MysticWicks Online Pagan Community and Spiritual Sanctuary

Looking for a mentor (sw ontario would be nice)

Kyleigh Wynn — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 01:05:10 GMT

What path are you interested in? Wicca with strong Celtic focus
How long have you been studying? 4years
What areas of paganism have you already explored? Mostly Wicca
What areas of paganism are you interested in? Wicca
Are you drawn to any specific deity? Rhiannon

What time zone are you in? EST
Preferred method of communication? IM, email, phone calls, all are acceptable to me. I would really like to get to know my mentor personally, if that is possible.
How much time can you devote to learning? Many hours a week.
What is your learning style? A mixture of visual and text. I am mostly stoopid. lol
What is your age?40something

Attached Images

kyleighsiggie.jpg (7.3 KB)

Enhance dreaming

thyself — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:44:09 GMT

I am sorry if this is not the correct place for this thread... But I really want to improve my ability to dream. I realize I will probably not have prophetic dreams at first, I will just be enhancing my ability to remember and to have more vivid dreams. But I would love to hear some techniques on how to get this accomplished. I have always had really vivid dreams that felt real, and when I was a child, I had many dreams that later came true. I also experience De Ja Vu several times per week, and I feel that this is part of my dreaming as well. I really just want to be able to dream with precision I guess you'd say. That is to say, I want to be able to remember my dreams very well, and to be able to use the knowledge gained from them to better my life and the lives of others around me.

Thanks for reading! Happy Harvest!

Pas Life Regression?

thyself — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 23:55:52 GMT

I was not sure whether to post this in the HELP section or this one, but I figured this one was more appropriate.

I am hoping someone here can give me advice on how to further persue my past lives... I feel as if I am searching for something... And I think that I am searching for something within myself. I love my life, I am as happy as I have ever been. I just got married to m y husband whom I love with all of my being, and we have a cute little apartment, with a garden, two happy cats, who are both my familiars and who I trust completely, and our little dog who is provides us with endless entertainment and love. So I do not understand why I am feeling this way. I have noticed myself, ever since we moved into our apartment, that I have been buying things more.. I mean not anything huge, or extravagant, but more little things more often. I mean, yes I need to furnish our place and make it a home, but the shopping is just one thing I have noticed myself doing. I mean, I have to talk myself out of buying these little knick knacks to put around our house, because they are silly little things that I don't need, and yet I feel myself wanting them. Also, my husband is a Marine here in Socal, and he just finished his data school, which meant that I had been moving around a lot the past eight months. I have moved six times in that tiem period. Now, he has ten days of leave, and we are sitting at home enjoying each other's company, but I can't help but feel a little ....bored? I feel terrible for feeling this way, however normal I am sure it is. Anyhow, I just feel like I am searching for something, within myself. And I would love for someone to give me any info on past life regression. Feel free to share any stories you have about you or your past life(s). Thanks so much!

Also, I am an empath, but not a strong one, and I am hoping to develop these skills as well. I carry jasper, or petrified wood, or some other grounding stone to help me keep others' emotions from effecting mine. Usually though, it isn't the emotions of people or at least living people that affect me.

The first time I discovered I was empathic was when I walked into a used book store, and as soon as I entered, I felt as if thousands of people were trying to talk to me at once, almost shouting. Like the books were saying pick me! Pick me! I have the best story! But it was dead silent in the store. I was the only person in the store other than the proprietor, and he was away in a back room. It was very exhilerating, but also very exhausting. I want to enhance and develop these skills, and get better at not letting them sapp my energy, so I can possibly help other people in some way. I want to be able to tell these specific feelings apart from one another, so I can determine the time they happened, why, etc. I have researched a few books, and am awaiting their arrival in the mail, but I also acknowledge that one can only learn so much from books. I am only seeking perhaps some advice on what worked for you, or someone you know.

Thanks for reading! Happy Harvest!

Cultural Quirks?

Caitlin.ann — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:50:43 GMT

I believe there was a thread similar to this a while back, but I thought it would be fun to start anew anyways.

What are some quirks the populace in your area share?

Here in my area you'll hear a lot of "worsh", "crick", leaving the "g" of of "ing" words (i.e., worshin', runnin', etc.). Hunting, gods, gun, and America are big around here. Most people seem to be conservative Christians. Around here family is huge and you're likely to have your family involved in everything, or at least gossipin' aboutcha!

Thats all I can think of right now, but I'm sure I'll come up with more later.

What about ya'll?

Florida pastor calls off Quran burning

Caitlin.ann — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:17:25 GMT

Quote:

(CNN) -- The Florida pastor who had planned to burn copies of the Quran on Saturday has called it off.

The Rev. Terry Jones of the Gainesville, Florida-based Dove World Outreach Center made the announcement Thursday.

Earlier Thursday, President Obama said Jones' plan, which had triggered worldwide controversy, would be a "recruitment bonanza for al Qaeda."

Link

Yay!!! :)

I already dislike them. <_<

RoseKitten — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:40:27 GMT

So... my in-laws are already annoying the crap out of me. Our wedding is tomorrow, and I got a call a couple hours ago from my SO saying that we need to make reservations for them at a hotel.

Um, excuse me? My parents were capable of making their own reservations, why aren't his? Not only that, but they're staying until Sunday. I'm not entertaining anybody other then him all weekend, period.

Some other important info. First, he's in the army. I don't get to see him much, at all, ever. He's deploying in a couple of months, and I find it rude that his parents expect us to entertain them on our weeding weekend. As it is, when we go visit them on what few 4-day passes he gets, we're not even allowed to sleep in a guest room, but rather on a pull out couch in the living room, because it makes his mother uncomfortable. Hell, I'm not allowed to cuddle with him.

This wedding was supposed to be stress free. Our plans, simple. The ceremony, simple. The only guests are our parents, so no stress there. Yet, somehow, in just one day they've managed to make me stressed, irritable, and depressed all at once.

Apparently, they also expected to spend the weekend hanging out with my parents. However, they never bothered to tell anyone until today, and my parents aren't staying through the weekend. They're odd like that, wanting to let us be alone after we get married. Crazy.

His mom has also been the one in control of all of his finances. She can't even give me log in information for any of it, doesn't know balances, interest rates, pay off amounts, and doesn't know how to access any of it either. My SO has been working ridiculous hours the last couple weeks, and isn't ever home when the banks and loan companies are open, so I can't get access to the accounts to get the information I need, and his mom doesn't know how. <_<

I'm very displeased right now. I wanted my stress free wedding, to well, be stress free. Actually, the wedding still will be, but they've managed to cause me a ton of stress from everything else.

I need a drink. :lol:

disturbing dream... urgent interp requested...

PandoraHealer — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:31:00 GMT

I don't dream much anymore... It's been... close to 8 months since I had a dream... or at least one I remembered... until last night.
It's rather graphic and bothers me quite a bit... I don't feel comfortable posting it on the open forum, as the details are far from pg-13. It involves a rape and shooting.

It's got me very jumpy and very nervous today and I'd like someone to interpret it for me... I can send details in a PM...

I'm almost in tears over it and I don't really know where to begin... if someone can help I'd appreciate it...

~PH
3608ab9c-4f47-45fa-a4ac-e17dbe0720af
1.03.01

Re-Introduction

Irishwaterz — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:20:52 GMT

Its been a while since Ive been here and I never stayed before, I posted some questions and got some answers and then I left.

Thats going to change, I am ready to really stay around this time, make some connections, new friends and learn as much as I can.

Anyways to refresh:

My name is Ace. Im 36.
A Writer, Gay, I live in Las Vegas but am planning to move out of here ASAP.

my parents both have cancer and Im trying to help them and hopefully they will both survive and then I can move but its not looking good at the moment :(

I came here confused about my spiritual path but I came to some conclusions.

I am a Unitarian Universalist
This will probably never change, even if Im living in a small town without a church, I will always consider myself part of this belief system and then theres always the online UU church I could join.

I also call myself a Solitary Eclectic Witch/Pagan (depending on my mood) I do practice Magic and divination among other things but I am also a Pantheist as I consider The Goddess to be the holy and divine Universe and Nature.

Im probably more Pantheist than Pagan at this point in my journey but *now this is gonna sound silly* I prefer the word Pagan to Pantheist. lol

and most people know what a Pagan is more so than a Pantheist but who knows where I will be, my tarot reading on myself said that I was going to face a double whammy soon and go through a major personality and spiritual change so we'll see! :o)

Hope Im still welcome here!

Bright Blessings!
Ace

Response to a Response to a Review of Vodou Money Magic

KenazFilan — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:22:21 GMT

In response to my August 31 blog entry, AdeLokun wrote to Tristatevodou:

I haven't posted on this forum in many years, but this thread hits on an issue that I have been struggling with these past few months. I find this thread very troubling. I am not a vodou practioner but an Santero, but as a sister tradition we also make ebo sacrifice in the hopes of having health, strength and stability in our lives. And I have seen Orisha, and vodu and nkisi, create miracles again and again. However, if we are honest with ourselves and others we know that prayers are not always answered. For some illnesses there is no remedy except death. People have different destinies and the spirits bring tremendous wealth to some, while I have known many great initiates who have lived simple lives within very simple means.

It is definitely important to note that Vodou is not a cure-all and that, as AdeLokun wisely points out, prayers are not always answered. Any practitioner who claims a 100% success rate in money magic (or any other kind!) is lying to you. We also should remember that the spirits generally give a hand up rather than a handout. Any magical stuff we do or purchased should be accompanied by material efforts to resolve our situation.

AdeLokun's comment about great initiates leading simple lives points to yet another great truth: success is about comfort, not about some arbitrary set of numbers. You are not a success if you are making $1 million a year, but spending $1.5 million in a vain attempt to fill some void in your life. You are not a failure if you are paying your bills and living comfortably on a modest income earned doing something you love. The lwa will help you to meet your obligations and possibly even help you with a few luxuries. But sevis lwa does not guarantee one a McMansion and a Mercedes.

The first step in doing money magic is determining how much money one truly requires. Lwa like Ezili Danto and Ogou can help you in making a realistic assessment of what you need, and in prioritizing what you want. They can help you to overcome counterproductive behavior. In this process, you may well develop a sincere, rewarding relationship with that spirit. I've known many people who came to the lwa in search of love spells or money spells. Their work proved very rewarding and spiritually fruitful whether their desired outcome failed to materialize.

I have a godson now who is struggling financially and we have made numerous offerinsg baths etc to help but at some level this may just be a trial he has to go through at this time. And my own life as an initiate has not been a bed of roses. I am deeply grateful but I face an army of challenges of all kinds every day. I mean to say that if working the spirit--vodu, orisha or nkisi meant that you could magically get anything you want none of our anscestrors in these traditions would have been dragged to the Americas in the first place. So there must be something deeper to our faith and tradition than simly reciprical relationships where everyone gets what they want. I always thought that African traditions have a deep sense of life's inherent tragedy. Which I find missing from this account. I mean this as discussion and not as an admonishment.

There certainly can be something much deeper than a simple "you give me X and I give you Y in return." But I also think there is and has always been a place in the tradition for those who simply want to call on the spirits for magical aid. This may lead to a closer relationship with the lwa or the orishas, or it may not. This is not a path for everyone: someone who receives aid from our spirits may well provide a thank-you offering and then go elsewhere to fulfill their deeper spiritual needs.

I should also add that there is a degree of risk with this approach. Raven uses the term "lawful prey" to describe those who, by birth or through their actions, can be claimed by a spirit. If you keep going to the lwa or orishas with your problems, they may decide you need to become one of their clergy. And they are not likely to be too concerned with getting your consent to this expensive and arduous process! I've heard plenty of stories from African Diaspora traditions about people whose lives were turned upside down until they did what the spirits demanded of them.

3 Teens Facing Murder Charges in 81-Year-Old's Death

Agaliha — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:02:38 GMT

OMG. I am so disgusted with these people!

Quote:

TEMPE, AZ - An 81-year-old Tempe man was beaten to death by teenagers while attending his granddaughter’s wedding in Virginia, in an apparently random attack.

George Baker’s son Gregg Baker, whose daughter was getting married, remembers his father’s last day. “[He was] hugging his granddaughter at her wedding reception, telling her how beautiful she looked, telling her how much he loved her.”

“We are strong, but it still makes me sick,” said Leslie Gahagan, the bride. “How could you do that to an old man?”

Two 16-year-olds and a 13-year-old have been charged with murder. Prosecutors say they will decide in the next few days whether to charge the teenagers as adults.

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/region...80%99s-wedding

&

Quote:

LYNCHBURG, Va -- A 16-year-old was trying to impress a group of girls when he attacked an 81-year-old Tempe man in Virginia, police records show.

The youth was walking with a group of girls in downtown Lynchburg late Saturday night, according to a warrant filed to search the suspect's apartment. He told the girls he would attack "the first person he saw," the warrant states.

http://www.kpho.com/news/24928101/detail.html

&

Quote:

Baker was a widower who leaves behind three children. He had lived in the same Tempe home across from the Ken McDonald Golf Course since 1973. Baker even had his own chair at the course restaurant, the chef made him specialty meals to accommodate his celiac disease, his son said.

The younger Baker said it was hard to describe the emotions he went through on the day of both his daughter's wedding and his father's death.

He was informed by police that his father was critically injured as the wedding reception was coming to an end. As the newlyweds took off in their car, Gregg Baker's new son-in-law turned toward the hospital instead of the planed their honeymoon destination and said "family is important" before explaining Baker's condition to his new bride.

Baker was unresponsive at the scene and was put on life-support at the hospital, his son said. He stayed by his father's side until he died.

"I don't want retribution, I want redemption," Baker said of his father's killers. He added that the two 16- year-olds will be tried as adults.

(...)

A neighborhood child who had just heard of Baker's death stood with two of his friends outside of the home Wednesday and through tears and gasps for breath said, "He was my friend."

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articl...#ixzz0z3JLz51u

Like seriously, I'm so disgusted that people could do this to this man and put their family through this. :mad: So sad :(

Sooo...this is me.

RaeCori — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:53:54 GMT

1) Is there a story behind your user I.D./screen name?

Not really, just a combination of my first and middle names. Most people just call me Rae.

2) How'd you find us here at Mystic Wicks?

Through Google and hours of searching.

3) Do you follow any certain path (spiritually)?

I was raised Christian and still have Christian beliefs. That being said I am also open enough to believe that there is so much more to existance and that no one has all the answers. I guess you could say I follow a path of discovery.

4) Would you like people to send you a private message saying "hi" if they see your profile and want to get to know you better?

Sure. You can never know too many people.

5) Do you use incense, and if you do, do you have a favorite scent?

No incense for me. I'm alergic to most of them. Instead I have make my own homemade pot pourri out of my favourite scents. I use alot of cinnamon and oranges.

6) How about "totem animals"; is there any certain animal with which you most identify?

the Pheonix

7) Is there anything else you think we should know about you, or that you'd like to share?

A year and a half ago I died giving birth. I got better, but since then I've felt different, been different. I don't understand all the things that have been happening in my life since this event. I am on a journey of self-discovery. I am interested in the bigger picture.
__________________

Check This Out! New speedbump.

Winter_Witch — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:47:51 GMT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot...ns-of-children

AD: Beadlyze Jewelry store

Anubisa — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:46:40 GMT

I am a beader and right now I only have 4 products on the site. More will be made by the end of this week. I also can make you custom jewelry. Please come by http://beadlyze.webs.com and see what there is. I have no problem making custom jewelry and helping you with your jewelry needs.

funny dream!

BeautyQueen — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:32:36 GMT

hey friends!
Lets share your most funniest dream ever. Can you remember any right now?

Introduction of sorts.

Brambles — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:15:29 GMT

Hi everyone, nice to meet you.

I think this'll pretty much explain everything:

1) Is there a story behind your user I.D./screen name?
Not particularly, I love Autumn and wild fruits and the word is pleasant.

2) How'd you find us here at Mystic Wicks?
From a link at livejournal

3) Do you follow any certain path (spiritually)?
I'm not sure I do. I believe I have a guardian angel who is around and because I love nature I felt like I had an affinity with Paganism and Wicca in particular when I was younger and quite recently these feelings have risen again. The material I read when I was younger (around 14) wasn't the greatest though and now having read back some of the things I used to refer to I can't believe how naive I was. But I was a kid and couldn't have known.

4) Would you give me a kidney if I needed it? JUST KIDDING! Only checking to see who's paying attention... lol

I already promised my spare kidney to someone else...sorry :p

the real #4) Would you like people to send you a private message saying "hi" if they see your profile and want to get to know you better?

Yeah that would be lovely.

5) Do you use incense, and if you do, do you have a favorite scent?

I use incense and oils and right now I'm loving lavender. I love the instant muscle-relaxing mind-soothing properties.

6) How about "totem animals"; is there any certain animal with which you most identify?

I have a soft spot for red foxes.

7) Is there anything else you think we should know about you, or that you'd like to share?

I'm here to learn, basically, I can't pretend to know anything as everything I did 'learn' was about 10 years ago. New friends would also be a bonus as none of my friends are particularly spiritual or religious in any sense. :)

Soldier dies by police

dandalion — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:40:17 GMT

This happened right in my home town and I find it very tragic. The soldier not being able to handle the stress from combat and such and the police not knowing about his past but having to keep the public as well as them selves safe.

Link here

In my opinion the whole system failed here.

Meteors...

CelestialFire_Sai — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 05:05:50 GMT

I find that meteors are a very powerful stone to work with, the energy in it's self is out of it's world. It holds the element of the "all" or what I like to call the Spirit Element. Meteors tend to be picky about their masters and tend to work better with those who have an energy that is a) stronger than it is b) The same origin c) With those compatible with the strong celestial energies it gives off. Sometimes the meteor will even pick it's owner.

Although this is what I have at least seen from experience while using my meteor. I am also the only one among my friends and family who is able to use it to it's full extent.

I find that if one that is not compatible to the meteor will feel a burning/tingling sensation run up the arm and further into the body. This grows more intense if one holds it longer, it can even get to the point where it's either numbing or painful to hold.

It should be noted that Meteor should not be used by those with weaker energies.
* * *

Atleast this is some of the extent on which I have researched and seen with my own experiences with the meteor I hold dear out of my collection of crystals I use for rock and crystal magick. Does any one else know any other properties that Meteor can hold?

Oh yeah it's also an Iron/Nickle Meteorite that I hold in my posession. I also find that the energy it gives off is very similar to my aura/spiritual energy in looks. It has a Silvery/gold with hints of sparks, but very light coloured energy that comes of it in flamey tendrils... but that could just be the meteor mimicking my aura or energy....???

Castro admits socialism failed...yet again

memnoch — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:56:41 GMT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100908/...a_fidel_castro

Quote:

Fidel Castro told a visiting American journalist that Cuba's communist economic model doesn't work, a rare comment on domestic affairs from a man who has conspicuously steered clear of local issues since stepping down four years ago.

The fact that things are not working efficiently on this cash-strapped Caribbean island is hardly news. Fidel's brother Raul, the country's president, has said the same thing repeatedly. But the blunt assessment by the father of Cuba's 1959 revolution is sure to raise eyebrows.

An introduction from the Mysterious Sai

CelestialFire_Sai — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:38:22 GMT

Well hello, you can call me Sai while on these forums... or whatever suits you.
I've always seen myself as a bit inhuman since I was little and I have also been aware of my psychic talents since then. (The inhuman feeling was not from being psychic... i just didn't feel it, if you know what I mean.).
Many years pass and here I am, 17, fully aware of my abilities and what I am: in possesion of a non-human soul (is Celestial Demon), and knows for a fact that I have had many past lives... the most recent being involved in the Red Army in Russia during WW2, along with having a very very odd aura, and phantom wings and horns... well than there's a load of a lot more stuff to add but I won't now as I'm keeping this... well atleast short with an upbeat attitude :)

Anyways, I see things with an openmind and am very welcome to learn from what others have to say. I am also knowledgable in certain paranormal and metaphysical topics. I also practice Crystal magick and energy manipulation of the such as well.... Glad to meet you all on this wonderful site as I know you guys are way more receptive and open than the other sites I have encounterd in the past. as I said, I am happy to be a part of this forum.

Grandmother passed away last night...

RedTailHawk — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:04:47 GMT

She was 87 and ill for about a month (I left an energy request post back in July). She recovered enough to go to rehab but apparently suffered from congestive heart failure last night and passed away.
She has lived through a brain aneurysm, colon cancer, the death of her husband, the death of a daughter, and so much more. She is possibly the strongest and toughest person I know.

The next few days/weeks/months are going to be tough. Any kind words/thoughts would be so nice.

Or share a story of a strong relative of yours. Someone who made the doctors say "Wow".

Frisky American Boys Having a Bit of Fun

Snapdragon — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:22:29 GMT

US soldiers 'killed Afghan civilians for sport and collected fingers as trophies'

Soldiers face trial over secret 'kill team' which allegedly murdered at random and collected fingers as trophies of war

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010...ilians-fingers

Want to lay odds as to how many, if found guilty, are sentenced to imprisonment...and how much of that time they actually do?

Gotta love those American values.

Intro/IceBreaker

Vyk — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:41:58 GMT

1) Is there a story behind your user I.D./screen name?

Nope, just a screenname.

2) How'd you find us here at Mystic Wicks?

The all powerful Google

3) Do you follow any certain path (spiritually)?

Nope. Don't have a specific path that I follow. Love to learn, drawn mosty to celtic & norse paths and a little Native American.

4) Would you like people to send you a private message saying "hi" if they see your profile and want to get to know you better?

Yes, everyone is more than welcome to.

5) Do you use incense, and if you do, do you have a favorite scent?

Yes I do. It is rare that I don't have any around. Favorite . . . ??? Not really. Dragon's Blood, Naga Champa, Sandlewood are common ones that you'll find in stock at my place.

6) How about "totem animals"; is there any certain animal with which you most identify?

Yes, wolf.

7) Is there anything else you think we should know about you, or that you'd like to share?

I've been a part of the pagan community in one form or another (online and/or offline) for about 12-13 years now. Not much of a debater and have periods of time where you won't hear from me at all. But I am most likely in the background reading, lurking, trolling . . . etc.

A Personal Triumph

LadyDryad — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:03:51 GMT

This isn't really relevant to anything, I just felt like sharing!

I am working on completion of a Diploma in Disability Studies. I have one course to go...a community research project.

We recently found out that our proposals will be going under full review from the main campus (I attend classes at a satellite campus of the university), and in order for there to be enough time we need to have them updated and ready to go for today's class (the first one).

I have been so worried about this that I've been putting it off and putting it off. I finally read my instructor's comments on my first draft, and am feeling a WHOLE LOT BETTER!

She frequently uses words such as "brilliant," "YES!", and "exceptional."

I was so worried that it was terrible that I've been doing everything to avoid looking at it, even though I know I need it for 4:30 this afternoon.

My topic has to do with the quality of information people who have sustained head injuries receive in our community.

I finally feel like this project is doable!!

Going to College with Autism (Off Topic, Non-Pagan - I sort of just need some out)

EelKat — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:44:57 GMT

I have a long story to share, and a few questions to ask. But mostly, I just need to get this off my chest and try to sort things out. Hope you don't mind.

First off, I have "high functioning Autism", which means I can more or less function in society but do require some assistace in some areas of daily living. (I can't drive a car for example, and I often forget to do "simple things" like eat or shower and have to have some one there to remind me.)

For 30 years my biggest problem was not talking. I can talk, and around family I can talk fine with no problems at all. There are exactly 7 people whom I am able to have conversations with. Every one else forget it. I can't explain it, but it's like I totally lose my voice. I try to speak but no words come out at all or some times it's just a bunch of random gurggles. Sometimes if the person is patent enough to sit around waiting long enough, I am able to get out a disconected string of baddly stuttered peices of words. It's terrible and embarrassing because people sort of pat me on the head like I was a cat and say "poor thing, she's retarded". Than they start talking about me like they think I'm not there or can't understand what they are saying and often they say things that hurt my feelings. It's really upsetting, especially seeing how I am so very good at talking around family members.

Usually if I wanted to talk to people I end up writing things down, that way they also know I'm not retarded and can understand them perfectly. As a result, I became a writer and author and have written several books, short stories, articles, etc. I love writing, but let's face it, the pay sucks.

Than there is the fact at age 35 years old, I was still live with my dad, because there are just so many things I am not able to do.

Well, in 2005, during a huge flood that left me homeless and my dad in a coma. It was the first time I had ever been without "an adult" there to help me with simple day to day things. And I found out fast just how much there was out there that I really, had absolutly no idea how to do.

And at that point, in 2005, I had never been to a doctor, had never attended school, had never left the house, and the only people who ever visited me were the preists my parents kept bringing in to do exsocisms (my parents come from a religion that does not believe in doctors, schools, etc,). I spent the first 30 years of my life being told that I "acted different" because I had a demon living in me.

Well, in 2005, my mom ran off with some guy, than the flood came through and took our house with it and left my dad in a coma. Suddenly, I was alone and living under a tarp, with no idea how to do anything. Next thing I know I'm being taken to a psychologist on the order of a judge at some court, and everything changed.

The psychologist, said I had Autism, and explained that though I had a serious "social retardation" caused by my parents having isolated me all those years, he said my Autism wasn't really all that bad and I could with propper training, learn to live on my own in society.

Today, 5 years later, I have come a long way:

Five years ago, my speach was as discribed above. Today, though it's not perfect, I can now carry out more or less normal conversations with almost any one. (YAY!)

Five years ago, my social skills were so crippled, I could not get a job. I now temp part time at Macy's, and am an Avon Rep, and have an online job as a psychic and am now a professional artist, and will be opening a kiosk stand at a local beach next summer.

Five years ago, not even the psychologist thought I would ever be able to drive a car. He said it was very unlikely that a driver's lisence was in my future and I should plan on using busses and taxis the rest of my life. Today I have 2 cars of my own!

I had never attended school. Not grade school, not high school, nothing. I am currently taking night school classes and will have my GED hopefully, before the end of this year.

I took Bible seminary/pastoral courses with 3 different churches and now I am an ordained minister with my own chapel.

I know for most people these things may not seem too big, because they are standard things the average person just does on their own, but you got to understand that for some one with Autism, these are steps that 9 times out of 10 NEVER happen EVER in their life time, so for me to be able to acomplish these things, is really, really, REALLY big!

The biggest hurdle for my Autism is numbers. I can barely count, I forget the names of numbers, and though I've tried every thing from flash cards to recordings to study guides to in home tutors I still can not remember the times table. And than to make the problem even worse, what few times I do get the number right, I usually later find out I had reversed them, for example I'll look at a clock and see the time is 4:58 but than say aloud that the time is 8:54 or the answer to a problem might be 42 and I'll have written done 24 instead!

Well, here's the part were I get to asking you questions. You see, I'm being told by a lot of different people that it's all well and good my overcoming these huge challanges with my Autism, and learning how to become indepentant and all, but they say it's all I'll ever be able to do and there are no more challenges out there for me. People who knew my 5 years ago before the psychologist and who see me today, say they are amazed at how much I have changed and progressed, but than they add, that my overcoming these challeges was sort of pointless seeing how in their words I'll "never live a normal life", they say I'll never have a "real" "professional" career, never marry and have a family, and that my life is more or less meaningless because I will never be able to make any sort of meaningful contribution to society. (These people who say this, are my relatives btw - aunts, uncles, cousins.)

Well, I don't believe them. I believe that ANYTHING is possible and that I can do anything I've put my put my mind to doing. I mean, just look at what I've done in the last 5 years - no one ever thought I would have a job or an apartment or drive a car or talk even, and here I am five years later doing every one of those things. I say why stop there?

So what's next for me? Well, I've discovered a few things the past few years: I love helping people via my psychic hotline job. I love helping people via my non-denominational-sort-of-quasi-Christian-Pagan chapel. I love learning new things and taking school classes. Because I have overcome these supposedly impossible for an Autistic person to overcome challanges, I am able to now advise others on how to overcome similar challenges. And I just plain, really, really, really like helping people. And I now have a career goal in mind as a result: I want to become a counselor.

After researching laws ans guidelines and all the ins and outs, I have discovered that in order to achive my goal of becoming a profesional counselor I need to get a Ph.D in Psychology with a focus on Family Counseling and setting up a private practice, which means I need about 8 years of medical college with a focus on mental health.

(Oh yeah, one of the weirder symptoms of my Autism is that I see ghosts, angels, faeries, ect. and am able to talk to them, which is why I am so good at being an online psychic. People tell me that what I do is called "channleing" and that I am a channle for Spirit Guides and Ascended Masters, but I'm not too familiar with that termology. And I wanted to use this as part of my counselling career...so I'd be sort of a spiritual guidance couselor in addition to being a family counselor).

So, I tell people whom I know, about this whole going to medical school thing and they just out right laugh in my face. It's, some what disconserting actually, because it's not like a little laugh either, it's a big full gut belly laugh that goes on for several minutes, followed by a responce like: "Seriously? You? College? Forget it."

It's frustrating, because there really isn't any one I can talk to about this, seeing how the people I know personally are not only completely non supportive of my going to college, they have outright animostity towards it. My relatives, don't aprove of schooling on any level, remember? And they don't believe in doctors either. So this is a really BIG "no-no" in their eyes, which a few of them are now saying is proof that I truely am "demon possessed". *SIGH* There is just no reasoning with them.

The people who believe in Autism (as opposed to demon possession) say that there is no way I would ever survive college, and that medical college is just out of the question because it's so much harder. They say my Autism limits me too much, and that it's great that I've come as far as I have these past 5 years, but that college is just not an option for me, because no college would ever even consider accepting some one with Autism as a student.

Right now getting past basic math so that I can advance to algebra and than college math, seems to be the only road block (other than financial aid, which I'll figure out as I go along) preventing me from getting into medical college. I don't think my Autism will stop me from going to college.

So I suppose my question is have you or some one you know, ever done something against all the odds and come out on top?

Also, do you have any suggestions on what I could do to get math and numbers to stick. I've been learning everything else with such ease, but math is just not getting through at all and I don't know what to do to overcome it. I've tried everything and so far nothing has worked.

And have you ever known any college students, med students, or professionals with PH.Ds who also had Autism? Are their any psychologists or counselors out their who have Autism? If so, could you share their stories?

Do you know of any websites where I could find information on going to college and starting a professional career while having Autism?

Thanks! Sorry this got so long. I just needed to get this out there. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Kitchen Faucet Installation

LadyDryad — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:56:32 GMT

I need to install a new kitchen faucet this weekend, and it's not something I've ever done before.

So...

Tips? Things to be careful about? Things NOT to do?

It's just a standard faucet, from what I could tell...nothing fancy.

Thanks in advance!

Possession and Invocation

KenazFilan — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:24:06 GMT

[from http://kenazfilan.blogspot.com]

While cleaning out my mailbox, I found a 2006 e-mail to Lupa on the distinction between possession and invocation. (This was written during the period when Raven Kaldera and I were soliciting information for Drawing Down the Spirits). I thought it might prove useful for those interested in the topic: you may also want to read Raven's essay on possession, "The Path of the Horse."

***

In an invocation, the magician calls upon and then draws into hirself the energy of a particular spirit being. This energy can have some pretty powerful psychoactive and spiritual effects. It can result in short-term and even long-term changes in behavior, have positive and negative consequences for your health, be used to effect real-world real-time changes, etc. But the deity doesn't take control of the situation. The user's psyche may be altered by the rush of spirit-energy but it's not kicked to the curb. S/he remains in control of hir body and mind.

Invocation is a necessary precursor to any possession ritual. (I might say it's an integral part of any successful magical operation). Any invocation worthy of the name draws the attention of the spirit world. Many of the techniques used to raise the energy -- meditation, drumming, dancing and prayer -- can also be used to encourage a possession. But in most instances invocation does not culminate in possession but in a general feeling of post-orgasmic bliss and good will. Please note that I'm not minimizing invocation's importance. Most conventional religions work almost exclusively with invocation. By and large invocation is safe, and if done well can have powerful beneficial effects. Invocation can heal disease, improve luck and weave powerful magic. But in and of itself invocation is not trance possession.

Invocation's cousin evocation works in a similar fashion, only in evocation the energy is directed to a particular area and constrained therein. Indeed, when using evocation, the magician takes pains to make sure that the entity's energy does NOT mix with hir own. If possession has a polar opposite, evocation is it. But that doesn't mean we can't learn from it. Like possession, evocation has a reputation of being extremely powerful and exceptionally dangerous. Many of the safeguards used in Goetic evocation can be applied to any possession ritual to ensure things go as smoothly as possible.

A few traditions use what has come to be known as "aspecting" or "shadowing." They become a vessel for the Divine or the spirit and move with the spirit. The Divine moves through them, but they never completely "step out of the way" and let the Divine take over. There's always an option to stop and regain complete control, whether or not the aspecting/shadowing magician wishes or chooses to use it.

Among most of the Religions of the Book, even attempting this would be a major sin. Stating that you were speaking as Allah, YHVH, Jesus, etc. would be the height of hubris. Consider the revealing of the Q'uran: Muhammed claimed that he was receiving Allah's Word through Jiv'reel or Gabriel and then reciting it, not that Allah was speaking directly through him. (Eliade might describe the Prophet's recitations as so many "spirit journeys," a technique he contrasted favorably with possession). But it appears to have been quite common in many pre-Christian cultures. Many of the public Greek and Egyptian rituals appear to have involved aspecting, for example: while I don't know enough to say with any kind of authority, I suspect the same is also true of many of the Mesoamerican religions as well.

Done right, aspecting may be all you need to speak with Deity and have a completely effective ritual. A good priest/ess who is able to subsume hir ego and who is able to listen to Deity can function as a channel without losing complete control. As Raven & Co. put it, they get to remain in the driver's seat while the Deity gives directions. By treating aspecting as a sacred encounter, not as playacting or rote recitation, a group can incorporate some lighter aspects of possession into their Work with relative safety and with great benefit.

Now we get into one of the great Possession Debates: where does "aspecting" end and "channeling" begin. At what point does it cease to be the Priest/ess speaking for Deity and Deity speaking through Priest/ess? When is it no longer you but the spirit moving the body and speaking the words? This is a hotly-contested issue, and one for which there are no easy answers. I've seen many borderline cases, and I've seen situations which started out as aspecting and became full-on possessions.

(I also would note that full-on possessions generally end pretty definitively, with little or no shading into aspecting or invocation-level energy, at least in my experience. Once the spirit gives up possession S/He usually goes away, with a palpable decrease in energy).

A common rule of thumb among Afro-Caribbean traditions is that a possession is only valid if the horse loses all consciousness. In my personal experience, I've found this misleading but not entirely untrue. When I've been hit by a lwa I've generally felt like I was watching the possession from a distance. I was somewhat aware of what was going on, although there were greater or lesser memory gaps afterward, but I certainly wasn't in control of things. I believe Raven & Co. call this "back seat, watching behind the safety glass" level of possession.

However, a couple of times I have lost consciousness altogether for the duration of the ride. These typically happen with Danto, who's known to be a rather hot and fierce spirit. These full-on "locked in the trunk" possessions are pretty intense but don't typically last more than a few minutes. (Although honestly I wonder if anyone could physically sustain any level of Danto possession for much longer without shorting things out). I will also note that I've found most possessions involve some level of memory loss, typically around messages the lwa gave to someone else. I've also had fugues where I attributed things to other people: thinking "somebody just got Ogou" when I heard myself shrieking, for example.

To add yet another layer of complexity, I've heard people who work with totem or animal spirits describe a variant form of possession. Instead of letting the animal spirit get inside their heads and bodies, they get their heads and bodies inside the spirit. They wear the spirit like a hat; while they give it some control over their bodies, their intelligence and ego remains more or less intact. Based on some cursory research, I suspect this was the case for many of the pre-Christian warriors and shamans who inspired Europe's "werewolf" legends.

Ever have one of those days.....

Fairywolf — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:39:57 GMT

You know the days....Where you have thought about things so much your head hurts, the things you are thinking about have made your stomach hurt. You can't do the things you want to do, and you have to do the things that you don't want to do. Those days that you just want to go crawl under a rock and hide for a while.

Well today is that day for me.......And it sucks.

Nuff said.

Criminal Enterprise Kept the Capitalist System Going

Snapdragon — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:59:15 GMT

...so far, anyway:

...the head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime admitted that colossal piles of drugs money had kept the world financial system afloat when it looked dangerously close to collapse.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...onomy-le-carre

Intro

Kyleigh Wynn — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:45:14 GMT

1)Is there a story behind your name?

Yes, Kyleigh Wynn Phoenix is a Pagan pseudonym, meaning Graceful and Blessed. I selected this name, as my journey has not been an easy one, but I rise above it all...just like a Phoenix

2) How'd you find us here at Mystic Wicks?

A comment on my blogspot

3) Do you follow any certain path (spiritually)?

If I must put a label on myself, I would say that I am Solitary Eclectic Wiccan, taking mostly from Celtic Traditions.

4) Would you give me a kidney if I needed it? JUST KIDDING! Only checking to see who's paying attention... lol the real #4) Would you like people to send you a private message saying "hi" if they see your profile and want to get to know you better?

Yes to both actually.

5) Do you use incense, and if you do, do you have a favorite scent?

Absolutely do. I have a cat and dog, so burning incense is not always about getting grounded for me. Sometimes, it is just about smelling something other than, the cat and the dog. :bigredgri

I enjoy many different scents, if I am using them to ground myself, during my card of the day selection, or rituals, I will choose accord to those things. Otherwise, just whatever my nose likes .... especially sandalwood.

6) How about "totem animals"; is there any certain animal with which you most identify? Yes, a frog.

7) Is there anything else you think we should know about you, or that you'd like to share?

I have had a very hard time meeting people in London, Ontario, that are not fluffy bunny pagans, living the lifestyle for shock factor. I would very much like to change that. It would be nice to have someone to talk to, share learning with, go to rituals and festivals with. So, please if you live in the London, Ontario area and are looking to make a new friend, do drop me a line.

Everyday magic

earth — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:03:52 GMT

I've just been looking at an online shop that sells such interesting things as 'Lucky 13 Powder', 'Devils Shoestring Oil' and 'Black Cat Mojo Oil' and I was trying to find some recipes so I can make these things myself if I need them. Then I came to think about all the other oils, incense and brews I have found very interesting but never tried out because there hasn't been a reason for it yet.

As I'm still a novice in my studies I feel I should do a little something every day to get to know the different herbs, correspondences etc. but if I made, say, a powder for sprinkling I would most likely make more than I would need that day and so after a couple of weeks I would have quite a few powders, incenses and so on. As these won't keep forever I would have to use them on a regular basis which wouldn't be a problem if it was for purifying my home. But then I got to thinking about overdoing things and I was curious to know what everybody else does. How often do you sprinkle or wash or burn incense? And what kind of everyday magic do you do?