire to change the world 
Have psychic or spiritual experiences at young age 
Have strong intuition 
May have ADD  
Have psychic experiences, seeing angels, ghosts, OBE 
Awareness of other dimensions and parallel realities 
Are very sexually expressive 
Seek meaning in life 
73% have learning disabilities 

Indigo children have a sense of a ‘deserving to be here’ and are confused when others don’t share that. They have high self-esteem and confidence. Indigo children have issues with authority and get easily bored or frustrated by ritual-oriented boring mundane systems or tasks. They try to do the tasks but always want to know ‘why’. They get frustrated with rigid systems and are known as the rebellious ones. Sometimes, Indigo children are seen as ‘loners’, and have difficulty in relations with other children in schools. They relate better with their own kind.  

Indigo children can show new and better ways of doing things, if teachers and parents take the time and patience to listen. If they don’t listen to or ignore the child, the child will get frustrated. They are highly creative and intelligent.  

The signs that a child may be an Indigo child are as follows: The reading or study of a child’s aura should indicate an indigo color or shade. The aura is composed of many colors. Indigo is the color for a higher spiritual awareness. The aura is the energy field that emanates from a person or object. Everyone has an aura. An Indigo child’s aura would show indigo color in their aura.  

Kirlian photography is a type of photography that can scan the aura. It takes a picture of the energy field around the human body, but not the human body itself. Semyon Kirlian in Russia discovered it in 1939. The hand is placed on a machine that gently reads the reflexology points of the hand. From that, the computer supplies three graphs that reveal the levels of stress in a person’s body, the level of harmony of the chakras and a person’s emotional and spiritual wellbeing.  

This shows a need for compassion and patience in our world today. Let the children take the reins and show new and better ways of doing things. Fortunately, with the advances in medicine and a slow acceptance of psychic and mediumistic abilities, the future for these gifted children appears brighter. Helping children develop their psychic or mediumistic abilities combined with helping them with their learning disabilities in a nurturing and positive manner can bring out the best in a child. This will help them lead fuller, productive lives. This would erase the need for a drug or form of control.

Psychic Readings

2010-04-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

I am writing to inform you that I am offering psychic readings from my home. I live in Halifax so I apologize profusely if this is an inconvenience. I can be emailed as well. I offer readings with the following modalities: tarot cards, pendulums, crystals, seeing balls, and tealeaves. Relax and enjoy yourself in a pleasant environment and receive messages for your Highest Good. I look forward to meeting with you. I can be reached via email at goddess_heddy@yahoo.ca. Sorry I will not list my phone number here for privacy and security reasons.

Blessed Be

Heddy Johannesen
Intuitive Reader

Plant Vibrations

2010-03-14T12:11:00.000-07:00

IF you're anything like me, you love plants. I own 3 spider plants, two Jades, a Dracaena, a Goldfish plant, a Bay Leaf plant, a Kalanchoe, an Aloe Vera and a Swedish Ivy. I love to nurture plants. That may explain why I own so many and why they grow so well. A major part of this is due to the fact that I, and I can attest it's a fact, that I am 1 All green thumbs, and 2 that I can sense plants' vibrations.

Plant vibrations are real. I remember when I repotted my large beautiful jade plant and I misted the plant, watered it and stared in amazement. Lights, energy and vibrations bounced off the plant. A jade is a succulent, which means they can hold water and don't need constant watering but that time, I could hold my hands close to the plant and sense the energies. It was that strong. I have grown this large lovely money plant since it was a baby.

A wilting plant obviously needs water but there have been other things I have sensed from plants. Whether they were content in their location, wanted to be moved to another spot, wanted to be repotted, wanted to be moved to a new home, wanted to come home with me (that happened yesterday with the Kalanchoe) or needed more sunlight.

I gifted Willow with two African Violet plants. When she had settled them in their new spot, I felt the plants tell me they were quite happy in their new loving home. Tuning into a plant's energy or vibration is easy. Simply look at the plant -soften the gaze and be nice-plants can tell, and see if you pick up anything. When you casually walk by a plant, does anything pop into your head? Plants 'talk' to me all the time. Place your hand gently upon the plant. See if you mentally or psychically sense anything. Does a jolt run up your hand or do you get a tingling. Feel the soil, stroke the plant's base, feel the texture of the petals or leaves. That's the heart of the plant and the voice of the plant. It is all textile and sensual. I have a way that I stroke the woody base of my large jade plant and I talk to it all the time. I can't live without my plants.

For another example, I put my small jade plant in the bathroom. The poor thing drooped. I moved the plant back to the window it was originally at and the plant perked back up. That could be an easy one but it shows that they do try to communicate their needs with us. Take the time to listen. Every few months, I also treat my plants to a trim and some plant food, usually in spring and in winter. Pruning does not hurt a plant.

In turn, plants work with our vibrations. They are good company for us, require us to care for them-like pets, and clean the air for us. Plants work with our vibrations twenty-four hours round the clock. They simply require tender loving care. I read in an herbal book of mine that plants have been able to detect criminals when they were tested and attached to a galvanometer. Scientists have discovered that plants may have the same nervous systems we do. Plants are very sensitive. Plants-herbs and flowers, trees, what have you, have provided humans with an array of cures, teas and scents and pleasing designs in our homes since millennia.

So next time you see a plant or sense your plant begging to be watered, pay attention. It's trying to tell you something.

Blessed Be
Spiderwitch

Brighid

2010-01-24T08:41:00.000-08:00

In Irish legend, Brighid (or Brighit), whose name is derived from the Celtic brig or "exalted one", is the daughter of the Dagda, and therefore one of the Tuatha de Dannan. In some versions of her story, she is the wife of the Fomorian Bres, with whom she had a son, Ruadan. Her two sisters were also called Brighid, and were associated with healing and crafts. The three Brighids were typically treated as three aspects of a single deity, making her a classic Celtic triple goddess.

Patron and Protector:
Brighid was the patron of poets and bards, as well as healers and magicians. She was especially honored when it came to matters of prophecy and divination. She was honored with a sacred flame maintained by a group of priestesses, and her sanctuary at Kildare, Ireland, later became the home of the Christian variant of Brighid, St. Brigid of Kildare. Kildare is also the location of one of several sacred wells in the Celtic regions, many of which are connected to Brighid. Even today, it's not uncommon to see ribbons and other offerings tied to trees near a well as a petition to Brighid.

In Britain, Brighid's counterpart was Brigantia, a warlike figure of the Brigantes tribe near Yorkshire, England. She is similar in aspects to the Greek goddess Athena and the Roman Minerva. Later, as Christianity moved into the Celtic lands, St. Brigid was the daughter of a Pictish slave who was baptised by St. Patrick, and founded a community of nuns at Kildare.

In addition to her position as a goddess of magic, Brighid was known to watch over women in childbirth, and thus evolved into a goddess of hearth and home. Today, many Pagans and Wiccans honor her on February 2, which has become known as Imbolc or Candlemas1.

Like many Pagan holidays, Imbolc has a Celtic connection, although it wasn’t celebrated in non-Gaelic Celtic societies. The early Celts celebrated a purification festival by honoring Brighid. In some parts of the Scottish Highlands, Brighid was viewed as Cailleach Bheur, a woman with mystical powers who was older than the land itself. In modern Wicca and Paganism, Brighid is viewed as the maiden aspect of the maiden/mother/crone cycle.

Imbolc

2010-01-24T08:22:00.000-08:00

Merry Meet All,

Imbolc is approaching. Imbolc is a Fire festival. It is related to fire. It is the time when it is still freezing cold yet new life stirs within the soil. Hope turns to our warmed hearts that spring is not far away. Imbolc is the first of the three spring festivals.

It's Imbolc1, and that's the Sabbat where many Wiccans and Pagans choose to honor the Celtic goddess Brighid2, in her many aspects. However, other than having a giant statue of Brighid on your altar, there are a number of ways you can set up for the season. Depending on how much space you have, you can try some or even all of these ideas -- obviously, someone using a bookshelf as an altar will have less flexibility than someone using a table, but use what calls to you most.

Colors

Traditionally, the colors of red and white are associated with Brighid. The white is the color of the blanket of snow, and the red symbolizes the rising sun. In some traditions, the red is connected with the blood of life. Brighid is also tied to the color green, both for the green mantle3 she wears and for the life growing beneath the earth. Decorate your altar with a white cloth, and drape a swath of red across it. Add green candles in candleholders.

The Beginnings of New Life

Altar decor should reflect the theme of the Sabbat. Because Imbolc is a harbinger of spring, any plants that symbolize the new growth are appropriate. Add potted bulbs -- don't worry if they're blooming yet -- and spring flowers4 such as forsythia, crocus, daffodils, and snowdrops. If you don't have much luck planting bulbs, think about making a Brighid's crown5 as a centerpiece -- it combines flowers and candles together.

Celtic Designs

Brighid is, after all, a goddess of the Celtic peoples, so it's always appropriate to add some sort of Celtic design to your altar. Consider adding a Brighid's cross6 or any other item incoporating Celtic knotwork. If you happen to have a Celtic cross, don't worry about the fact that it's also a Christian symbol -- if it feels right on your altar, go ahead and add it.

Other Symbols of Brighid

Cauldrons7 or chalices8 -- she's often connected to sacred wells and springs
A small anvil or hammer -- Brighid is the goddess of smithcraft
A Brighid corn doll9 and Priapic wand10
Sacred animals such as cows, sheep or swans
A goddess statue
A book of poetry, or a poem you've written -- Brighid is the patroness of poets
Faeries -- in some traditions, Brighid is the sister of the Fae
Healing herbs11 -- she's often connected to healing rites
Lots of candles12, or a cauldron with a small fire in it

Some of this information was derived from About.com.

Office Chi

2010-01-17T10:45:00.000-08:00

Merry Meet All,

2010 is here. I have recently refreshed my whole desk area and am here to share how I did that with you. Though I am a Wiccan, I heartily embrace the philosophy of feng shui. I was amazed at the difference of the energy at my small desk area. More information on feng shui can be easily found online and in bookstores and libraries, but I will share some tips with you now.

Chi is the life force that is believed to be inherent in all things. Prana is also a word for life force energy. Good chi or prana is good energy. That is essential when striving towards a positive working area.

Besides doing some mundane chores of cleaning the desk area, I wiped down my desk monitor. I placed my lamp opposite my power hand to the left side. I placed a Buddha candle to the east side to welcome prosperity. I switched the desktop screen to a softer, flowing water image. I placed some grounding crystals such as selenite, hematite and smoky quartz on my desk to ground the energies. My spider plant hangs between the door and the computer. Plants bring good wood chi into an area. I can see outside from my computer and window. A lovely birch tree greets my eyes. I took my waste basket from under my computer to a different spot in the room. That made a huge difference right there.

I also deleted old, unused, ancient files from my folders and updated several files. This also created good chi and freed up my hard drive space. I also bought a cordless phone, freeing me to be in different places that I chose to be in and not have to depend on cords or be tangled in cords. I like to download music but was unaware that I downloaded music from a hacker virus infected site. I have deleted all the songs and am never downloading songs from the site anymore (which I won't name here to avoid more problems.) Thanks to some advice from a good friend, I have avoided a computer crash. My computer alarmed me when my screen and Itunes froze. I knew something was amiss. i did a virus check and all is well now. I try to keep computer cords out of view.

So with all that, my writing space is now more positive, energized, full of good chi and I am ready to get going with my writing projects. I look forward to the positive opportunities that come my way. Already I have two proposals on their way and some new ones underway. Feng Shui is a wonderful philosophy. I hope this inspires you to do the same and create good energy where you work.

Sunday's Magic Correspondences

The ruling planet is the Sun, the metal is gold, the colors are yellow and gold, the deities are Brighid, Helios and Ra. The gemstones are quartz crystal, diamond, amber and carnelian. The herbs are marigold, sunflower and cinnamon. The associations are agriculture, beauty, victory, self-expression and creativity.

Daily Magic

2010-01-13T05:57:00.000-08:00

Days of Magic

Saturday is auspicious for agriculture and creativity, fortune and hope, protection and banishment of negativity. The colors are black an purple, the planet Saturn, the metal lead, and the deities are Saturn and Hecate, and the crystals are apache tear, obsidian and hematite.THe herbs and plants are thyme, mullein and cypress.

Today is Friday, which is ruled by Venus. The metal is copper, the gemstones are coral, emerald and rose quartz. The herbs and plants are strawberries (which may be hard to get locally and organic at this time of year), and feverfew. The deities are Freya, a Nordic Goddess, Venus the Greek Goddess of Love, and Aphrodite. The associations today are family life and fertility, sexuality, harmony, friendship and growth. To learn more about this, read Raymond Buckland, Silver Ravenwolf, or Starhawk.

The correspondences for today are the color purple, the planet Mercury, the metal mercury, the gemstones adventurine and agate-blue lace agate is good for communications and the throat chakra, the plants aspen, lilies, lavender and ferns. Lavender is calming and soothing. The associations honor and family, loyalty, harvests, clothing and riches and fealty.

Enjoy your day
Blessed Be

Tuesday's Correspondences

2010-01-12T07:49:00.000-08:00

Today is Tuesday. The magical correspondences are as follows: red and orange, the planet Mars, the metal Iron, the gemstones are garnet and ruby, the herbs and plants are thistles, holly, coneflower and cactus. The deities are Mars, Aries, the Morrigan and Lilith.

The Associations are war and conflict, enemies, initiation, marriage and protection.

Blessed Be
Keep warm
Spiderwitch

Circle Magazine

2010-01-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

Merry Meet all,

I have the pleasure of having my article on the history of pagan bonfires published in Circle Magazine for their winter issue. It was an extremely challenging and interesting article to write. I am currently working on an article for Circle magazine about pentacles. There is a link to their website.

Blessings,
Spiderwitch

Broomsticks and blogs

2010-01-11T07:18:00.000-08:00

Merry Meet All,

Here we are, in mid-January. I hope you're all keeping warm against the cold. Imbolg is fast approaching and the early promise of spring will emerge. That is the time to honor Brighid, when the ewes first start lactating their milk and the energies below the earth begin to stir. It is a time of hope and promise.

Before Imbolg arrives, this is a good time to purge and get rid of all that stuff that accumulated and you know you don't really want. There was a fire on this New Year's Eve. I donated a bag of my possessions to a local store Morrigan LeFay's mystical gifts to help the people out. It felt good to do and makes more room for new things. I donated my unwanted clothing to Value Village. I have always donated to a cause and it's good to help others.

I have a rainbow prism that hangs at my window. Today the sun shines so strong that rainbows are cast around my room. Today's moon is in Scorpio and the sun is in Capricorn. Monday is ruled by the moon. The daily magical influences are peace, healing, psychic awareness. The colors for today are gray, lavender, silver, white and ivory.

Power to attract

2009-12-14T17:26:00.000-08:00

The Power to Attract

Everyone has the power to attract what he or she truly desires in life. Our deepest dreams can come true. This may seem hard to believe but it’s true. Using the power to attract what he or she desires is also self-empowering.

The power to attract lies within us all. It is real and it is possible. The steps to the power to attract are simple. Using the power to attract commands faith and trust with yourself and faith and trust with the Universe.

A person has to first be and think positive. If one thinks negatively, then that person will attract negativity. If one thinks positively, then one will attract positive things with far better results. I realize it seems difficult to feel positive all the time, and that we all have bad days, but in order to attract positive energy into your life, you’ve got to be as positive as you can be. I’m not punishing anyone who feels negative energy. But whatever you ask for is what you will attract. That is why it is crucial to remain positive.

I have had times in my life that have been difficult. I learned to let go of my negative emotions and energy, like not having enough money, for example, and trust that the Universe would provide me with what I needed. In order to attract what I wanted in my life, I had to let go. This is one of the first lessons in using the power to attract. It is the ability to let go and release the lower energies that block you from achieving your goal.

That’s why I know that the power to attract works. I learned to release my anxiety and worry, thus free to move forward. I changed the energies around to attract what I wanted. I know it works and I am here to tell you how you can make it work for yourself.

The Power to Attract is a powerful tool in one’s life. Once mastered, it should be practiced to maximize attracting more in your life and to improve your skills of meditation. With practice, like playing an instrument, it gets better. You will soon start to see amazing results.

The steps to use the power to attract are simple and can be applied to every area of your life: health, love, work, your home, and your community. You can use the power to attract for yourself or someone else. It may be a good idea to start small at first then advance to attracting bigger things for yourself. You may find you really enjoy it.

First, I would like to share some examples from my life to show how the power of attraction works.

I needed a butter dish. That night, I dreamed of a pure white ceramic butter dish. The next day, I was browsing through the aisles of a dollar store when I spotted it. There, right in the center of the shelf, was the pure white ceramic butter dish I had seen in my dream!

I wanted to buy a stereo. I sat down and visualized the stereo in detail. A while later, I bought the stereo I had visualized and concentrated on to attract into my life.

Here is another excellent example of how I have used the power of attraction. I had moved into an unsafe neighborhood. Six months later, it had become painfully clear that I needed to move. There were drive-by shootings, drug problems and loud arguments between people. There were no flowers and trees. I feared for my safety. I wrote down a list on paper of all the things I wanted in an apartment-and what type of neighborhood I wanted to live in. I cast a powerful spell and used the list in the spell, which I can’t find now.

Before I moved out, I had a vision. I peered into a teacup on my table below a window where sunlight was streaming in. Sunlight shone in the teacup. I had a vision of a white house on a hill, which is the very apartment that I live in now. Flowers and trees are everywhere. I believe in the strength of using the power of attraction.

You do not have to have visions, dreams or receive portentous omens in order for the power of attraction to work. It can be much simpler than that. It can sometimes happen that way and if so, pay attention to the signals from the Universe. It is trying to tell you something. I was providing examples based on my experience to show how the power of attraction can bring positive changes into your life.

The methods of using the power of attraction include meditation, visualization and concentration. The power of attraction also requires your faith in it, and an open mind.

If you choose, you can create a special meditation area for yourself. It is not mandatory. All the power to attract truly requires is your belief that it works. You can use candles, crystals and incense while you meditate.

Crystals, such as amethyst, clear quartz or citrine lend their vibrations to your meditation. Clear quartz is a good all-purpose crystal. Amethyst powers include spiritual upliftment, clarity, and protection. Smoky quartz powers are grounding, protective and balancing, useful after the meditation. Citrine is good for personal clarity and creativity. Use smoky quartz with clear quartz to draw positive energy to you to achieve your goals and make them a reality.

Crystals that are associated with the third eye chakra are azurite, calcite, lapis lazuli, sodalite and quartz. You can empower the crystals to aid you in your meditation by concentrating on programming the crystals to strengthen your meditation and visualization. Then the crystals will help you.

Now, having found a quiet place to meditate or lie down, turn off your phones or cell phones. If you want to wear loose clothing and/or a special necklace or charm, then feel free to do so. It is good to not be disturbed during your meditation.

Clear your mind. Take some slow deep breaths to relax you and prepare you for meditation. Now, slowly, and remember to be gentle with yourself, concentrate on what you desire. Picture it in your mind. Visualize it already being yours, whether it is a new job, a new car or the perfect parking space. Try to clearly visualize it in your mind. The more clearly your visualize it, the more it will be yours and the stronger the power of attraction. Take your time with this meditation. There is no rush.

You are activating the third eye chakra, one of the seven chakras, while you visualize. We all have seven chakras or energy centers, in our bodies. They are the crown chakra, third eye chakra, throat chakra, heart chakra, solar plexus chakra, sacral chakra, and the root chakra. For this type of meditation, you are using the third eye chakra, located at the center of the forehead. The color associated with the third eye chakra is indigo. Qualities associated with the third eye chakra are inner vision, intuition, insight, clairvoyance, imagination, extra sensory perception, idealism, concentration, peace of mind, projection of will and manifestation. The underlined words describe what the power of attraction is about. You know what you want, you use your imagination to imagine it and picture it clearly in your mind, you project your will to make it yours, and you manifest it when you attract it into your life. It is that simple but also profound.

While you meditate on what you want to draw towards you, try to picture whatever it is that you want clearly in your mind. The more clearly you try to picture it in your mind, the more likely it will become yours. The dream I had of the ceramic dish was a clear visualization of the dish, so clear there was no mistaking it. The weaker you picture it in your mind, the less likely you will attract it toward you. You need to have faith in your belief and vision that it will work. You also need to have faith that the Universe is working hard to bring to you what you desired. That can be a powerful combination and work in your favor.

After you have done some meditation for ten to fifteen minutes, and you have visualized and concentrated, open your eyes and ground yourself. At this point, you need to ground yourself. Food is usually a good choice. The meditation requires a lot of effort and it is important to ground and center afterwards.

You can continue to meditate and visualize your goal if you so choose. Meditating on your root chakra can help after the meditation. It’s located at the base of the spine. It’s color is red. Its qualities are vitality, grounding, satisfaction, security, stillness and courage. To meditate on your root chakra, sit still and concentrate on the base of your spine and imagine a red line going down to the root chakra, pulling you to the earth. Hold a smoky quartz crystal in your hands to ground yourself.

You can use positive affirmations to affirm what you want to manifest into your life. Write it down and tape it to your desk or repeat it to yourself each day. This will bring power to your visualized goal. Some examples of affirmations can include: “I am now consciously living my divine purpose’, or “I am one with the Creator and the Universe,” or a simple “Namaste.”

Now that you have meditated on your goal, do not dwell on it needlessly. Trust that the Universe is working hard to bring to you what you wanted. Also, do not expect instant results. Do not disrespect the Universe or what you get may not be what you wanted at all. You have to have faith and be willing to let go in order for it to work. That is when you will gain the most and see amazing results.

You can meditate and visualize about your goal as often or as little as you want. To achieve a greater effect, visualize your wish as often as you want and use the daily affirmations. All these steps lend more power to your goal of attracting what you want.

It is crucial to be as clear as you can be in knowing what you want. The clearer it is in your mind, the stronger the projection and the better the results. When you have some success-and you will, if you follow these steps, try something bigger next time. With practice and conviction, you will notice you are becoming good at manifesting and you will be happier in life.
When I felt drained or unhappy for some reason, I wore a brighter colored piece of clothing. Never underestimate the power of color. For example, if you want a new red car, visualize the car in a vivid red color. If you want a new job, see yourself in a sharp looking business suit and having confidence at the interview. If you want prosperity or money, visualize money in a gold or bright green color. Buy a green or gold colored bowl or a piggy bank in one of those colors and store some coins in it, then forget about them (letting go), and check it later. You may be surprised to see how much has accumulated in the piggy bank (attracting towards you).

A few more useful ways you can attract what you want into your life is to draw a picture of what you want, or maybe a map for a trip, or whatever strikes your fancy. Write it down and keep it near you when you meditate. You can use gold colored ink on gold colored paper, green ink for green paper or red ink on red paper for love. This has to do with the mantra, like attracts like. Focus on the image on the page and then close your eyes and picture it in your mind. You may find this tip especially helpful when just beginning to meditate and use visualization.

Another tip to use is to condition yourself by association. Burn the same incense or scent in an oil burner every time you meditate and after a while, you may associate the scent with trying to visualize your goal. Jasmine, mint, mugwort and star anise correspond with the third eye chakra. Essential oils, crystals, incenses and oil burners are available at a nearby metaphysical shop or other local store.

While you are using the power of attraction to bring to you what you want, try to remain as positive as possible. This may be easier said than done, but why go through all that only to quit halfway? If you see negative people around you and feel they are affecting your efforts to attract, either help them or avoid them. They can have an impact on your efforts. Remember that they own their energy, not you. You are responsible for your energy. Take responsibility and you will feel more satisfied with what you achieve. You are not responsible for anyone else’s energy but your own.

The Power to Attract is powerful and self-empowering. With conscious efforts and practice, you will grow more confident in your abilities to manifest what you want into your life. The more positive you are, the more you attract into your life. It does not always need to be a material item, though that is often the goal and doesn’t hurt, but imagine that if you make more effort to be happier, you are going to draw that into your life. Now it’s okay to have a day or two when you don’t feel so good. We are not perfect. But you may be so pleased with the inevitable results; you may find it easier to attract what you want into your life. That’s the power of attraction working for you.

Here are some useful resources for you to review to familiarize yourself with the power of attraction.
http://www.thesecret.tv

Books
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
The Power of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer
The Intuition Handbook by Judy Hall
Trust Your Vibes by Sonia Choquette

Heddy Johannesen is a full-time freelance writer with a book of poetry and eight published magazine articles to date.

2009-12-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

CURRENT MOON

lunar phases

Yule

2009-12-12T18:50:00.000-08:00

Other Names: Jul (“wheel”, Old Norse), Saturnalia(Rome ~December 17 & 18), Yuletide(Teutonic), Midwinter, Fionn’s Day, Alban Arthuan, Christmas (Christian~December 25), Xmas, Festival of Sol, Solar/Secular/Pagan New Year

Animals/Mythical beings: yule goat (nordic), reindeer stag, squirrels, yule cat, Sacred White Buffalo, Kallikantzaroi-ugly chaos monsters(greek), trolls, phoenix, yule elf, jule gnome, squirrels, wren/robin

Gemstones: cat’s eye, ruby, diamond, garnet , bloodstone
Incense/Oils: bayberry, cedar, ginger, cinnamon, pine, rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, nutmeg, wintergreen, saffron

Colors: gold, silver, red, green, white

Tools,Symbols, & Decorations: bayberry candles, evergreens, holly, mistletoe, poinsettia,mistletoe, lights, gifts, Yule log, Yule tree. spinning wheels, wreaths, bells.
Goddesses: Great Mother, Befana (strega), Holda (teutonic), Isis(egyptian), Triple Goddess, Mary(christian), Tonazin(mexican), Lucina(roman), St. Lucy (swedish),Bona Dea (roman), Mother Earth, Eve(Hebrew), Ops(roman Holy Mother), the Snow Queen, Hertha (German), Frey (Norse)

Gods: Sun Child, Saturn(rome), Cronos (Greek), Horus/Ra(egyptian), Jesus(christian-gnostic), Mithras(persian), Balder(Norse), Santa Claus/Odin(teutonic), Holly King, Sol Invicta, Janus(God of Beginnings), Marduk (Babylonian)Old Man Winter

Essence: honor, rebirth, transformation, light out of darkness, creative inspiration, the mysteries, new life, regeneration, inner renewal, reflection/introspection

Dynamics/Meaning: death of the Holly (winter) King; reign of the Oak (summer) King), begin the ordeal of the Green Man, death & rebirth of the Sun God; night of greatest lunar imbalance; sun’s rebirth; shortest day of year

Purpose: honor the Triple Goddess, welcome the Sun Child
Rituals/Magicks:personal renewal, world peace, honoring family & friends, Festival of light, meditation

Customs: lights, gift-exchanging, singing, feasting, resolutions, new fires kindled, strengthening family & friend bonds, generosity, yule log, hanging mistletoe, apple wassailing, burning candles, Yule tree decorating; kissing under mistletoe; needfire at dawn vigil; bell ringing/sleigh-bells; father yule

Foods: nuts, apple, pear, caraway cakes soaked with cider, pork, orange, roasted turkey, nuts, fruitcake, dried fruit, cookies, eggnog, mulled wine

Herbs: blessed thistle, evergreen, moss, oak, sage, bay, bayberry, cedar, pine, frankincense, ginger, holly, ivy, juniper, mistletoe, myrrh, pinecones, rosemary, chamomile, cinnamon, valarion, yarrow
Element: earth
Threshold: dawn
From About.com: ((I can’t help it – it’s a great source!))
Learn more about the Holly King/Oak King legend.
A Yule Goddess rite for Solitaries.
Yule presents for Wiccans.
Decorate your own Yule Log.

Happy Yule!

2009-12-12T18:43:00.000-08:00

Book of Shadows Binding

2009-10-21T09:57:00.000-07:00

Merry Meet All,

I'm assuming that some of you own a Book of Shadows. In our age of technology, some witches even keep a Disc of Shadows. For anyone who has ever longed for a deeper, more personal hand bound Book of Shadows, read on...

Yes, I own a Binder of Shadows, if you will. I stumbled across a book one day that outlined how to bind your own Book of Shadows. There is nothing wrong with what everyone already owns. There is just more than one way to do this.

It is helpful and a time saver to assemble all the materials prior to undertaking this project. However, depending on how personal you want the project to be, it can take a long time.

This is what I did. I bought nice durable green twill material for the book covers from a fabric store. I purchased parchment paper from Staples and thought out ahead of time what I planned to include in the book then printed that all out on the parchment paper. I bought PVA glue, good for book binding, from an arts store. This was all affordable! Then, with the printouts-with magical fonts, that are easy and free to download, I stacked up all the pages in a neat pile.

I cut the green twill to size. The fabric should be larger than the book. It covers the book and there has to be some remaining. The davy board-hard board for the book covers- is available at an arts store. I went to the Nova Scotia Community College art store. I had the davy board cut to size at the Deserres art store. So, line up the fabric and the davy board. Decide now how big you want your spine to be. Lay down the davy board and leave a space in the center. Glue the davy board to the fabric and bring the fabric over the davy board. Let dry. Smooth out the wrinkles. Ensure everything is neat and even. Add the pages and add lots and lots of glue on the spine of the stacked pages to your book. Let dry. Adding plenty of glue now saves the exasperation later when you hear that ominous crack of the spine when opening your book. Pages can fall out. Add more glue. Be patient.

Now, with your book made, you can make it pretty-and witchy. I added dried herbs and flowers to my pages. Flat heads of flowers are best. Herbs such as sage can be added for protection, lavender, shasta daisies and petunias are lovely. I dried and pressed flowers in a thick volume first then added them. I also added borders, pictures, photos, spells and whatever else my heart desired. The Book of Shadows feels so personally mine. I glued bleeding heart leaves because in the fall, they turn a beautiful color. It is amazing what you can come up with when you let your imagination go.

I also am studying on my family ancestry. The Celtic Triquetra reflects my ancestry. Personalizing a hand bound Book of Shadows is endless fun.

I embroidered a triquetra patch and glued that to the cover. I added ribbons, bookmarks and tassles to the spine. I sewed a beautiful deep green velvet pouch for my book of shadows. I embroidered a triquetra patch in a matching color to the pouch. I added a frog for closure and added a gold unicorn pendant to the pouch.

To make your spells have that antique look, print out on a computer,again using a fancy font or art, and set your oven to a low temperature. Pour warm coffee on the pages on a cookie tray and swirl it around. Bake in the oven for 6-7 minutes. Remove from oven. Now you have that cool antique aged look to the spell page.

What could be more witchy? Have fun!

Here are some more suggestions. Celtic art, if you have a Celtic background, as I do, is easy to get. It can be downloaded or studied from anywhere. If you are a Strega witch or into Asatru, then add that in some way to your book of shadows. Smudge it with sage and consecrate your book.

A Book of Shadows reflects what is important to you and in your heart. A card, letters, photos important to you can be stored in an envelope or pouch and that all added to your Book. You may even begin a new tradition!

Once a book is bound, it is hard to add new pages. I got around this by gluing new pages to the pages already in the book very neatly. It is a permanent journal and cumulation of your spells and magic thoughts so once bound, forever captured. You can make it something you may hand down to your children someday.

Also, storing your Book of Shadows in a special protective pouch with a protective symbol can add power to the Book. I can tell it's working. What witch could resist that? I also had the fortune to let my Book of Shadows rest while we did a full moon spell on her altar. The Book resting on her altar gave my Book even more power.

The sky is the limit! I have been considering binding a second Book of Shadows by hand. Perhaps I will go with something more along the lines of a Book of only spells and enclose it in a lovely amethyst color. Anything is possible!

Mabon

2009-10-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

Mabon is upon us. It is a time of equal opposites being in balance and the second harvest of the year. The fields are clear and the crops are sowed. The trees shed colorful fiery leaves and pumpkin soup warms the stomachs and hearts of everyone around.

Mabon falls at the Fall Equinox, or when the sun enters Libra. The Welsh name Mabon means "great son" and refers to the Son of the Great Mother. This Celtic mythological figure, who has many names and figures in many tales, was identified by the Romans as Mercury or sometimes as Apollo. In Christian Britain He was superseded by St. Michael, to whom churches on many sacred Pagan sites were dedicated, and the Fall Equinox became the Christian feast of Michaelmas. In medieval times, rents fell due and contracts were settled at Easter and at Michaelmas.

Mabon is primarily a harvest festival; it falls either during or at the end of the European grain harvest, depending on latitude. The Fall equinox is the mating season for deer, and marks the beginning of the hunting season in many places. In British folklore this time of year is associated with Herne the Hunter, who leads a wild phantom chase through the forest, heralding confusion and change. In one Craft tradition the Fall Equinox is called "the Night of the Hunter," when weak livestock which will not survive the winter must be slain. Mabon in some traditions marks the death or departure of the God in His yearly life-cycle; in others, however, this may occur at Lughnasadh or at Samhain. The Fall Equinox has also been identified as the "assumption of the Crone," when the dark face of the Goddess assumes the sway over the world which She will hold until the return of the Maiden at Imbolc.

Lammas

2009-10-21T09:55:00.002-07:00

Merry Meet all,

Lammas

Lammas, or Lughnassad, occurs in late July and early August. It is marks the middle of Summer and the beginning of the harvest. Canning goes into full swing, and magickal cabinets are stocked with herbs before the onset of fall. This is also a time to prepare your household for fall and the upcoming Winter months. It is the first of three harvest festivals and is usually associated with ripening grain. It is time to celebrate the fruits of the harvest but also to be aware that summer is passing and winter is on its way.

We honor the weakening Sun God and give thanks for the seeds and the plants that went through the death process (harvest) in order to be reborn next season. The Sun God is waning, but the Goddess is full of abundance. Even as he wanes, he lives on inside her as her child. The Goddess manifests as Demeter, Ceres, Corn Mother, and other agricultural Goddesses. The God manifests as Lugh, John Barleycorn, and vegetation Gods. Colors are Golden Yellow, Orange, Green, and Light Brown. It is a festival of plenty and prosperity.

Decorate the altar and house with grains such as barley, oats and wheat -- also fruits and veggies. Begin gathering and drying herbs, flower, grains or seeds for spellworking in the next year. Make magickal oils now with fresh herbs.Braid onion and garlic charms. Onion is sacred to the sun -- because of its shape, and its dye is a golden amber to burnt apricot.When the onion is cut, it reveals the symbolism of the moon. Garlic, too, is sacred to the moon -- the crescent shape of the cloves. It exorcises evil and protects. Collect rain and storm water for use in spellwork or to empower objects, add dried mugwort and store in glass bottles. Make a corn wheel. Bake a loaf of bread on Lammas. If you've never made bread before, this is a good time to start. Honor the source of the flour as you work with it: remember it was once a plant growing on the mother Earth. If you have a garden, add something you've harvested--herbs or onion or corn--to your bread. If you don't feel up to making wheat bread, make corn bread.

Corn Dolly -Another way to honor the Grain Goddess is to make a corn doll. This is a fun project to do with kids. . She's your visual representation of the harvest. As you work on her, think about what you harvested this year. Give your corn dolly a name, perhaps one of the names of the Grain Goddess or one that symbolizes your personal harvest. Dress her in a skirt, apron and bonnet and give her a special place in your house. She is all yours till the spring when you will plant her with the new corn, returning to the Earth that which She has given to you. Make a corn dolly to save for next Imbolc.

HERBS to use in your magic at Lughnasadh: goldenrod, peony, nasturtium, clover blossom, yarrow, heliotrope, boneset, vervain, Queen Anne's lace, myrtle, rose, sunflower, poppy, milkweed, Irish moss, mushroom, wheat, corn, rye, oat, barley, rice, garlic, onion, basil, mint, aloe, acacia, meadowsweet, apple leaf, raspberry leaf, strawberry leaf, bilberry leaf, blueberry leaf, mugwort, hops, holly, comfrey, marigold, grape vine, ivy, hazelnut, blackthorn, elder, bee pollen.

STONES: Cat's-eye, citrine, aventurine, golden topaz, obsidian, moss agate, rhodochrosite, clear quartz, marble, slate, granite, lodestone.

Foods appropriate for Lammas are breads, berries, crab apples, and any locally ripe produce.

At this time, witches cast spells for connectedness, career, health, and financial gain. Spells for abundance are completely appropriate now. As the sun is growing weaker, it is a good time to do grounding and sun meditations, then use the golden rays of the sun (gathered during meditation) in spellcasting.

This is the perfect holiday to honor the prosperity and generosity of Mother Earth. It is a season to throw away useless thoughts and habits and to form new ideas which bring renewed strength. Reflect on these topics alone in the privacy of your journal or share them with others around a fire. Lughnasad is one of the great Celtic fire-festivals, so if at all possible, have your feast around a bonfire.

*BLESSING FOR LAMMAS FEAST*
Now is the Time if the First Harvest,
When the bounties of Nature give of themselves
So that we may survive
O God of the ripening fields, Lord of the Grain,
Grant me the understanding of Sacrifice
As you prepare to deliver yourself
Under the sickle of the Goddess

And journey to the lands of Eternal Summer
O Goddess of the Dark Moon,
Teach me the secrets of rebirth
as the Sun loses its strength and the nights grow cold...

(Crumble grains of wheat and let them fall on your altar or table. Take a bite of the ritual fruit and continue...)

I partake of the First Harvest,
Mixing its energies with mine
That I may continue my quest
For the starry wisdom of Perfection
O Lady of the Moon and Lord of the Sun,
before Whom the Stars halt their courses,
I offer my thanks
For the continuing Fertility of the Earth.
May the nodding grain loose its seeds
To be buried in the Mother's breast
Ensuring Rebirth in the Warmth of next Spring...

(Consume the rest of the ritual fruit and merry meet!)
It is appropriate to plant the seeds from the fruit consumed in ritual. If they sprout, grow the plant with love and as a symbol of your connection with the Goddess and God.

Wands

2009-10-21T09:55:00.001-07:00

Merry meet all,

Sorry i haven't posted in a while. I have been busy. But here I am. Ok so for all you practicing pagans and witches out there, here is a little crafting magic for you. I am in the midst of crafting a tree faery wand for myself.

I cut a 16-inch (roughly) branch from an apple tree. I cleaned off the extra small branches and leaves. I washed the branch and let it dry. I brought the branch indoors and then consecrated and cleansed the wand with incense, a candle (remember: safety) and rosemary water. I painted the branch in gold and added a citrine crystal to the point of the wand. Also, if you paint the wand with gold paint from the base of the tip to the point, you seal in the faery protective energies. Basically, if you put a lot of your energy into the wand, you will add more power and energy to the wand and in everything else that you do. I plan to add bells and ribbons and tie the ribbons to the bells. Then add the ribbons to the wand. The colors you choose are up to you. The wand could be painted silver as well if you so choose. Let the paint dry between coats and when dry, rest the wand on your altar. Crystals could be glued to the wand or you could inscribe symbols to the wand (i.e., runes or other significant symbols to you on the wand). Let the wand dry near sunlight to get solar energies.

Also, since a tree is kind enough to let you take a branch, leave an offering for the tree and tree spirits. I buried a stone I tumbled at the foot of the tree as an offering. Remember to thank the spirits.
This ensures they help you in the future with your wand and other endeavors.

Try to enjoy the last of summer. September may be a warm month. If you look closely, some plants are starting to store their energies for spring and winding down. There are lots of spider webs, dragonflies, busy bees and other critters out. Some leaves are already falling. Fall is coming but it's a slow arrival. Get out to enjoy the sun while you can. Blessed Be!!

Spiderwitch

Gardening 2

2009-10-21T09:54:00.000-07:00

Merry Meet All,

I don't know about any of you, but I am suffering from severe heat exposure in my tiny apt. I have a window open but what difference? I love the sunny weather though.

Soon fall will be here (gasp) and it will be time for us to harvest the plants, vegetables, and fruit or herbs that we tend to faithfully in our gardens. My garlic, peas and beans and tomatoes are growing fast. Overnight it seems.

I hope all of you are tending to your own gardens. I would love to know if you saw a bee or a hummingbird in your garden. Bees are declining and we need to plant flowers that will attract bees to save them. Bees are the main pollinators of the world and without them, we may not exist so put away your pesticides! Hummingbirds are traveling farther for food. For some environmentally friendly gardening strategies, try making your own compost tea, putting your used coffee in the garden. Egg shells add nitrogen to the soil. Save your used water from the house to water the garden for water conservation. All of these tips barely cost nothing. But the positive effect on your garden may pay dividends on your plants!!

So work hard on your gardens. Add peat moss for some nutrients to the soil! Have fun too.

Blessed Be,
Spiderwitch

Manifestation

2009-10-21T09:52:00.000-07:00

Merry Meet All,

Today's topic deals with the power of the Law of Attraction and Manifesting what we want to attract in our lives. I realize some may scoff or feel skeptical but there is something to this. I will provide some examples to prove that works.

I had a dream one night of a butter dish. Ok maybe that's a small thing and rather dull-but I felt a bit spooked when upon entering a dollar store, the very dish I had dreamt about was right there on the shelf! I bought it and it serves me well.

Dreams can help with attracting our desires to us but dreams are just part of the whole picture. Scrying, tarot, pendulums and using the steps to wish for what we want can be included.

Visualize your goal or desire in your mind. Picture it clearly-be it a cute pet, healthy garden, new job or new love. Clearly visualize it.

Believe that the goal or desire is yours or soon to be.

Have faith that you can achieve your goal. Here is the tricky part: Try to do this when you feel positive. To some, and I know from being there, it is easy to say and not do. But it actually is. I have had times when I had no money to buy food. We all need food to live on. It nourishes our bodies. I felt quite negative and unhappy. Yet I would try as hard as I could to believe that I could attract to myself what I wanted or needed. The second that you let go, you are telling the Universe to not send you what you wished for. It is a direct counter approach to positivity. Sometimes, the harder I tried, the better results I got and also felt happier.

Patience is the next step. Also, in case your goal does not materialize, try to have a backup strategy-a friend, to help you achieve a goal or manifest a desire. What you want may not appear spontaneously or be what you really wanted. Time is needed for things to happen.

Pay attention to the world around you. You may wish to have a better apartment to live in. Signs come to me and I have learned to recognize them. For example, I envisioned a house on a hill in a teacup by chance. Before I moved in to my current house, I wrote down a list of what I desired in the new residence. The place I live in now has everything I wanted. I can't find the list now but I no longer need it.

That is what I mean by the law of attraction and visualization. It does work. I look forward to seeing your success stories of what you achieved.

Blessed Be
Spiderwitch

Gardening

2009-10-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

Merry Meet all,

If you're like me, you can't resist the garden centers. I have potted up 2 sages, a cilantro, parsley, chives, thyme, and bay laurel. I did have the herbs in my garden but thanks to rain and ugh-slugs, I had to pot up the less fragrant herbs. The rosemary is in the garden as well as the marigolds-they repel slugs. I have learned a lot lately in my gardening adventure. Remember the golden rule- Don't use pesticides to rid your garden of unwanted insects or you also keep away the beneficial insects. THose guys will keep away from the garden and not eat the slugs and snails. Even slugs and snails have a job to do, but if you don't have bees, butterflies or other kinds, then your garden may not thrive as well.

I hope you're all up to your elbows in soil, clearing away weeds and poking for flower buds. Look for healthy plants at the garden centers and be kind to your houseplants too. I misted, fed, watered and added fresh soil to my two big spider plants. Spider plants rid the air of toxins and so they deserve some extra treatment occasionally.

Even weeds are useful. I pick lots of dandelions for my 2 guinea pigs, Minerva and Snowball. They love the dandelions and get lots of vitamins from them. Dandelions are good in salads, wine, and whatever else you can think of. I own an old copy of a weed cookbook. So the next time you mow the lawn, think twice when you see dandelions. The vitamins are high in protein, calcium phosphorus, iron, riboflavin, niacin and Vitamins A and B1. Wow! My piggies are pretty smart, since they get the vitality and vitamins from the dandelions.

Well happy gardening! Blessed Be
Spiderwitch

Post #2
You wroteon June 18, 2009 at 2:32pm
Here are some more gardening tips!!

Before you throw out your coffee filters, get a bowl and store your used coffee grounds in it. Then toss your coffee grounds into your garden. Why? They deter slugs and act as natural mulch and compost for your garden. Also, earthworms love coffee grounds. Earthworms aerate the soil. They are beneficial insects. A sign of good soil is soil that contains lots of hard working earthworms.

Slugs also don't like sharp eggshells. So save and add those to your garden, too. There-compost, bug repellent and mulch-from your own kitchen.

blessed be,
Lady Spiderwitch

Fun in the Kitchen

2009-10-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

Invest in a good blank journal. Add your own recipes and write them out by hand into the journal. This act allows you to put your energies into the book and bind the recipe to memory.

Get into the habit of bringing cloth bags with you when you shop, cutting down on plastic.

Share recipes with loved ones and try theirs. Maybe you can give a bland dish some spice.

Grow your own herbs from heirloom seeds, organic seeds
Support local farmers markets and push for fresh free range food at the local grocery stores

Buy one or two classic cookbooks. Throw out old papers with recipes on them but copy the recipes in to your blank journal first

Don't throw out glass jars-store grains or teabags in them. Make neat labels for the jars.

Try something new. Experiment. Paint the kitchen. Put a goddess shrine on top your fridge. Tie up dried bundles of herbs on hooks and have herbs within your reach at all times.

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Cut down on plastic. Clean the kitchen with lemon, pine or other citrus mints. Use vinegar, a more environmentally friendly alternative to the cleaning supplies, for cleaning. Invigorating scents make cleaning less of a chore.

After all that, you may not be able to stay out of your kitchen
Blessed Be

Harmony at Home

2009-10-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

"Happy Home Incense"
Blend frankincense, myrrh, and liquidambar (storax)- an item even I can't find, resins. You need a cauldron or bowl with sand and a charcoal disc. Burn them to clear away negative energy and encourage happy spirits, in all senses of that word."

You could try to asperge -or sprinkle special water blends into corners of your home. Our ancestors used all these techniques.

If you have lavender growing in your garden, don’t hesitate to pick some, dry it and burn it in a bowl with sand and charcoal. The scents will restore peace to the home.

Using an oil burner, add essential oils of sweet orange, lime, and pink grapefruit to a base of jojoba oil. Dress candles with this oil and burn throughout the home to instill joy and laughter. I have a citrus-scented essential oil and trust me, it works. Soak a cotton ball in the oils blend and carry that with you.

Chant “ganymai”- greek word for “I am joyful”.

Make a charm bag and hang it over an entrance door for protection and happiness. Blend garlic powder, salt and pepper in a bottle and sprinkle at the door. Hold up your hand as though to protect + banish and say out loud: Love and light only. All bane or evil be gone” or something like that.

Pour olive oil into the exact spot where an argument occurred. Let it soak up the negative energies before cleaning it up. Use herbs or the herbs’ essences in your mix of floor washing waters for harmony-citrus, mint, sandalwood, or sage, or lavender.

Burn a white candle or pink or blue and fill it with your intent and let it burn down. Dress a candle with an oils blend and snuff out the candle to preserve the energies within- never blow out a candle. That does not keep the energies within the candle. You could ring a candle with crystals for extra impact. Clear quartz and rose quartz would be a good choice. Amethyst as well. Carve your intent into the candle. Take a sharp knife and carve in the word peace. Then light the candle and allow to burn as usual.

There; many ways to encourage happiness within the home. Save and store or print this and keep in a special place. Good luck

Blessed Be
Lady Spiderwitch

Psychic Defense

2009-10-21T09:48:00.002-07:00

Greetings all

Hope you're enjoyng the weather. Today's post is about defending yourself from other people's negativity. This is a vital and very useful tool to have as a sensitive person.

Ever walk away after talking to someone and feel drained or lightheaded? or totally exhaused and unhappy? Chances are, they were not your feelings or emotions but someone else's. A person you were in contact with has robbed you of your energy. Mainly your positive energy. Some of the time, this is purppsefully done and sometimes, it isn't. However, here are some tips to help shield you to keep your own positive spirits high:

Wear a protective amulet, pendant or tailisman when in contact with someone who drains you Useful for deflection

Use a protection spray available at Sarahs Spiritual Treasures to help shield you

Carry tiger's eye, smoky quartz, or rose quartz on your person

Try to be as positive as possible

Visualize a shield of whatever form you please around yourself

Stay healthy Helps big time to deflect negative energies The healthier you are the stronger you are

Good luck
Hope this helps
Blessed Be
Heddy

Rock Salt

2009-10-21T09:48:00.001-07:00

Rock Salt is an amazing help to Sensitives. ROck salt can come in a solid form and can be placed on a windowsill or near plants in your house. It contains negative ions which can purify the energy and atmosphere of your living space.

I own a rock salt candle holder and am getting quite attached to it. Crystals such as clear quartz, amethyst, red jasper, agate are protective.
Smoky quartz, hematite and rose quartz ground and ease communications between people and spread good energy.

The rock salt and crystals, when placed in auspicious corners or spots of your home, can soften a negative atmosphere and purify it too.

They are all available at Casaroma Wellness Center as well as the other local metaphysical shops, Sarah's Spiritual Treasures, Little Mysteries, Into the Mystic as well as the Farmers Markets

Blessings
Heddy

Sunshine

2009-10-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

An important part of being a sensitive is recieving enough Vitamin D. On windy and rainy days, that can be difficult. Sunshine, or Vitamin D, rejuvenates the spirit and enables people to feel more positive and cheerful and more energetic. Mood lamps or lights provide an alternate light source on darker days when there is no sun available. Mood lights are available at stores. Genuine sunshine is better at providing the necessary vitamin d to help a sensitive flourish and be a healthy and active highly sensitive soul.

Sensitives

2009-10-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

Hello All

Welcome to the group. I am glad to see such enthusiasm. Today's topic is a list of items that benefit sensitive people

tealights
epsom salts
essential oils
bath salts
dead sea bath salts
candles
chakra baths
rock salt
fresh healthy food provides more energy

I have experiemeted with all these things and found them to be very helpful. The items are easily found at Casaroma Wellness Center or the local farmers market. Plants are also good at removing toxins from an environment and work wtih your natural energies

That's all for today. Tomorrow or very soon I will cover another topic.

Blessed Be

Update

2009-08-22T07:40:00.000-07:00

I realize it's a long time since I posted. I am happy to announce that I have had two publications in two different magazines this summer. One, my article on the upcoming Seaport Market that shall soon replace the Halifax farmers market in the spring 2010. The other article on pagan chalices for Circle magazine for fall 2009 (See link above.) I am busy writing a second article for Circle Magazine. I will be posting more in the future as I sweat to death in my overheated apartment. Enjoy the last of summer and embrace the splendor of fall.

Blessed Be

Sitting Pretty

2009-04-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

My writing space was selected and posted on a blog site. View the site with the above link to see more.

http://sittingprettymagazine.blogspot.com/

Grow a Jade Plant - wikiHow

2009-04-06T16:11:00.000-07:00

Grow a Jade Plant - wikiHow

Surviving the recession as a writer

2009-02-04T18:37:00.000-08:00

We are experiencing financial tough times. There is no mistake about it. And it doesn't seem to be becoming easier. What writers need to do now more than ever is to knuckle down and keep on writing like nothing's wrong.

I subsist on a meager budget and yet I have kept writing and discovered some tricks along the way that may help others looking for how to do the same.

One, I cook most of my healthy savory meals myself at home. I have become quite a chef. It's a far cry from my meals a year ago when I took fried onions literally. Flash forward to the present. I've mastered gourmet meals. Red kidney bean soup, beef and barley stew, pumpkin soup, roasted pumpkins, ciders, pumpkin breads, sacred spiral bread, french onion soup, hot roasted chicken (my sis wants the recipe), stirfies, moon cookies. I am a kitchen witch. I hang a kitchen witch on a hook in my kitchen and let her work her magic. I pray to Demeter and Hestia, goddesses associated with food and the hearth and grains. I like to light a candle and clean the preparation area then begin cooking. All of these steps set the mood and awaken the energies and atmosphere for successful cooking. It was a Scandinavian custom to hang a kitchen witch ornament in your kitchen for positive energies and good luck for cooking. It may have been the belief that the kitchen witch would draw the energies. The kitchen witch was well versed in herbs and spices and cooking and the hearth. They looked to the local shaman or seer or witch, if you will, for the knowledge and protection.

I have Scandinavian roots. I cook most of my meals myself and live on a tiny budget and hardly ever need to eat kraft dinner. It is cheaper to eat healthy than to live on kraft dinner. It does not hurt to add a little magic to home cooking. I was given a nice blank journal as a gift. I filled the book up with recipes and it is now my little personal cookbook.

I am conscious of my power usage. I turn off lights and the computer when not in use. Turning the thermostat down when not at home or when sleeping at night can help save a bundle of money. I recycle and use a paper shredder. I use post-consumer recycled paper, recycle my ink cartridges,borrow movies from the local library, buy local and support local farmers markets. I carry cloth bags and take the metro transit and ferry to Halifax. Taking the ferry allows me a few moments of meditation since I am near the water.

I buy in bulk and when food is on sale. I use everything up as much as i can. I also suport local artists and businesses.

All the above things I mentioned do help to save money It costs less for a bowl of healthy hearty stew than it does for a dinner from Wendys Restaurant. I save money that way and then so have money for that bottle of white out I ran out of or a new ink cartridge and a pack of printing paper. I eat an organic food diet and feel the best I have ever felt in my life.

Some argue that organic food is more expensive but then, isn't everthing? Feeling healthy leads to feeling better and that leads to more energy to write.

i also use the law of attraction to attract what I want to myself or to banish bad energies. I use the moon's energies. When the moon waxes, that is a powerful time to try to create prosperity, love, safety, whatever. When the moon wanes, turn inward and use that for a time of reflection or meditation or to turn unwanted energies away from you. If you believe you can attract your desire, it may happen and it takes belief to make it work. If you beliieve that it won't work, it won't and if you believe it will, it will. It takes a lot of faith but using the law of attraction & trusting your intuition can bring more than a writer ever dreamed towards them.

So have faith and cast your spell and let me know when you publish that book!

Book Lovers' Ink

2009-01-21T09:57:00.000-08:00

My writing busines, Book Lovers' Ink, is my freelance adventure. I enjoy running my own writing business and reaping the benefits. Every time I see my article or name in print, it gives me a rush. I am always grateful the day I attended the afternoon writing workshop led by Sandra Phinney, a dedicated and accomplished freelance writer. I learned much from her and found my calling.

Now I have six-eight magazine articles published. One in Pets Quarterly about my pet guinea pigs. The second article is about how pets can benefit elderly people's health and an article on organic food and the slow movement both appearing in The Source Health and Wellness magazine, http://www.thesourcemagazine.net. My story on my meeting with Margaret Atwood, two stories about my grandparents appear in Canadian Stories, http://www.canadianstories.net. I also have an article on www.witchvox.com about the beauty of the Cabot Trail and a poem on that site as well.

I have published a book of poetry, Metamorphosis. A sample of my poetry can be found on my website at http://www.bookLoversInk.com. The book is available at Frog Hollow Books, one of Nova Scotia's most respected independent bookstores in Park Lane Mall, Halifax.

In March 2006, I created a collection of my poems in a book entitled Metamorphosis: A Poet’s Symmetry. The book is 56 pages in length, 6”x9”, and is perfect bound. I developed the necessary skills in the production and marketing of my book.

I am a member of the League of Canadian Poets and of the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia that affords access to helpful organizations for book design and printing. Through their network, I contacted a local helpful organization, Publish Yourself. In April 2006, I obtained an ISBN and barcode and Cataloguing in Publication. I contacted local independent bookstores before printing the book. I am a member of the Public Lending Rights Commission and Access Copyright Canada.

I compiled the layout and order I wanted for my poetry book. For the cover of the book, I was fortunate to find a neighbor who was an authority on butterflies. He gave me a picture of a butterfly and I offered him a copy of the book. I contacted Nancy Roberts, the education director of the Self-Publishing Society in Nova Scotia, for feedback. She provided some commentary on the aspects of presentation for my book. Her comments were helpful.

I promoted the book to local bookstores, my friends and family and Coutts Library Services, a distributing company. Coutts ordered several copies and placed the books in libraries in Boston, the UK and Ontario. I placed the book on Legal Deposit with the National Library of Canada. Metamorphosis is at their online New Books Service site and on the website at Publish Yourself. It is in the library at WFNS and at the Halifax Public Regional Library. Metamorphosis was on display at the booth at Publish Yourself at Word on the Street Annual Fair and is displayed on my website at http://www.bookLoversInk.piczo.com. I designed and produced bookmarks for readers to use with Metamorphosis. The bookmark has also been placed in a variety of venues and serves as a marketing tool. The bookmark is available at select bookstores.

I did a reading of my poetry at One World Café, Café Mokka, Café Ole, the Shoestring Reading Series and Word on the Street. David Rimmington interviewed me for the Poetry Show at CKDU at Dalhousie University. I advertised the book on the online classified ads at The Coast. George Elliott Clarke reviewed it in the Chronicle-Herald in September 2006. I have enclosed a copy of his review with this submission. I organized a successful Art and Poetry Show party at my home. My friend sold his paintings and I sold a few copies of my books. We held a poetry reading that night.

I am the ownerof my own freelance writing company, Book Lovers’ Ink Literary Services. It has been in operation since October 2005. I look forward to the opportunity to establish myself as a serious writer and to take my poetry to the next level.

So with a book of poetry and some published articles under my belt, I anticipate what the future holds. It is always exciting because one never knows and so the discovery is more enjoyable. I write from home and am available at my email address.

I am willing to write articles, newsletters, need assistance with web pages, resumes, poetry, or whatever else a company or individual may require. I look forward to hearing from people who are interested.

News: National Poetry Month is in April!

Cryptic Texts

2008-06-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I posted here. My apologies to all.

Friday night left me bored and up to no good. I looked around and decided then that I DID have pendulums, spell books, tarot cards to interpret and that I had not paid a fortune for them for nothing. Suddenly, I was not so bored.

I put on some music, lit candles and set down a purple decorative cloth on my table. The sun set, the stars shone and dragons and owls kept a stern watch on guard.

I pulled out my spell books, and got to work. I began with the tarot and spent an hour trying to decipher the Rider Waite tarot cards. I am a beginner in tarot and Rider Waite is purposefully hard to interpret. The cards opposed each other and the magic is ruined by looking up the meaning of each card and then more impossible to derive a meaning of the ten cards as a whole. I put that aside for a time and turned to my pendulums. A wind blew in from my open window which spread the lovely scent of frankincense through the room. THe candle flames flickered and I felt like a wizard or priestess alone in a dark dusty library reading ancient texts by candlelight. I was carried away by the magic. i could almost hear the hooting of owls in the night.
I own 3 pendulums- two I bought and one was given to me. The pendulums are all beautiful and usu work great. Tonight was not the night.

I watched the candle flames flicker and relit the frankincense. I am working slowly on a book of shadows. I spent an hour or more on the book of shadows- how to put it together in a careful, meaningful and artistic way. It has to be done with care.
I want to compile a beautiful book of spells I would prefer a handmade bound wooden or leather book of shadows and hope to accomplish this within the year. A witch traditionally begins a book of shadows on the new year @ Samhain. I cannot wait that long.

The time flew and it was late before I knew it. I blew out the candles, put the spell books away, knowing I could visit that magic world again. Goodnight owls and dragons

Independence- a bad day!

2008-03-06T17:32:00.000-08:00

I've just had a new development in my life. I moved into my apartment. Rock on! With the freedom, came the sours.
From my fire alarms ringing repeatedly,tears streaming down my cheeks from the smoke from the chicken in the oven to a month long battle with my landlord over a rotting bathroom sink- which, by the way, I won.
I sweated it out through reupholstering my chairs to painting my furniture and cooking unbleviably delicious dinners.

I just spent two hours trying to open an email to finish the email transaction. It is piss pouring rain and freezing slush here.. We had a blizzard earlier and I had to plow through that. I went to the library and couldn't open the email and finish the transaction, so I wrestled with the wind and sleet to the bank and they couldn't help me and I went to a few other spots. Places were closing early and school was closed. By this time, my feet are a brutal mix of soaked, stinging, freezing numb and everything else. I limped back to the library in time before it closed and the bank thing worked. I went to the bank and they were like, "You again!" and I'm like yeah, and so I was exhausted because due to aching soaked feet- there were puddles in my sneakers and I couldn't move my feet they hurt so much, I went to buy groceries and I got veggies, a chicken and some food to hold me over. I went to catch the 51 and waited 1/2 an hour and finally caught the 51. Basically, I went through hel. The whole time, I sat on the bus all I was aware of was my poor feet which are still red. Clearly, sneakers do not do it for this nightmarish weather. Passengers were going by me and I drew my poor foot back so as to not have it knocked by a passenger. I had to rest my right foot on my left. The pain was unbearable. The roads and sidewalks are risky and impassable. I can now stand up straight any surprise I have slippers on- it's ten minutes now and my right foot still aches and I am having a hot cup of tea and cookies. I plan to cook that bird TONIGHT. I have a blanket that was cheap as shit I bought from Value Village the other day around me. I am going to use equally inexpensive fabric to make a cover for it. Not a real quilt from scratch. I am recuperating but I have food.

anyone have one of those days? I since have bought proper winter boots, buy groceries on nice days, own a buspass, and had a cute technician from Aliant improve my internet system. He was cute! That bad day had to be the worst! Anyway, freelance writing needs to pay off. I must persevere.

I had an article recently published in Canadian Stories about my meeting with Margaret Atwood at a fundraiser.I may have a second article published in the same magazine soon.

Heddy Johannesen

Summer reading

2007-08-23T05:19:00.000-07:00

My summer reading list is comprised of a novel by Nora Roberts, fencing styles, The Coast, newspapers, Writers Digest, Exploring Candle Magick, Wicca for Solitary Practitioners, and anything else I can get my hands on.

I feel that summer is the perfect time for summer reading, reading the books you put off all year. The Public Gardens in Halifax have recently opened a cafe and so a person can sit and sip a coffee and read a good book. And a person is surrounded by swans, ducks, trees and flowers of every possible kind. Then again there is the beach.

Poet at a workshop

2007-07-06T04:48:00.000-07:00

Hello

Here I am, practicing giving a poetry reading. I have my book of poetry entitled Metamorphosis. The Seahorse Tavern is a hot spot for poets! David Rimmington gets a group of poets together to recite their poetic musings. Despite the noise, we trod onward, marching.

Maritime Writers Workshop 2006

2007-07-06T04:45:00.001-07:00

I attended the wonderful Maritime Writers Workshop last year. I studied Cyberpunk fiction with Biff Mitchell. i wil remember the
mall spying and ghost hunting. I probably did my best writing at the workshop. It was a week to remember.

The one with the blond hair is Anne Rice. No, I mean, i like to write vampire novels. This is me at the desk at the Cyberpunk
class with Biff Mitchell and the other writers. I enjoyed the classes, forced me to think new things. I wrote a scary flash fiction story about a guy who has to outsmart a computer to escape the room alive.

Matrix anyone?

Summer writing

2007-07-04T07:06:00.000-07:00

This is George Elliott Clarke's review of my book of poetry, Metamorphosis

THE NOVA SCOTIAN BOOKS SUNDAY SEPT. 24, 2006

GEORGE ELLIOTT CLARKE’S REVIEW OF MY BOOK OF POETRY, METAMORPHOSIS

Heddy M Johannesen’s first poetry text is Metamorphosis, a self-published work, (for copies, contact goddess_heddy@yahoo.ca). A Haligonian freelance writer, Johannesen’s approach to verse is spontaneous as Davies is deliberate.

Both writers exhibit the ideal qualities of contemporary East Coast poetry: vernacular freshness plus sculpted articulation.

Johannesen’s Metamorphosis is slimmer and simpler than Davies’ work, for it is an amateur’s artless art. Her lyricism is, frankly, reckless, but beauty is wreaked, nevertheless.

Flight of the Butterfly tells us, sprightly, “Hope is the hue / of my monarch’s wings / in flight. / A silken angel lingers / on perfumed heavenly / petals.” Then, the clichés begin: “gossamer wings,” “lightness of a breeze” and “sips ambrosia”.

Despite an anachronistic term, the poem ends with a sign of poetic promise: “Alas, I dreamed my wings / were held in your / hands. / / you were here, forever. “ Suddenly, the butterfly is no longer an abstract symbol, but the embodiment of a dashed love.

Johannesen’s temptation is to turn things into symbols: a difficult act for even long-practiced poets. But she wins some success where her diction is tactile: “Eros / I want to be a black mare / trot over sandy beaches / feel your dark glistening coat. // I want…/ your eyes (to) peel to my soul…”

With its realized (not only imagined) details, The Wet Poem demonstrates Johannesen’s clear talent: “A blues song plays / faintly / on the radio, / shaking / desk, / my nose is so / stuffed up, / like a false gift / filled with Kleenex, / crinkling, my / head is so pounding. “

Metamorphosis has many such moments, and it is really splendid when verbs are fresh and nouns are firm: “Under leaves crown a massive / ample tree, leaves trickle / to gray earth…”
Johannesen’s book marks the arrival of a gifted voice. Welcome her “rage at bare pages.”

The wet poem

2007-07-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

My name is Heddy Johannesen. i am a Halifax-based freelance writer. I write ina cozy attic room which in the past, would have been the servants' quarters. This is a Victorian style house. I like it here. Quiet.

My other website to check out is www.bookLoversInk.piczo.com. The website is a marketing tool of my writing and a way for interested people to sense what type of writer I am and what writing I do. I have published a book of poetry entitled Metamorphosis. I have 3 published magazine articles. I love to write and tinker with words all day.