Carved Pumpkins

Every year at this time the farms swing their doors open and hundreds of people all rush in to buy their perfect pumpkin to carve  for Halloween/Samhain.  But why is this done?  Sure there are people who do it because it is fun and it is just what they have always done.  But there is a very magical symbol behind pumpkin carving.  In fact pumpkin carving is a very old and very powerful protection spell that has been used to protect homes for generation.

Samhain is a Great Spirit festival, where the veil between our world and the spirits world is lifted and Ghost, Demons and Spirits cross the veil and walk amongst the living.    Halloween/Samhain, was at one time called the Day of the dead, a Celtic Festival, and was a time to celebrate the lives of those who have left us and say goodbye to them.  Some cultures leave offerings for their decease ancestors and set a place in the house for them so that they can return and celebrate with their living relatives.  But it is not just ghosts that walk amonst the living, Spirits, Entities, Demons,  both benign and malicious walk the earth with the living.  It night of Black Magic (Great night to cast curses and preform dark rituals) and people all over work their own magic by Carving little Guardians to protect our homes from pranks and Evil Spirits.

My Little Guardians

To protect against evil sprits today, we still carve pumpkins.   In the ancient times turnips was carved  in stead of the pumpkins.  They were hollowed out and carved to resemble protective spirits in order to protect people and their houses from this night of Black Magic and Dark Spirits.  The Guardian Turnips would act as a protector spirit to keep away any  that might wish to do harm.

This tradition continues today and with good reason. Pranks are very popular amongst the spirits on Samhain, Children as well enjoy playing pranks.  So we create  little guardians of the house, meant to protect it from harm and keep it inhabitants safe.    I Love carving pumpkins as an artist it is a enjoyable medium and I love the symbology behind it.  You are carving out a little goblin to protect you from negative forces.  It is a powerful protection spell in itself, one that hold more meaning than most realize.

More Little Guardians

This is why we dress up.  To disguise ourselves from these spirits and walk with them unnoticed.  In the ancient times travelling at  night was not advised, but if you had to, people would dress in white, to look like ghosts, and wore disguises made of straw to fool the Dark spirits into thinking that they were spirits as well.  We continue this tradition today, Children and Adults dress as creaturs of the night.  On the night of Sahmain we are one with the Dark spirits.

When I am carving my pumpkins, I preform a ritual, crating an ancient guardian in the form of a Pumpkin.  The Guardian in the Pumpkin has one purpose, guarding my house and protecting my animals from harm.  It will do this before rot reclaims it, and sends it back to the earth.  Even Pumpkin Guardians must die.

Guardians of Halloween

Guardian Pumpkin

Before I begin carving, I wash the tools I use to carve in pure water and bless them.

As I Carve the image on the Pumpkin, I Give it a Name.  and chant

“I name you _________

YOu are my guardian, my protector

Your purpose is to protect my dwelling, protect my family from any who wish harm

You will fulfill your purpose, until the earth reclaims you

Thy Will is done, awaken guardian, fullfill your purpose”  

I then place the pumpkin in my back yard and allow it to sleep.  The night before Samhain, I light it’s first candle and chant…

” ____Name____ Awaken, for tomorrow you will fullfill your purpose

You will awaken as my guardian” 

I then see, in my minds eye, the guardian spirit, usually a cloaked figure standingbehind the pumpkin, ready to protect and guard from pranks.

It is a fun ritual, and I have never had anything stolen, never had anything vandalized, They always fullfill their porpose and protect the house. I light them every night after until they begin to rot, and it is time to undo the spell and release them to the void.

Once they have rotten I place them in my compost and say,

” Thank you, you have fulfilled your purpose,

you have protected me from harm.  

I release you to the earth,

I undo what was done and send you to eternal sleep”

Then I smash the Pumpkin into the compost, releasing the energy.

When doing any work where you give life to a creature of your creation, weather it be pumpkin, Golem or Djinn, you must undo the magick when their purpose is done.  Destroy then and send them back to oblivion, or they develop a life of their own and can harm you and your loved ones.

Happy Samhain Everyone!

Akelta

This coming weekend is a very special weekend, it is the Halloween or Samhain weekend, my personal favourite time of the year and my personal favorite holiday!  It is also one of the best times of the year to cast darker, black magic spells as the energies are perfect.

Samhain is one of the two “spirit nights”  the other being Beltane (May)  It the time when the laws of space and time are suspeded and the veil between our world and the spirit world is thinnest (Some say it is lifted completely).  This is the time of the year for Black Magic, Spell craft, Invocation, Evocation and Rituals as is easy to manipulate the energies and call summon entities to aid in getting what you desire.  Spells of a darker nature are easier to cast as the energies of the world are tuned to darkness.

Samhain

Communication with the ancestors and departed love ones is easier.  In fact two years ago today I love my dear Oma, she was 90 years old.  I light a candle for her on this night and chanted that she would find her way to other side.  I slipped into a dream like state and was in her old suite.  It had clanged slightly,   and there was a large black dog sitting on the kitchen floor.  I followed the Dog outside and there was my Oma,  she looked at me and said “It is amazing, I am not in pain anymore”  She asked me to take her to a bridge, on the condition that when we arrive I let her cross and not follow.  I agreed and we walked together through the fog.  We came to an old gothic looking bridge, and she looked at me and said “I love you and the family very much”  She gave me a hug then her and the black dog crossed the bridge.  I could only see half way as there was a think fog that shrouded the other side.  But I knew she had crossed over, and was safe.  It was a very positive experience for me as I got to say goodbye and see that she was no longer in pain.

Samhain is a time to study Darkness, and the mysteries surrounding it.  It is also a time for the witches to honor the Dark Mother and the Dark Father.

It was originally called the Feast of the Dead and was celebrated by Celtic countries.  People would leave food offerings on altars and doorsteps for the dea who still wandered on the Earth.  Canldes were lite and left in windows to help guile the spirits of the ancestors and the decest loved ones so they could find their way home.  Extra chairs were set at the table for those unseen ancestors.  Apples were also left alongthe roadside for lost spirits who had no loved ones to leave them food.

Bonfire

As this was the final harvest, livestock and cattle were slaughtered to eat so that there would be enough food in the coming cold months.  The Darkest time of the year when the bitter cold would chill the hearts of men.  Any crops that were not harvested on Samhain were left as an offering to the Nature Spirits.  It was the final Harvest.  Bonfire were build to ensure warmth.  An interesting fact, they were originally called Bone Fires as the bones of the animals were thrown in as an offering to Nature to ensure healthy livestock next year.

Peoples names were marked on stones and thrown into the fire.  When they were retrieved in the morning the stone foretold that persons future in the coming year.  Individual Hearth fires were lit from the large bonfire to ensure unity and the ashes were spread on the harvested fields to bless and protect the land in the coming year.

Samhain Festival

Halloween/Samhain has many names, some of them are….

Third Harvest

Samana

Day of the Dead

Old Hallowmas (Scottish/Celtic)

Vigil of Saman

Shadowfest (Strega)

Samhuinn

All Hallow’s Eve, (November 7th)

Martinmas (November 11th)

Here are some ideas of Tools to use if you would like to create a ritual for Samhain.  

Samhain Altar

Samhain Symbols - Dark Mysteries, Rebirth through Death, Cycle of Life and Death, Death, Pumpkins, Squash, Fire, Candles, Gourds, Apples, Black Cats, Jack-O-Lanterns, Besoms.

Herbs to be used in Samhain rituals –  Mugwort, Allspice, Broom, Catnip, Deadly Nightshade, Mandrake, Oak leaves, Sage and Straw, Acorn/Oak, Hazel, Fumitory, Dittany of Crete, Mullein, Wormwood, Yellow Cedar, Rosemary, Rue

Candle Colours to use in Samhain Rituals  - Black, Orange, White, Silver, Gold.

Stones to use is Rituals around Samhain - All Black Stones, preferably jet or obsidian.

I have a gift for you.  I have been receiving a lot of e-mails from people who have been cursed and have had negative spells cast upon them.  I created this spell a long time ago.  It is a Protection spell, designed to remove negative energy from your life and protect you against any who wish you harm.  I call it the White Light Shield of Protection.

White Light Sheild

Crystal and Pentacle

Magic Ritual

To unleash the power within you and become a true Black Magician, or Witch, or Sorcerer or whatever you wish to become,  you have to know yourself and the power within you!  Also you have to believe in your abilities and believe in yourself.  As a Black Magician I always am working on my mind and sharpening my skills and all that is good,  but none of it would work if I did not know my own power.  I know that I have the ability to manifest and preform any ability I want.  I also know that the only thing that limits me is my own beliefs in myself.  Money is an energy too, given power by our minds, and I know that if I want more money I merely have to think of money and bring the energy of money into my world.

That is why money spells work!  They give you a place where you focus on money and bring that energy into your world.   If money spells have not worked for you then you need to work on your mind and believe that the money you created in the spell in coming to you,  without any negative energies getting in.  In a spell you are brining a desired energy towards you.  If while casting a spell your mind is constantly saying “That won’t work “or “I won’t believe this untill I get proof”  Then you are not actually brining in Money energies,  you are bringing in “no money”  energies and you might actually create a counter spell which takes money our of your life.  That is why before doing any spell you must stay focused and be in alignment with yourself!

I have to laugh,  I did a money spell with another girl one day when I was younger.  We did it together to try and amplify the energies so that we both would get a lot of money.  While casting the spell I was 100% focused on the spell and 100% knew that that money was on it’s way to me.  She on the other hand was doubtful and told me later that she was unsure if the spell would work or not and she would believe it when the money was in her hand.  A week later, I got a check in the mail out of nowhere for $5000.00.  She received $150.00 but was unhappy because I got more.  But it was all in how we worked the spell and how powerful our own mental powers were.

Our Brain and Mind have the power to command and control the energies around us.  Most people are beginning to understand that.  Unfortunatly, what a lot of people are missing is that our Brains and Minds and Power also controls the energy WITHIN US..  Time to do a little Biology,  all out cells and molecules that make up our body all vibrate at a rhythm.  When we work preforming magick, raja yoga, or even thinking for that matter, we are changing and manipulating that energy.  This basic energy we use all the time in spells and rituals as the energy we harness and use for spell originates in us.

Even when we call on forces to aid us in these spell and rituals we still have to use energies from our own being,  and those entities that we summon to aid us do infact altar and add energies to your being and you surroundings,  which is why after some rituals you feel alive and full of energy because what you called forth just gave you a bunch of energy that is now coursing through your body.

This is why energy healing is so powerful,  what energy healing does in introduce a new frequency into the body designed to be soothing, relaxing and allowing the body to return to it’s normal healthy vibration.  Cancer,  and any disease that you can imagine has it’s own vibration,  and when these diseases develop it means that the body is vibrating different from what it is suppose to be.  Depending on how far away your vibration is from your natural state dictates the severity of the disease.   Have you ever heard one of those stories where people seem to miraculously cure themselves of a serious disease,  it is all by changing their mental vibration and taking control of the power within them.  Once you learn how to use your internal power,  the possibilities are endless!

Work on your minds and realize that there is no limit to what you are capable of doing.   When you practice your own mental development and work on your focus you can only improve you casting power and your ability to make whatever you want a reality in your life.  Remember we are all energy,  and spell work and working with entities and rituals are all just ways to work with energies and help to bring what you want into your life!

Happy Castings!

Priestess Akelta

 Dhyana is an stage where one gain knowledge of the self.    In meditation we try and Quiet the mind  so that truth and clarity can be revealed through all the clutter of our minds.  In Dhyana we silence all thoughts in the mind and sit still in that complete silence.  At this stage the mind becomes clear and our inner truths are revealed.   We observe the process or the content of the mind.  Concepts that cannot be understood by words,  but must be experienced.  Only through experience can one truly understand a concepts and grasp its full potential,  this is especially true of Raja Yoga and the mastery of concentration. 

In Life we go through our events with all the clutter and chaos and are basically in a hypnotize state,  going through the motions of life.  Our thoughts becomes a trance in which we create fantasies and emotions and illusions about the world around us.   This is necessary for our survival.   Have you ever noticed that when something threatens your life  or frightens you, you becomes completely aware of everything that is going on, you are completely in the moment.   We attain a state of hightened awareness which is very different from our normal state.   In life we live in the past and the future creating fantasies and living memories.  With meditation we seek to exist in the present and just be as a body and mind allowing the spirit to evolve.  

This level of concentration takes us out of our fantasy and humbles us, allowing us to see our whole self, and if we so desire meet our shadow self.  Dhyana will break the concept of who you think you are, and introduce you to who you really are and awaken sides of your being that you might fear.  Remember, in the world of black magic the most dangers come from within and we must stay strong and fear not even ourselves.   In essence, Dhyana allows us to gain self knowledge and learn about ourselves in a profound way.   Dhyara is the gateway to enlightenment. If this is unclear do not worry, Dhyana is a hard concept to grasp and truly one can only grasp it when one has achieved it.   

 Happy meditations,

Priestess Akelta   

To me setting goals is important and it is what  moves me forward.

(*note)( I realize I stopped blogging right in the middle of a concentration series and intend to resume that topic this week. )

 During my vacation I was able to do an interesting ritual that involved contacting a deity to help me improve my mind set and figure out where I wanted to go.  I find contacting and summoning entities is an Amazing way to improve ones life.  They are all so knowledgeable and if one has faith in them and respect for them they will reward you greatly.

I preformed a candle ritual in a graveyard as that an area where there is a mass of spiritual energy.  It is a great place for spells and magick as the area already has a link between the spiritual world and the real world.

My fiance who has recently taken an interest in Black magic decided to join me which was great,  the more participant their are in a spell the more energy  is added to the spell, and the more effective the spell is.  So when doing your own spells if you ever find a serious magician who wishes to join you, by all means invite them.

 We both had wonderful expereinces.  My fiance was able to make contact with the enity he called upon and recieved a ton on information and had thousands of opportunities open up to him.  His life has changed for the better since the ritual.

I contacted the entity I called upon and we worked on a new game plan for me.  I am still working on new books, but I needed to take a different approach and I am reformatting what I am doing.

As most things, when ones life shifts so does everything in ones life.  After I returned from Vacation my computer decided that my energy was to erratic for it.  Well no, it just needed a new power supply, but still it gave me a little scare cause I realized how much I value my computer.  I thought it was broken indefinitely and was  SO happy when my mechanic told me it was just the power supply.  My poor old little system was overloaded so I bought a beautiful Macintosh to help alleviate the load.

I am a firm believer in taking care of everything you have in your life especially computers.  Anything that has an energy force to it has a small life force and computers are no different. Being a Black magician, or any magician is not just a few spells that you cast here and there, it is a mindset, an ability to tap into your power, to access your core strength and unleash your greatness upon the world.  It is all around us and more people use it than they think.   The entities are all around and will help if we so ask them.  They only ask that in return we do what we say and stay committed to our own growth  and love yourself.    ~Priestess Akelta

CO

Dharana is the stage where you begin to train the mind to focus on one singular object at a time.  It is where the mind learns to focus on one task, much like a highly concentrated laser beam.  There are some Laser beams that are so powerful that they can cut through metal.  A mind that is trained to focus can attain similar power.  When you learn to channel your thoughts your mind can become just as powerful as the laser and preform some amazing acts that most people would think impossible. 

Dharana is unbroken concentration.  The mind it trained to focus on one object and only that object for any amount of time.  Depending on your skill level will determine how long you can focus on the object for.  There are Yogis that have the ability to focus on objects for days without breaking their concentration. Imagine this;  You have a light bulb hooked up to a small energy source that will give out a certain amount of energy. It glows very brightly.  This is the mind focus, and concentrating on one source.  Now I want you to imagine that you connect another light bulb to the (series) circuit.  The lights dull a little but it is unnoticeable to most.  Now lets say you take 100 light bulbs and all attach them.  The lights will all dull as they all try to disperse the electricity between them.  No bulb has any real power to produce light and they are all dull.  This is exactly what happen to an unfocused mind.  The mind cannot complete the task because it is focusing on too much.  100 dull bulbs cannot light a room, but one bright one can.  It is the same with the mind. 

We have all experienced some level of unbroken concentration.  When you are engaged in an activity that really fascinates you and hours can go by in seconds because you are so absorbed in that activity.  Most people can attain this state when they are doing something that they enjoy.  The point of training the mind to focus is to that you can attain this state weather you enjoy the activity or not.  A good example of this unbroken concentration is extraordinary athletes.  The ones that go beyond the norm and preform things that are amazing. These athletes have a heightened sense of concentration and powerful minds that direct their will into their actions, allowing them to go beyond what most could do.  With the right training you can learn to focus your mind and apply it to all areas of your life.  Achieving Dharana is the way to do that. In Dharana we sit in a comfortable position and instead of turning all the senses inwards we direct them onto a singular object and remain focused solely on that object for a duration of time.  I often speak of the Dot exercise which is perfect for developing this skill.  Basically get a piece of paper and draw a dot on it the size of a dollar coin and place it on the wall then focus on it for 30 minutes three times a day.  This exercise is amazing for developing your focus. 

This Dot is a little different than the one I speak of but it demonstrates what I speak on well.  When you state are the Dot the black haze around it begins to disappear,  this is due to the fact that you mind is focused on the dot in the centre and begins to tune out all things around it.  That is the purpose of focusing on the Dot.  To focus on it solely and tune out all the black haze around you. When first learning to master this skill it will be frustrating.  The mind in the beginning is like a child and is easily distracted.  When you find your thoughts drifting away for complete focus on the object, simply take a deep breath in and re focus them on the object.  Remember that you goal is to focus your thoughts 100% on the object.  It takes practise to learn this skill, and dedication. You must also be patient with yourself and not allow the cloudiness of frustration prevent you from attaining your goal.  Keep your thoughts clear and your will strong. Resist the urge to focus on the vast amounts of objects and sounds that will be competing for your attention, remain focused on your goal. With a strong core, you can overcome all obstacles and nothing can harm you.  In Black magick training and strengthening your core is essential as you will find that with a strong core comes more effective spells, and abilities that you might have thought were impossible. 

As you Practise, this ability will becomes easier and easier and your energy will becomes stronger and able to hold this focus on anything that you do.  This skill will not just benefit you in black magick, but in all areas of your life,  you will see the world in a clarity that most will never see.  Daily tasks that were once hard and draining, will becomes easier and accomplished in less time.  When you start down the path to improve your focus, you are not just training yourself to be a better black magician, you are training your mind to function better and influence all areas of life.  Love your path, more then the endless thoughts of your mind. Happy FocusingPriestess Akelta.

Raja Yoga has many valuable teachings that any magician can use to better their skills.  In Raja Yoga the mind is trained to be still and focused.  The clutter that once corroded the thoughts melts away to reveal a mind of stillness and clarity.  A mind that is in control and has no fear or distractions.  When you can attain this state with your own mind,  all spells will be easy and your world will become like putty in your hand.

There are five external aids of Yoga, but I would like to focus my attention on the internal aids.

Pratyahara is the stage I will talk about today,  it is the transition of the mind from foucsing on the external world, to the internal world.  It is in this stage that we learn to turn our attention inward, and focus our mind completly on our inner world.  This ability is very beneficial, for it allows us to observe our own mind and its working.  It is amazing what you can uncover about your self if you merely turn your attention inward and listen to what your mind, body and spirit are saying.

Due to all the distractions that go on around us it is amazing how many people do not even know of the inner world.  They are so caught up in life that they has never taken the time to stop and reflect upon themselves.  It is important for one to be able to step away from the outside would and journey inward to the internal self. Advanced Yoga Practitioners are able to turn off their senses to the outside world entiarly, so that the stimulus does not even reach their brain.  They reach a state where they are complelty focused on the inner self.  In the very advanced staged the Practitioner can even turn off the electric current that pulsates through the nerves and the involuntary muscles.  This is aided with the technique Pranayama (breath control).

I actually demonstrated this ability to a Biology class that I took in college.  We were measuring our heart rates and blood pressure using a clip that attached itself to our fingers.  The teacher was talking about heart rate and saying  that if the heart rate dropped below 40 Beats per minute that the person was in trouble.  So I put the machine on and focused inward using my breathing practises.  I managed to drop my heart rate to 35 beats per minute.  The teacher asked me if I did any meditation and I told her I did Raja Yoga.  She nodded and then informed the class that some people especially those who practise breathing and focus can control their heartrate using their mind.

By attaining Pratyahara we open our minds up to the intelligence of the universe and the power of our own minds.  It is important that once to start down this path to attain inner stillness and peace regularily. It keep your awareness in each moment and allows you to commit more of your brain to tasks you undertake in your daily life.  You will find that once your concentration improves you will get more done in less time and have more time for yourself. Pratyahara is a first step towards meditation and eventually the advanced pratices of Raja Yoga.  With practise and time you will learn to use the outer and inner awareness at the same time.  When this happens the world becomes clearer and you are able to focus on everything you do with clarity.

Happy Focusing

Priestess Akelta

P.S. Here is an article that will give you an idea of what can be attained with a focus mind.

http://www.dlshq.org/download/miracles.htm

 Every thought you have and action you take is an energy.  When these thoughts or actions take place in a room they imprint themselves on the room and over time can build up.  Think about how many thoughts and actions you take during a day and then imagine how much energy must be built up in a single room. 

Not all of your thoughts are good, and that is the same with the energy that has built up,  some of it is negative energy that is just sitting there infecting the area with its negativity.  This can actually make you ill or make you feel upset, angry or annoyed.  The clutter of energy can also be a place where entities hide who wish you harm.  These entities can become a real problem especially if you are preforming black magick spells, or any other type of magick.  They can interfere with your thoughts and cause you harm.   They can also cause you to lose focus and as black magicians that is one thing that none of us want as focus in the key to everything that we do. 

 This is just a few of the reasons why it is important to do an energy cleanse of your house every month.  Cleaning your house and keeping it organized is a good start, but it can still leave behind unwanted energies or entities.  The best way to clean your house is to use elements from nature.  Open all the windows and get a stick of sage and cleanse the area.  Once all the windows are open and the fresh air is blowing through, take a smudge stick (sage) and go through the house with it burning just lightly filling the air.  Leaving the windows open for a bit afterwards will clear out all the unwanted energy.

 After doing this you will notice that your house will feel fresher and cleaner you may also notice that certain ailments that you had will disappear.  If you do magick work then it is essential that you cleanse your altars after every spell in this manner, so that the energy from each spell does not build up and effect other spells. 

Cleanliness is important, even from a spiritual sense.

Happy Clearing

Priestess Akelta

 Then there are the Tarto decks that are new and have their own uniquness to them, such as the Faeries’ Oracle  by Brian Froud.  Decks like this one do not follow the traditional Minor and Major Arcana structure but provide a unique glimps into the spiritual world and are just as powerful as any traditional deck.   These decks are relativly new and their creators are still alive today. 

There are some decks, however, that are ancient, and their efficiency and ability to predict the future is incredible.  Some of these decks provide such accuracy that it blows most people away.  One deck in particular that I speak of is the Gypsy Fortune telling cards.  These cards have been used for centuries and in some circles is considered an ancient art as without a guide book (or intimate knowledge with the culture) it can be very hard and take a lot of focus to interpret the symbols. 

I have used the Gypsy cards a few times in my life and was amazed not only by how accurate it was.  But how similar it my readings were.  When I did the reading on myself I got the same symbols in the same order many time in a row,  basically I got the cards untill those events in my life had past and I had moved on to new cards.   The gypsie cards speak with images and symbols that reveal very acurate facts.  I have never had a bad reading when the Gypsy Fortune telling cards were used. 

The gypsy cards are very different from other Tarot Cards.  An individual cards look just the image above.  It has four half pictures on it that is divided by a cross through the centre of the cards.  The deck is shuffled and then the cards are all laid out in rows of five.  When half of a picture lines up with another half of a picture in a row or coloumn you can rotate the card so the pictures meet.  In some readings people will only get one matching cards, while in others some people can get lots.  It all depends on what is meant to be reavealed to that person. 

These cards have been around as long as the Roma (Gyspys) .  The Roma have been around for centures and are a nomadic people who, in the past, traveled around being exposed to many different cultures and lifestyles.  The cards were symbolic of the Gypsys’.  The tradition was passed down through the women.  At that time young girls would draw their own cards and become intimate with the symbols and their meanings.  As they drew each card they also poured their energy into the card so that they would have a connection to the world of spirit through that card.  Images were used instead of words becasue images are quite universal.  They had to find away to overcome language barriers between thenselves and the cultures they encounted and images was a great way to do that.   

Now aday cards are printed and available for anyone to buy.  However, Gyspy women still use their hand draw cards as it is symbolic of their culture and hold a lot of meaning an history to them. 

Happy Readings

Priestess Akelta.