Sunday, 30 October 2016

"Shopping List: Wicca 366 A YEAR AND A DAY - TR"



I'm starting this over tomorrow, while I've done the year and a day 4 times I've only done the first half of this before finances hit me..  It's quite expensive but I feel like I need to get back on track and I seem to be more magickally productive when I have something to work from.  Perhaps once this is over I should look for a coven?  Hmm...  Anyways.  The shopping list of requirements for this book... (hope I haven't missed anything!) Ps. Where it says * means amount of days needed.


SHOPPING LIST


o   12 white taper candle
o   6  orange taper candle
o   10 d.green taper candle
o   1 l.green taper candle
o   2 indigo taper candle
o   7 yellow taper candle
o   17 red taper candle
o   5 black taper candle
o   7 d.blue taper candle
o   1 l.blue taper candle
o   2 brown taper candle
o   6 purple taper candle
o   1 bluey/greeny taper candle

Tea lights ****
o   7 yellow any size candles
o   5 white any size candles
o   5 black any size candles
o   3 red any size candles
o   2 blue any size candles
o   1 green any size candles

o   Several red candles or a bonfire.

o   Rosemary essential oil ******
o   Lily essential oil **
o   Patchouli essential oil *****
o   Sage essential oil ***
o   Pine essential oil ****
o   Bay essential oil ***
o   Myrrh essential oil **
o   Basil essential oil *
o   Honeysuckle essential oil *
o   Rose essential oil *****
o   Jasmine essential oil ****
o   Apple essential oil *
o   Lavender essential oil ***
o   Cinnamon essential oil ****
o   Cedar essential oils *
o   Carnation essential oils *
o   Chamomile essential oils **
o   Bergamot essential oils *
o   Eucalyptus essential oils **
o   Lilac essential oils **
o   Clove essential oils *
o   Lotus Essential oils *
o   Anise essential oils *
o   Frankincense essential oils *
o   Musk essential oils *
o   Cucumber essential oils *
o   Vegetable glycerine *************

o   1/8oz Dried Holly
o   1/2oz Pine needles
o   1/2oz dried mistletoe
o   1/8oz mullen leaves
o   1/8oz wormwood leaf
o   1/4oz of myrrh resin.
o   1/4oz of meadowsweet
o   1/4oz powdered oak bark
o   4oz powdered sandalwood
o   1/4oz mugwort
o   1/8oz star anise
o   1/4oz  cinnamon bark
o   1/2oz pine bark
o   1/2oz frankincense powder
o   1/2oz benzoin
o   1oz white sage
o   Fresh basil 5-6 leaves 
o   1/2oz Dried mandrake root
o   1/4oz  powdered acorns
o   1/4oz dittany or crete
o   1/2oz cedar
o   1/4 tsp ground cinnamon.
o   1/4 tsp ground ginger
o   1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
o   1/4 dry bay laurel
o   1 tsp coltsfoot
o   2 tsp cinquefoil
o   1 tsp rose petals
o   1/4 juniper
o   A sack of bird seed
o   Flax seed
o   Almonds
o   1 tsp dry crushed almonds
o   2 tsp vanilla extract
o   2 tbsp white copal
o   1 tsp hemp seed - if poss
o   4 dried stalks of wheat or 4 dried flowers with stem and bud attached.
o   1 tsp dried oats
o   2 tsp fenugreek seed
o   2 handfuls corn kernels
o   Corn husks 6-8 pieces
o   1 tsp dried blessed thistle
o   A small jar of dried corn
o   1 tsp mandrake root
o   1/4oz Myrrh powder
o   2 tbsp eucalyptus leaves
o   2 tbsp angelica leaves
o   2 tbsp Bay leaves 
o   1/2oz patchouli
o   2 tsp storax
o   1/4 Hyssop
o   2 tbsp woodruff
o   Star anise
o   Poppy seed
o   Yarrow
o   Cinquefoil
o   Hemp

o   frankincense resin
o   myrrh resin

o   2 pints Brown ale
o   1/2 pint sherry or white wine
o   4Oz sugar
o   3-4 apples
o   1/2 lemon
o   Small piece of cheese, bread or fruit.
o   Bucket that contains milk and water
o   Several hardboiled eggs
o   Fresh white egg
o   One pint spring water (bottle)
o   Dried iris, rose or dandelion (whole head)
o   A flower with lots of petals like a rose. A different one such as a daisy.
o   1Oz fresh rose petals
o   An apple
o   Bunch of small flowers
o   Yellow flower petals#
o   3 large white eggs
o   Zest from 1 orange
o   Red wine or fruit juice
o   Baked food such as cake or bread
o   1/2 tsp lemon zest
o   1/4oz poppy seed
o   Baked good (cake / bread)
o   Muffins
o   Wine or juice
o   Sprig fresh rosemary
o   Vinegar
o   a lemon
o   1 bottle of wine
o   Lemon juice
o   Honey
o   Wreath base
o   Dragons blood ink (we make)
o   Quill
o   Ash from my yule log
o   Sea salt
o   Salt
o   Poppy seeds
o   Photo of deceased relatives
o   An altar cloth (any material, pref dark colour)
o   Handful of flowers in vase
o   Small bowl
o   Small dish
o   Cauldron or burn pan
o   Gold leaf (few sheets)
o   A 6x6 inch square green cloth
o   Gold thread
o   Sewing needle
o   A broom / besom
o   An engraving tool such as a working knife.
o   Wool
o   A small planter or pot
o   A silvery coin
o   A sunflower seed
o   Potting soil
o   12inch branch taken from any tree.
o   12inch floral wire
o   8 ft bright coloured ribbon
o   Sour stones
o   Bundle of twigs from local tree
o   Straw or dried moss
o   Dried flowers
o   Sand/stones
o   Small piece of topaz or gold
o   Clear glass container
o   A boline (small sickle) or paring knife
o   Ordinary plain garden sickle
o   1/4 Oz black polyurethane paint
o   1/4 Oz Red polyurethane paint
o   A thin detailing paintbrush
o   5 smooth sticks or branches about 8 inch long and 1/4 thick.
o   5 pieces of 6" x 1" white ribbon.
o   A wooden or silver platter
o   Pruning shears or saw.
o   12inch red ribbon
o   A thrilled (burn pan).
o   Muslin or cheese cloth pouch
o   Your wand
o   An athame
o   Clay
o   Large empty coffee mate tin
o   Rolling pin
o   Ceramic / enamel paint in black
o   Bowl for infusing water
o   An Asperger (can use salt pot diy)
o   Percussive music (clangs or bangs lol)
o   Quartz Crystal Point 
o   5 inch round mirror
o   Cheese cloth 
o   12 inch red cord
o   Red thread and needle
o   An empty clear glass jar
o   Old razors, rusty nails, pins, needles, tacks etc
o   A tarot (nor Oracle) deck
o   Empty picture frame
o   High gloss black paint - spray paint
o   Purple or black silk to cover "mirror".
o   Runes



Saturday, 29 October 2016

Exploring Strange Thoughts - A Single Lonely Bench..


 A Single Lonely Bench..
(A lingering thought.) 

Willow Bench in Stanley Park Blackpool photograph by me on 28th October 2016 
© Imogen Cane - missimoinsane 2016

As I wandered through the ever changing leaves and onwards down the commonly trodden woodland trail, round past the flowing waters all the while being surrounded by the sounds of both nature and man.  Passing by a multitude of squirrels, birds and other wonderful creatures of which most had probably remained unseen, though some I stood a while and watched in awe..  Some I even captured down the lense of my new phones camera.  But all the while being mindful and careful as not to scare or disturb and of course minded as I crossed the troll bridge to the other side unscathed and same goes for around the fairy toadstools which adorned my path.

Until my journey brought me to a most spiritual and blissfully magical place.  Which felt somewhat more than just a single lonely bench sheltered by a beautiful Willow.  The bench conjured up such desperate feelings of emotional longing, loneliness, emptiness and sadness as though an energy sits upon the weathered and moss covered seat in silence longing for company, watching for what's next to come, waiting for perhaps what might never be.  It brought about a feeling of both isolation and hope, for what had past and gone but optimism for what could yet still be.  I stood a while gazing at the mystical scene before me..  Lingering for a while before "SNAP" my thumb hit the camera button once more capturing a memory, a moment, perhaps even an idea.  

- Echoes of loneliness a fear of being alone.

Perhaps some day, when I feel more complete, I will return to this spot once more and embrace what waits before me upon the bench surrounded by the charm and protection of the trees tears.  



Imogen x
 - Exploring what's in my head.



------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wish to see more beauty of this stunning place..  I made a video...

Thursday, 20 October 2016

MM. DIY Oil Infused Votive & Skull Candles



Personal experience. 

Yesterday I did some playing about with heat infusing oil..  Spell work, I ground up relevant herbs and added them along with a few drops of essential oils to an almond carrier oil.  I then heated this up and let cook for half hour, covered with cling film and left to sit for 24 hours.


I melted down some candle making soy wax flakes which I used said oil to make a skull candle (not sharing as its for personal spell work).  I went on to make some votive candles and I saved the rest of the oil to use as part of the skull candle spell.



Imogen BB

I don't believe in messing with love but if you want to know how skull candles are used for spells here's some examples..     


Edit.  The skull didn't do what that votive did and neither did 2 others lol.  But in other news the skull spell worked exactly as intended!!   


Friday, 14 October 2016

Haul. Personal - Goth / Witchy (Halloween) Home Decor & More...


Mini haul from carphonewarehouse, poundland & wilkos

I'm so excited I got a new contract phone Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge!  Also got some frames as I want to frame some Wiccan art (Wiccan Rede & Wheel Of The Year) prints I got.  2 awesome wall signs for £1 each, small bat blanket for my cats bed also £1.  A new pumpkin tealight holder £1 and some other bits..

Imogen x


Thursday, 13 October 2016

Pagan Jokes - Thieves!


Thoughts: Enough studying, I'm going to study instead!!





Decided I've had enough of magickal study for now (reading) and I wanted to do something more practical like make some incense.. So I picked up some books and started to read and makes notes.. 😂😁❤️  How ironic?

Imogen 

Tuesday, 11 October 2016

Haul: It's Elemental Dear Boy ;) hehe!! (Jars)



(Aww I got a magickal gift from a stranger!!  Sort of!!)


Photo of Coloured Glass Jars by me on 12th October 2016 
© Imogen Cane - missimoinsane 2016



A good while ago I found a seller on ebay selling reasonable sized but perfectly small-ish coloured glass jars (a bit smaller than those photographed above). The listing was for 5 jars and she would send all different colours or to message for specific colours. The colours available being Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Purple and/or Pink.

PERFECT!!

Being exactly what I had been looking for for some time now I went ahead, ordered and sent a message explaining I'm Pagan these jars are perfect element jars for something I want to do so could she please make sure to send Blue, Red, Green and Yellow. The 5th can be Purple ideally for spirit but I don't think I'd really use it so any colour for the 5th would do.

A week or so passes and she finally marks my order as dispatched. Two days later she replies to my message informing me my jars had been posted, shes only just read my message and she doesn't have any Green or Blue left. I replied and explained my disappointment and reaffirmed what I had said originally and elaborated my intention for these jars (Blue/Water, Red/Fire, Green/Earth, Yellow/Air and Purple or any colour...)  I politely explained she should have cancelled the order or at least contacted me prior to shipping.. She replied, seemingly not overly happy and divulged into a small rant of first come, first served notions.  She proceeded if I want to send them back, at my cost not hers, she would gladly refund - as a small independent business owner.  I replied explaining how I was disappointed based on the fact I had instantly asked for specific colours for specific reason upon my purchase (which her product description advised) a week prior to her actually shipping them. I went on to say how it was unfair return shipping to come out of my pocket so I'm sure I'll find another use for them. We exchanged a few more messages and I waited.  -Feeling disgruntled. 

Another week went past and no jars. I contacted the seller but no reply. Another week and another ignored message..  Then a few days later I received: Red, Yellow, Purple, Pink and Orange!! ORANGE WASN'T EVEN ON HER LIST!! - I thanked her for the jars, informed her they had arrived and left positive five star feedback. She sent me a thanks and informed me she was getting more styles and colours soon. - I didn't reply.

A few days later Ebay and PayPal notified me to say the seller had issued me a full refund!!

I decided to leave it at that and keep an eye open for other jars fit for purposes in the right colours, matching, glass and right size etc.. some other time. That was WEEKS ago!! I actually didn't pursue looking for more jars - I kind of hoped they'd turn up in a charity shop or when I least expected it and be perfect.

Today I received a surprise package from her containing four perfect jars: Blue, Red, Yellow and Green.  *pictured above*.

- Unsure if there's an underlying message in all of this, but either way I'm very happy!!


Imogen x
 - Exploring what's in my head.
www.missimoinsane.webs.com 


Ps. Yes I'm well aware the turn of phrase is "It's elementary dear boy" not elemental. But just go with it. - Before someone tried to be cleverer ;)

Exploring Strange Thoughts - Falling For A Leaf.


Falling For A Leaf.
(An usual perspective.  And magical story.  With an unknown ending.) 

A macro photo of an Oak leaf by me on 10th October 2016 
© Imogen Cane - missimoinsane 2016

The tree stands tall proud of what it has achieved as the seasons come and go.  Growing, evolving, changing, producing. Each leaf different and unique like the individual fingerprints of the forest.  Each leaf succumb to being well worn and weathered; be it burnt from the sun, bitten by bugs, battered by critter, be it waving to the moon in a cool breeze, or simply messed up on by foreign creature such as birds high above.  The leaf may become torn or broken but strong from where it came, stronger with energy for where it's going.

This one Leaf, so big and strong, so attractive and charming, so well formed and complete, grew to push past all the other leaves and be at the very top of the tree.  Watching as day becomes night and back to day.  Bathing in the warm sun light, the magical beams of the moon and surrounded by all the elements.  This Leaf is an enchanted Leaf, growing in wisdom, ever watching, ever learning, ever adapting.  Always kind and offers such shelter, protection or giving anything it can offer.

Until one day as the seasons change, this Leaf is the very first to fall..  Falling gracefully from the very top of the tree twisting and turning spiralling down, down, down.  But never did the Leaf hit rock bottom for it was swooped up on a new journey embracing life destined on a new adventure.  A new beginning for the Leaf to thrive and see more than a Leaf could ever have thought to of seen, even from the tip top of the proud tree called home.  The Leaf's passage taught it to dance in the wind blessed by the air.  The Leaf learnt to doge the flame of fire so not to be burnt.  The Leaf learnt to survive by the hydration of water.  Finally the Leaf learnt to return to the earth.  As the Leaf finally spiralled down one last time the Leaf saw the spirit all around. Finally as the Leaf touched ground, grounding itself, the Leaf noticed the path that it had taken and felt blessed by all it had seen, nourished by the wisdom, empowered by all it had touched and embraced, all that had been the wonderful paths the Leaf had got to experience just a taste of just one possible magical journey of life.  But now the Leaf felt alone, colour fading from its the face.

People walked by; some even stopped to admire the fallen Leaf for a short while, though sadly did not stay.  Until one day there came a Girl almost as magical as the previous path the Leaf had seen and she gave the Leaf hope and excitement for what was to be an exciting new journey as she picked it up and carried it for a while on a new adventure.  It was then that the Leaf looked up and saw the moon and the sun both in the sky above.  Feeling the most magical and special things although sadly it was not meant to be for the Girl hurt the Leaf.  Dropping it, leaving the Leaf behind.

The Leaf, lonely, far from where it came was about to lost hope but keeping it's faith and understanding where the journey had gone awry but still torn by the ending.  Knowing that it's not the end but still colour fading fast. The ticking clock bellows obnoxiously.  The Leaf trundling along mindlessly watching the world go by, surrounded by what once felt so new and alive slowly becoming decayed and cold.  The Leaf had been so caught up it had forgotten other journeys could yet be found, even in the most unlikely of circumstances. Feeling alone, wilting, energy fading.  Just as the Leaf looked up one last time to take in the view another Girl saw just how beautiful the Leaf was.  Though this Girl once shined brighter than the sun, moon and stars put together she too now faded from her journeys past.  Seeing the Leaf she knew it was magical and knowing it was special enabled her to light up like she had once before, though the Leaf didn't even see her for what she was or what she could be.  Despite this the Girl felt she needed to find a way to bring back the hope as she was wanting to claim this magnificent Leaf for her very own.  She carefully picked up the Leaf, introduced herself awkwardly and hoped something divine was afoot as she felt the life this Leaf had had transform..   sparking magic into her very being, right into her fingertips.  She knew she wanted nothing more than to take the Leaf and do her very best to fulfill a happily ever after ending still full of bright blessed light.  Like something from a fairy-tale she felt perhaps she knew him once upon a dream.. That she had longer for.  She gazed in hope and desire as the Leaf remained still, for the Leaf now sat behind the glass.  She stares at the Leaf as though charmed with warmth and amazement of how just one thing can be so simply beautiful... as she longed and she hoped something more was yet to come.


Imogen x
 - Exploring what's in my head.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 When you feel like you've always known a stranger... 

Best with headphones - Loud.

Monday, 10 October 2016

- Merry Meet / The Cauldron Born.

(Just Creative Thoughts)
Digital Painting of me by me on 9th October 2016 
© Imogen Cane - missimoinsane 2016

Today I'm working on my journey, trying to figure out where I go from here.  Scrying into the flames of my hot headed actions, those which caused me to get burned.  Falling in love with music, especially one song, and the ideas of what could be.  Wanting to create a fantasy of happily ever after.  Still learning, ever growing.. never ending.  I have enjoyed my creativity today, I should find time to do it more.

I'm overly enjoying this song, wishing I could find someone who understands me, so thought I'd share..


Imogen x
 - Exploring what's in my head.

Sunday, 9 October 2016

- A Fly On Venus.

(A True Story, Enhanced with Nonsense)

Photo of my Venus Fly Trap photographed by me on 8th October 2016 
© Imogen Cane - missimoinsane 2016

I watch as the ebony body and glossy wings crawls so arrogantly across my screen.

I watch as the common housefly does her rounds, like a roller coaster... loop-de-loop.

I watch as she lands back on my screen.. Twitching and crawling.. ever so annoying.

I watch as she takes off again... One loop. Two loops. Three loops. Hulla Hoops.

I watch as she lands back again on my computer screen.

I yell. "The whole world to play in and you're here annoying me!".

I watch as she mocks me so. Ever inching closer towards the enticing terrarium but a foot away.

I watch as she does more loops, side ways this time... More loops, more loops.

I watch as she lands on the outside of the bowl. I smirk.

I watch as she crawls once, twice.. Around the bowl.. She takes of again with more loops.

I watch as she flies into my face mocking me more as though more intellectual than I.

I watch as she goes back to the bowl. She goes in.

I watch as the housefly lands on Venus. Crawling around she manages to avoid traps 1-5.

I watch as she takes off again. One loop. Two loops. Three loops. Fruit loops.

I watch as she's back on the screen.. Sticking her legs up as though to give me 'the finger'.

I sigh in disbelief.

I watch as she flies some more. More loops. And back in the terrarium she goes.

I watch as she slinks over traps 6-10. She's back out.

I watch as she flies around some more. Back in the terrarium. She avoids all 14 traps.

I watch as she wanders around.. She sets off some traps but they all miss her.

I watch as she flies back out.. Cheekily dancing on the rim of my tea cup.

I can hear her now, hear her laughing!

I watch as I try to attack but she avoids. Dodge, dodge, more dodge.

The fly is laughing. I'm going crazy.

I watch as loop after loop she laughs and back in the terrarium she goes.

I watch as she evades the closing mouths of 1 trap, 2.. 3... ...6.. Shes back out the bowl.

I watch as she proceeds to mock us. Over an hour if not two.. More loops, fruit loops.

I watch as my cat walks in. He sits down calmly.

I watch as the fly flies near him. 

With one swoop he pounces, catches and eats the fly... 

I watch as he walks off casually.

Venus fly trap and I look at each other. Hungry.



Imogen x
 - Exploring what's in my head.
www.missimoinsane.webs.com 

Saturday, 8 October 2016

- Toadstools can make you wish you had never been bo-ooo-rn...

...Never been born!  - Ivor Cutler.  

(A blog entry about people and relationships.)

Photo of fungi at Stanley Park Blackpool photographed by me on 1st October 2016 
© Imogen Cane - missimoinsane 2016
By now it should be obvious to most that we do not willy nilly walk along eating any fungus we see regardless of where they may come from, what they may look like, if everyone else is doing it or indeed if they're 'good for us' at all. 

Yet we blindly walk through life befriending strangers and in some cases stuffing our faces and engorging on them like an obsessive compulsion to absorb everything about them; almost like we wish to become one with them!  Some of these we never know until it's too late just how poisonous or even deadly they may be.. despite their deliciousness, sensational aroma, or even plain and simple misleading and/or enchanting appearances. 

Perhaps we should be taught much earlier on about how to tell the good from the bad and not just follow blindly or with pure ignorance to the dangers laid before us.  If only we humans had some form of mycologist, but for people..   Someone who would not only tell us about what we may or may not encounter and where, but the effects and probable outcomes of indulging in such.   Elaborating on where this fungus grows, how it evolved and adapted, how it can be misleading and easily mistaken for something good for us when really it's increasing toxicity becomes what kills us in the end.  Or of course those that flat out poison us from the start.  


I take a step back. 

I look at my surroundings; this concrete jungle that man has created.  As we grow and spread like spores of a black mould destroying or at least corrupting everything in its path, manipulating to survive no longer simply living off the land but destroying it.  I look at what it's grown, what came to be, what grew and evolved, what adapted to the surroundings, what only came to be because of what we did.  I see what was chemically grown, what struggled to survive and what died off.  I see what's endangered, what festered from what we left behind, what is growing like an untreated yeast infection.   I see what is cleverly surviving despite everything, what managed to cling to its ancestors and still be beautiful despite all the change. 

I look at the people, they have no faces, just like mushrooms.. A relatively gathered bunch of the same or similar organisms banded together under a collective name yet still differ in texture, appearance, colour, size, shape, abilities, toxicities... Some addicting making us feel the most magical things.  While others literally rotting us to the chore.  Then as mentioned those that just flat out kill.  

I'm feeling so primitive; blindly trying out all the fungi..  narrowly escaping the inevitable with each new course.  Watching those around us make the wrong choices and die leaving behind a hollow shell.  Watching those around us who make bad choices but find a cure.  Watching those around us make the right choices and living on such a high.  Watching those around us make choices which simply sustain, nourish or at least allow to be well fed even if only temporarily.  Watching those around us as some discover or even create new threads of subspecies..  watching as they grow.. develop..  Some like a cancer.. others blooming as though they're wrapping around us like a cool breeze on a humid summers eve. 


I take a step back. 

I wish there was someone who could identify what would do us good from what would do us harm.  I grow tired of this fungi roulette; it's not fun!!

"Toadstools can make you wish you had never been bo-ooo-rn, never been born" - Ivor Cutler.

Imogen x
 - Exploring what's in my head.
www.missimoinsane.webs.com 

Friday, 7 October 2016

- Writing for the sake of writing. Awkward.

(Introduction & Rambling Tangents.)
Photo of DIY hybrid quill made by me, photographed by me on 6th October 2016
© Imogen Cane - missimoinsane 2016

Merry meet!

Due to recent events, and a blog I heavily indulged myself with, I have been inspired to start writing..  Perhaps writing for the sake of writing..  Although I apologies now for my terrible writing and rambling tangents.  So where am I going with this?  I guess even I'm unsure, which is suppose doesn't give you much confidence!! But I am sure it will be eventful and creative, even if slightly neglected and hypes of over posting at times..  Though I guess only time will tell..  Like a blank canvas lets see what happens this time!


In most ways I'm in a creative block.  Too many ideas, too many creative thoughts, expressions, passions, adventures and too many creative outlets, mediums, tools, supplies, media's..   Just too many!  Or just an abundance of excuses I concocted to make myself feel better regarding wasting my valuable time?  Regardless most of the time I feel like a solitary magpie just flitting from one shiny thing to the next with soul but no purpose, free with no destination but also lost in the chaos. - Which I guess in most ways is more so fitting since it's ironic and true for me as birds, including magpies, actually don't like foreign objects; shiny or otherwise!!  So in that respect maybe I am more so like a magpie with my overwhelming disinterest, fears, anxieties and feeling burdened by not knowing.. The overload in my head that for the most part I struggle to obtain results.  Guilt of hording.  Addiction of having.  And an ever growing dehydration and craving to want more of/from everything..   Old habits die hard.  But not necessarily is all of this negative or bad it's perspective.  - feeling optimistic! 


What am I on about?  Lost?  Yes?  Good!  - Don't worry I'm not off my meds.


Anyways..  I tangent..  So speaking of purpose I feel somewhere along the lines I have wandered far from my path, perhaps even got lost! (I'm assuming by now that you are too, that's assuming you're even still here!)   Nevertheless looking at the bigger picture it doesn't seem like such a bad thing..?!  Opening doors to new exciting adventures, and finding beauty especially off the designated path.   We should probably mention the whole Witch / Pagan / Eclectic Wiccan thing if you didn't already get that - or you'll most likely be baffled (yes more so than you already are, or at least will be) otherwise.  So I guess this is another chapter in my journey and I'm excited for it and I think it's time to meet new people along the way. 


So I suppose all that's left to say is welcome to my head! 


~ Writing for the sake of writing.  Awkward.  




Imogen x

http://missimoinsane.webs.com/

Wednesday, 1 April 2015

WW. Animal Totems / Spirit Animals & Guides (IMO)



Animal Totems / Spirit Animals & GuidesIn My Opinion


An ongoing & incomplete study!
Part 1.

It is my belief that a Totem usually refers to an animal much like that of a Spirit Guide however I believe that Spirit Guides can also be animal, human, deity, spirit, angels, fairy or fairy like creature, or some other unexplained guide.  Where as a Totem (to me) generally specifically means animal.

Animal Totems / Spirit Animals are more commonly associated with Shamans of old (and new).  But they also play a large role in our lives, even when we don't realise it!!  It is said that they help define and guide who we are in our paths, our journeys and even in ourselves.  They aid towards defining us as people and who are as well as capturing our imaginations.  And also the way we associate with certain animals and/or animal traits.

Shamans believe that these animals guide us in our past, current and next lives as they are a part of our soul and part of the energy that is inside of us.  As well as guiding they can also help us understand ourselves and who/what we were in our pasts not just in this life but the ones before, be it human, animal or other living energy.  Each person has one spirit animal but it is not unheard of for a person to have two or more. 

Native American Ancestors created large totems made from huge great trees and they would carve the heads of animals such as eagle, lion and bear.  Very strong symbols these would represent strength of kinship, honour and pride.  Today we still see these monuments of powerful symbolism and they are still used in religion and décor world wide today.

Typically these Animal guides are presented to us through dream or more commonly through meditation.  Some deep meditation searches may or may not require substance uses which enhance trance divination states to aid in the meditation process and bridge that connection. Some are as simple as a repetitive symbolism throughout one's life / lives; for example every time something good happens you see a Raven.. chances are you have a connection to Ravens and this is something you should investigate.  And it doesn't of course have to be a real live animal photographs, paintings, carvings or other imagery of animals can be just as strong and powerful connections.  Other alternatives are said to be drawing a card from a Shamanic Medicine Card Deck (similar to that of Tarot) or other animal based cards.  Or you may just feel a connection to certain animal(s).  Dreams are often large carriers of animal and their messages.


Here are a few sites which may give you more information about your animal or the meaning and symbolism of your animal should you be luck enough to already know your animal(s).
Imogen 

An ongoing & incomplete study!