How We Unconsciously Manifest

Manifestation always astounds me, especially when it happens without conscious thought. Yesterday, I was transplanting babies on the deck, which was a little wet & slippery.  As I was bending down, I unconsciously visualized a fall I took on this slippery deck last year. 

The visual was crystal clear & I felt the fear.  Walking gingerly, I left the deck to work on my chores at the wheelbarrow.   Happily transplanting my lovely mugwort & lemon balm babies, I completely forgot about the fall.

As I lifted the transplant trays off of the wheelbarrow, I took a step back to the deck (not realizing that I was standing inside the handles of the wheelbarrow) & promptly tripped!  Baby herbs went flying through the air, as I went flying over the handles & crashing into the barbeque grill.

Quietly, I stayed on the ground for a few moments (pre-crones don't bounce, we splat) surveying my body for serious injury & contemplating the past few moments. 

1. I thought about the fall (remembered it)
2. I visualized it happening clearly
3. I developed a visceral feeling in association to the fall (the physical impact & fear from the previous fall)
4. I released the image to the Universe
5. I fell

Seriously, magick works people...just not in the way we always want it to.  What I needed & forgot in this situation was to cancel my visualization & thought "Delete! Cancel! Erase!" after I sent it out into the Universe. 

Lesson learned (I think).

Now, if only I can as clearly manifest the house cleaning.

Wild & Bright Blessings,

~*Rhi*~

    )O(

The Chakra Journey

Officially, I am to be moving on to my Solar Plexus Chakra today, but I'm really feeling like I need to stay focused on the Sacral Chakra while incorporating & preparing the Solar Plexus area with some body work on my belly.

The belly is the seat of power, where many women store their pain.  We tend to store our tension in our shoulders & neck, but our emotional discomfort lands in our belly.  I feel it is really important for women, especially, to spend time reconnecting with their Hara

To continue with my sacral chakra work, I'm revisiting The Sacred Belly. (besides, I'm teaching a workshop on this topic in May, so I need to get really seated with this stuff!)

In addition, I have created a Sacred Belly Massage Oil

2 parts Coconut Oil

1 part Coconut Butter

Clary Sage, Rosemary & Lavender Essential Oils

Mix all together & perform abdominal massage on yourself (lots of videos on the internet to show the techniques) or, better yet, have your significant other massage your belly.

In addition, I'm continuing to focus on great sources of protein for my Root Chakra, improving my liquid nutrition with herbal tisanes & doing daily meditations & exercise.

I just know, that in a couple of days, I'll be ready to move up to the Solar Plexus Chakra.

Wild & Bright Blessings!

~*Rhi*~

    )O(

Sacral Chakra - Days 4-6

My journey has begun.  The Root Chakra days were amazing! I spent time walking in nature, meditating with my stones & scents, eating protein-rich, red meals & generally grounding.  I feel amazing!

Now, onto the Sacral Chakra, or Svadhisthana.  This chakra is located at the base of our sexual organs & is often confused with being a chakra of sexual nature.  It is, however, concerned with connecting with others, pleasure & desire.  This can, of course, include sexual energies & is a chakra of self-indulgence (not in a bad way unless over active).

The Svadhisthana is at center mass, therefore can cause havoc if slightly out of balance. I've had some difficulty in this area (especially with low back pain!), so I intend to focus heavily on these days & may even extend the activities to 6 days (because I work 12-hour shifts for 2 of the days).

Activities for Sacral Chakra Days:

1. Bathing & swimming -the sacral chakra is highly associated with water. 
2. Yoga poses - see here: Yoga The 2nd Chakra 
3. Belly Dancing!! (dancing is great for the root chakra & belly dancing honors the sacred belly).
4. Nutrition - focus on getting enough high-quality liquids throughout the day.  This is the time when I am finally going to kill the Diet Coke habit!
5. Create a Chakra Altar with Sacral focus for these 3 days - orange altar cloth, bowl of holy water, carnelian & moonstone, damiana incense (ok, maybe I'll injest some of this too...it is all about self-indulgence & pleasure after all), a very special object related to my sexual well-being, my wedding ring whatever else I find that speaks to me of pleasure, desire & deep connection with others over the 3 day time period.
6. Crystal Bowl Meditations (All chakras, not just sacral.  Once the root is established, it is important to meditate on all chakras so not to create imbalance)
7. Affirmations: Continue with the Root affirmations & add "I trust the process of my life.  I love myself exactly as I am right now"
8. Mandela creation with focus on orange & water.
9. Final ceremony at end of Day 6 recording affirmations (or what ever feels right) onto ribbons for the Water Pole in my Medicine Garden

Wild & Bright Blessings!
 ~*Rhi*~
     )O(

Dance!

This is a fabulous song to dance to...just let yourself go with the happiness & rhythm.



Dancing is a wonderful way to work with your Root Chakra.  Dance daily! Express joy until you feel it!

(disclosure: Annabanana from Outposts In My Head turned me on to this song)
Wild & Bright Blessings,

~*Rhi*~
    )O(

Meditation for Security & Safety

Start your meditation standing -
Close your eyes & imagine yourself as a tree. You are deeply rooted into the earth - your feet are solid on the ground.
Feel all the negativity, pain, fear, uncertainty draining from you into the earth through your roots.
Imagine your hands & arms are the branches & leaves of the tree.
They are absorbing all the light from above. Energy flows through you from above, into the earth & back from the earth into the world.

You are the respiration of the earth, cleansing
it and being cleansed by it.

Quietly sit in a comfortable, meditative position -

Imagine yourself drawing energy from the moon, the sun, the stars.
Their pure light is directed to you & through you.
It circulates, coming in through your crown, down the center of your body, through the base & dispersing into the earth.
The energy emerges from the earth all around you in the form of a white sphere.
This is a never-ending process, light drawn into you, surging through you to the earth and surrounding you in powerful beauty.

Add to this the energy of the ancestors, those who have gone before you.
Your beloved relations, the honored ones of many cultures.
They are longing to connect with you, to bring you their wisdom & power.
Say their names silently to yourself, imagining the white sphere of light around you spinning more & more brightly as their energies combine with celestial energies.

Welcome divinity to your sphere. See the gods & goddesses join the light.
Call their names silently. Bask in their glory, it is yours.

The power you have called is immense.
Feel the comforting, peace & love that is offered you.
The air within the sphere is warm, soft, luminous.
The vibrations are of the highest order.
You are at one with the Universe & never wish to leave.
Although you know the physical world remains & desires your presence, the peace in your sphere is where you belong.

Enjoy your sphere for as long as you like.

Slowly, with your eyes staying closed, reach your arms above your head.
Stretch.
Move.
The sphere moves with you.
It is always with you.
You may call upon the powers who love you at any moment in your day.
Know this.

You are safe.
You are secure.
You are complete.

Herb Webinar!!

Mountain Rose & Learning Herbs are teaming up to provide a free herbal webinar with Rosemary Gladstar on Wednesday, March 23rd.

To register, go to: herbwebinar.com

Hope to find you there!!

Wild & Bright Blessings,

~*Rhi*~
    )O(

Root Chakra - Days 1-3

I've been drawn to the chakra system for quite some time now.  It resonates with me well, as I was trained in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs in school.

The colors usually follow the same pattern as the chakra system & there are some significant parallels. 

So, for the next 3 days, I delve into the first chakra, the root, Muldhara.   The root chakra is at the base of the spine, where you're sitting.  It is where the snake, the kundalini, coils when resting. 


The root is concerned with physical safety & security, health & well-being - eating, sleeping, exercising, financial security - basic physical life functions.


This doesn't sound very spiritual, but if we look at it from a Maslow's perspective, we can understand that without physiological well-being, the rest is on shaky ground.  I think of the root chakra as my grounding mechanism.


Activities for Root Chakra Days:

1. Walking to connect with the Earth - a moderately paced walk feeling the connection & support of the Earth beneath my feet.  Special attention to the scents I notice & how they affect me.
2. Nutrition - focus on high-quality proteins mixed with whole plant foods
3. Create a Chakra Altar with Root focus for these 3 days - red altar cloth, bowl of dirt, rubies & garnets, cedar incense, my dragon & whatever else I find that speaks to me of physical safety, well-being & security, grounding, etc over the 3 day time period.
4. Tree grounding meditation (tomorrow's post)
5. Affirmations: I am nourished, I am well. I am one with the Earth. I have all I need.
6. Mandela creation with focus on red & earth.
7. Final ceremony at end of Day 3 recording affirmations (or what ever feels right) onto ribbons for the Earth Pole in my Medicine Garden.

So, that's the plan...time to get up off my root & move!  

Wild & Bright Blessings!

~*Rhi*~

   )O(

21 Days of Chakra Power

As part of the Spiritual Seeds I'm planting this Spring, I'm embarking on a 21-day journey cleansing & strengthening my chakras.  The plan is to use corresponding colors, senses, foods, stones, scents & specifically designed activities to further support my growth in all areas of mind, body & spirit. 

Days 1-3 Root Chakra - focusing on physical health & wellbeing, safety & security

Days 4-6  Sacral Chakra - focusing on desire, pleasure & connecting with others

Days 7-9  Solar Plexus Chakra - focusing on self esteem, personal power & energy

Days 10-12  Heart Chakra - focusing on love & compassion

Days 13-15  Throat Chakra - focusing on purification & communication through sound & vibrations & self-expression & creativity

Days 16-18  Brow Chakra - focusing on vision, both inner (divination) & outter (auric viewing)

Days 19-21  Crown Chakra - focusing on connection with Divine Intelligenct, the Source & integration of mind/body/spirit wisdom

I will be posting a plan at the beginning of each 3-day session, starting tomorrow & will let you know how it's going.

Wild & Bright Blessings!!

~*Rhi*~
    )O(

Welcome to Spring!!

The cold is fading away

Butterflies flutter about

Animals of all varieties have begun their mating rituals

Sprouts peek through the ground

The warm Sun has risen!!!

Come out of your Winter shell

Venture into the garden

The fertile soil is waiting

For your blessing

For your plantings

For your presence

Many gifts await

Much magick to be found

The Green Man is calling your name

Nurture the Earth

It is time!

Spring has arived!!!

Buffalo Wraps

One of my favorite places to eat in Orlando is the Dandelion Communitea Cafe.  A few months ago, I tried their Buffalo Wrap & fell in love!  Since we live almost an hour away, I decided that I must try to make them on my own.

Here is the HiddenWitch's version of Buffalo Wraps (in stages):

Buffalo Wraps

Stage 1 Vegan Hot Wings

8 oz tempeh
¾ cup unsweetened milk substitute (I use Silk Organic Soy Milk)

½  cup flour
pinch of salt
1 tsp paprika

1 tsp onion powder
1/2 t garlic powder
1 cup panko bread crumbs

Sauce:

2 Tbsp vegan margarine (I use Earth Balance)
1-2 Tbsp hot sauce
1/3 cup  ketchup
2 Tbsp agave nectar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees (use “speed bake” or convection if you have it)

Cut the tempeh into about ½ inch x 2 inch pieces.  Boil the tempeh in enough water to just cover in a covered skillet for 10-15 minutes or until it is softened. Drain.  

Use spray oil to prepare a baking sheet.

Mix the flour & seasonings in a medium bowl or plate.

Put your soymilk another bowl.

Put the panko bread crumbs in a third bowl.

Coat the tempeh pieces in flour, dip each nugget into the milk & then toss with panko to coat.  Arrange all pieces on the baking sheet.

Spray the tops with cooking spray, and bake at 400 degrees for ten minutes.

Turn the nuggets over after 10 minutes & spray again with oil. Bake for an additional 6-8 minutes.

While the nuggets are baking, Mix all sauce ingredients in the skillet & heat over medium heat until warm (don’t allow it to boil).  Keep the sauce warm.

As soon as the nuggets are done baking, toss them into the skillet & turn to coat each one in the sauce.

Stage 2 Ranch (or Blue Cheez Sauce)

This is a "go by taste" kind of recipe...just keep adjusting the spices until the sauce tastes like Ranch or Blue Cheez dressing.

1/2 cup Veganaise
1/2 cup Silken Tofu
Splash of Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Tbsp of Greek Seasoning  (Reduce for Blue Cheez)
1/2 tsp of Garlic Powder  (Omit for Blue Cheez)
1/2 tsp of Onion Powder  (Omit for Blue Cheez)
Black Pepper to taste
1/4 - 1/2 cup grated Blue Sheese, (just keep adjusting to taste)

Blend all ingredients together until smooth.  Best if allowed to sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour for flavors to meld.

Stage 3 Wrap it Up!

You can make these with whatever ingredients suit you & your family.  Here's our version:

Whole Wheat Tortilla
Cooked Quinoa, about 1/4-1/2 cup per wrap
Baby Spinach
Red Onion, sliced very thin, a few slices
3-4 "wingz"
1 Tbsp of sauce

Layer & wrap.  Cut into 2 portions.  Eat!!

Note: I adore the blue cheez sauce, & just tried it as a challenge because Jessica at Growing Healthy Sprouts asked if I'd figured it out.  I can't believe how easy it was!!  We've been having this with the ranch sauce up until now, which is also very good & much less expensive.

Wild & Bright Blessings!

~*Rhi*~
    )O(

Hands Only CPR

2 Student Athletes died in 2 days from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.


Do you know CPR?

March 5th - Festival of The Blessing of The Vessel of Isis

March 5^th brings us Navigium Isidi, or The Blessing of The Vessel of Isis.

This celebration of the goddess was a grand festival with all the accoutrement.  Isis' cult spread through the Greco-Roman world & thrived until the establishment of Christianity.  Temples honoring Isis frequently featured moon-boats, carved in stone, in which sat the figure of the goddess.  The story of Isis speaks of her traveling the world in a papyrus boat to find & collect the pieces of her beloved Osiris.  

Being such a revered goddess, she was maligned as a witch with the onset of Christianity.  The fairy tale of “The Witch in the Stone Boat” referring to Isis, shows just how far in the world her cult had spread.

To celebrate The Vessel of Isis, pagans held grand carnival processions, culminating in the launching of The Vessel, laden with offerings of spices & milk for the beloved goddess.  Flowers were strewn through the streets & floated in rivers & incense (very precious at the time), was burnt openly during the procession.

The merriment during Navigium Isidis included music, dancing & feasts, honoring Isis as Lady of the Moon & Ruler of the Sea.  Isis would, hopefully, be pleased with the offerings & celebration, blessing the people with safe navigation & bountiful fishing & even safe passage into death, should it occur.

Isis has been a matron goddess in my heart for a very long time.   So, in keeping with tradition, I am creating a paper boat under the New Moon tonight.  The boat will be inscribed with her name:

In the boat, I will place offerings of flowers & incense.  If I can break away from work tomorrow, I hope to launch the little boat in either the St. John's River or Lake Monroe here in Florida, but will probably simply float it in the bathtub.  

Wild & Bright Blessings,

~*Rhi*~

    )O(

Sacred Garden - Phase 1

Borrowing from the practices of Native Americans, Buddhists & Wiccans, I have begun a Medicine Wheel/Meditation/Peace Prayer/Sacred Circle Garden.  I chose this spot last year, planting wildflowers to allow the soil a time of rest.  I expect to have some volunteer wildflowers push up through the new layers of compost, soil & mulch. 

The paths are bordered with wine & beer bottles...ok, not so very spiritual, but a great way to recycle & I think they're pretty!  So far, I don't have enough bottles for the outer circle border...more wine anyone?

Each Cardinal Direction is marked with a Camphor pole.  Camphor is a very spiritual plant, useful in meditation & spiritual cleansing. It is supportive of harmonious energy.

The poles are tied with colored cloth ribbons in the appropriate Elemental colors.  Each ribbon has a peace quote & an Elemental blessing written on it.  As I tied the ribbons, I invited each Element to this sacred garden. 

Each quadrant of the circle will hold medicinal or spiritual herbs corresponding to the element of that quadrant.  So far I have planted:

There will be more plants, more ribbons, more blessings, hopes, dreams & spells.

The center of the garden is a place of meditation & magick, where I hope to spend each New & Full Moon.  It will be home to potions, stones, poppets, etc. as they soak up Lunar Energy.

Tomorrow's New Moon, will be the first.  I really worked hard to get this space ready for March's New Moon, a time of great creativity & renewal.  Spring!  My garden blessing ritual will involve Elemental dance steps designed to call forth Elemental Energies.  I will, again, cast the border of this circle & consecrate the space.  As with any sacred space, the more it is used, the stronger the energy becomes. 

Once I'm sure my energy is strong & stable in this space, I will invite friends.  I'm hoping each pole will eventually be covered with many layers of peaceful & loving blessing ribbons.  These ribbons send blessings into the wind for all living beings.

Stopping my finger now, time to get some tattoo work.

Wild & Bright Blessings!

~*Rhi*~

    )O(

The Sacred Belly

We women are forever talking about loosing weight.  Many of us focus on our belly as the source of our dismay.  We throw around words like:

• Fat
• Ugly
• Flabby
• Hate
• Chunky
• Chubby

We wish away our bellies & dream of flat abdomens, without lumps &  bumps. We speak to and about our bellies as if they are the enemy.  We trap them in Spanx & other tight & "flattening" garments, restricting our ability to breathe & be comfortable.

All in the name of imagined perfection.  How sad. 

Actually, our bellies are sacred - a source of deep, feminine power. 

For step one of honoring your sacred belly, you can read this lovely story about the goddess Baubo from Honoring Your Belly:

 Archaic Knowledge

Our bellies hold our feminine power to create life!  This awesome power has been the impetus of goddess worship throughout history.  But, as patriarchy creates fear of a woman's power, the woman's belly must be controlled - in a desperate attempt to control the power of the woman herself.

Have you allowed your belly to be controlled?  Have you abdicated your sacred belly power to society?

Time to rip off that spandex & spanx!  Throw on some comfy & loose-fitting clothes & honor your belly!  Awaken the deep & creative power that lives within you.

Now, you are able to practice belly breathing.  Here's a tutorial if you're unfamiliar:



Now that you are comfortable & breathing into your belly, it's time to find the Center.  Your Center.  The place of power that lives within your belly.  The place that deserves your love & healing:

1. Lay down as you did during the Belly Breathing exercise
2. Place your hands on your belly, thumbs at the umbilicus (belly button) & fingers touching, forming an upside triangle.
3. The area inside the triangle is your Center
4. If you have difficulty finding this spot, it should be directly midline about 2-3 finger's widths below your umbilicus
5. If you still have difficulty, try finding the top of your hip bones & tracing an imaginary line across your belly.  The spot where this line is directly under your belly button is your Center.

Now that you've located your center, let's try a healing exercise.

1. Position yourself comfortably.
2. Find your Center
3. Place your right hand on your Center
4. Leave your left hand open to the sky & at your side
5. Begin belly breathing
6. Feel the weight of your hand on your Center
7. Notice any unusual sensations or thoughts that arise
8. Continue breathing & imagine a ray of orange, healing light pouring into your left hand, 
9. The light travels up your arm, across your shoulders, down your right arm & into your right hand
10. The beautiful, warm, orange light is pushed through your right hand into your Center
11. Feel the healing.  Release the stress held here.  
12. Continue breathing & transferring the orange light thinking words of love & gratitude for your belly
13. When you are ready, bring your left hand on top of your right & feel the weight settle into you
14. You always have this healing power at your disposal.  
15. Ground as you usually would after a meditation

You may do this exercise as often as necessary.

Now, go out and find or make yourself a Belly Goddess.  Here's an example from The Witch of Forest Grove

I will be creating my own Belly Goddess with this recipe for clay:

2 cups saw dust (using cedar)
1 cup flour
1 1/2 Water (about)

Mix together dry & slowly add water.  If too crumbly add a bit more flour & water until smooth.  Knead on wax paper for about 5 minutes.

Create.
Allow to air dry for 48 hours (actually a bit longer for me because I live in damp Florida).
Sand
Paint with acrylics
Cherish!

This creates a very hard goddess that accepts paint nicely (according to my sources).

Oh, & if the idea of Sacred Belly feels right to you (or if it feels very uncomfortable), see if you can find The Woman's Belly Book. It is full of exercises & wisdom for releasing & activating your power.

Wild & Bright Blessings,

~*Rhi*~

    )O(
who is getting ready to create Power Panties