44 Days of Witchery - Day 40

44 Days of Witchery - Day 40
My altar, if I have one.

I'm posting a picture of the Ganesha altar we set up this month for the 10 day festival of Ganesh, Vinayak Chaturthi.

I didn't have a lot of proper Ganesh stuff, but I used what I had and made a pretty paper banner spelling out His name. :)  My son added an offering of candy from his stash.

Next year I'm trying for a more traditional altar!

44 Days of Witchery - Day 39

44 Days of Witchery - Day 39
Something that inspires me.

Seeing any part of this. O Beautiful Nut, blessed Lady!

amazingsky.net

44 Days of Witchery - Day 38

44 Days of Witchery - Day 38
A Famous pagan/witch!

Amber K and Azrael K!
This picture was taken in October of 2011, when Amber K and her partner Azrael came to the Iowa Pagan Pride fest as the guests of honor.

Amber K is my witchy "grandma". She is the initiating HPS of my own initiating HP and HPS. I had last seen them over 10 yrs ago when the coven I was in brought them here for workshops. So it was great seeing them again! 

Together they gave a couple workshops at the Pagan Pride fest, as well as set up a little booth to sell books and Ardantane patches.

44 Days of Witchery - Day 37

44 Days of Witchery - Day 37
Witchy tools:  Cauldron

These are my smaller cauldrons.  Actually, the littlest black one I gave to my son so it's technically his. :)

I have a much larger one, a real cast iron cooking pot, very old. It's at the bottom and back of my storage closet!  I couldn't bring myself to dig it out just for a photo. lol

I have a thing for copper and brass cauldrons too.

This one isn't really a cauldron I guess, but it reminds me of the Gundestrup cauldron but with greek or romanesque figures. My stepmom let me have it, she said she got it in a box from an auction and had no idea what to do with it. MINE. lol

44 Days of Witchery - Day 36

44 Days of Witchery - Day 36
Flower of your choice, and its magical properties.

I know I mentioned Lilacs already as my favorite scent. They are also my favorite flower so that's the one I chose for this. However, I didn't know their magical properties...

According to Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Lilacs are good for protection and exorcism. In New England they were planted to keep evil away from one's property. Bring fresh cut lilacs into the house to drive away ghosts! Who knew. I think this must be why none of the houses I've lived in were haunted... lilacs are also my mom's favorite, and every spring we'd have several bunches in vases all over the house. 

44 Days of Witchery - Day 35

44 Days of Witchery - Day 35
Something that I think people who don’t know much about paganism/witchcraft should know.

Pagans and witches are just people. We love, need, laugh and cry just like everyone. I like to chat. I refuse to argue. I have better things to do with my time, like ... live life.

If you want to learn and understand, email me. :)
If you want to troll and argue, move along. 

44 Days of Witchery - Day 34

44 Days of Witchery - Day 34
Rune of my choice.

I thought I would share a rune stone that someone made for me. It's a combination rune that she embellished a little.

I believe it's a combination of wunjo and sig. I'm not strong on runes so I had to consult my meaning key. :)

wunjo:  Joy, happiness, good news, ecstasy, harmony, unity
sig:  Sun, victory, warmth, success, triumph

I remember thinking the meanings would be useful at work, so I kept it at my desk. :)