WITCH WAY
 You know the one where self-knowledge is compared to an onion? Each little bit of awareness peels yet another layer away till you get to the core. Sometimes I think I must be the world’s largest onion because there always seems to be another layer and I keep hitting core and then next thing I know I’m in a new onion. My therapist Wise Joe used to tell me the work of knowing self was eternal and it just infuriated me. “I want this done,” I’d yell, “I don’t want to do this anymore!” And Joe would nod and give me a look that said, “You may as well try and fight gravity.”
At 66 though I can’t imagine living any other way. I love my life, I love me beyond all reason, and no, it’s definitely not all kumbya, and yes I have downs like you wouldn’t believe, but I am part of something mystical, magical, and so much bigger than me it takes my breath away, when I feel it in my quiet moments. I know what it is to reach for the sacred; it’s a whole other thing when I feel the sacred reach for me. Both are equally important. 2018 has been rough for most of my beloved clients and for me. Stop, start, back, forth, fear, money insecurity, political terror, addiction issues, health issues, why, why, why, and layers have come off and rose colored glasses have been forced off, taking everyone closer to their core. More and more women are walking the path of the seeker and refusing to accept a spirituality that is little more than a kinder, gentler Judeo-Christian tradition. The point is you're not a slave to God/Goddess and you're not supposed to be. The God/Goddess of the Witches, wants us fully actualized, standing shoulder to shoulder; co-creating and using our sacred will, which is a piece of the assertive power that lives in all of us. That power becomes a tool of the divine when will serves the soul - Goddess - and Her ways. The Gemini full moon is about groking your new found truths of 2018. Raw as they may be, they are the soil of the boundary setting that is part and parcel of the you, the authentic woman coming into focus. Keep in mind, new skin is tender. Some one may say something, or you may witness something, that punches all your buttons. Walk the fuck away. Go beat pillows, go cry, go clean something out. And if what punched your buttons is a who and wants to “talk about it,” say, “let me get back to you.” You have more important things to do right now. This Gemini full moon falls at zero degrees Gemini. It is the point before the beginning, before time, and the home of the Goddess Anu. In this place, you rest in the deep blue waters of pure potential. Take a moment this full moon to feel your creative potential and raw truth. Feel the essence of wondrous possibilities without giving them shape. Feel the sacred reach for you. The Samhain season is coming to an end. We are now in the valley of a building wave - the rebirth of the Sun at Winter Solstice. Possibility will be born into shape and form to be raised by you, the loving creatrix and parent, the mother Goddess of your own life and destiny. Live loud, love fierce, and suffer no fools. Kat x0x0x0 FULL MOON MAGICK: Write down everything you're grateful for. Bath, shower in gratitude. Then write down the essence (not the shape) of what you want. Sit with what it feels like. End with, "Thy will through mine, Lady. So mote it be." Now put on some music and dance. x0x0x0 K
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I’ve been feeling pretty awesome recently, I love me, I love being alive, I love my friends, I love where my writing is going and I’m pretty sure I will have representation soon. For me, that’s THE dream come true and I’ve been trying on that reality a lot. Have you ever tried on the emotional reality of having something you really want? It is the most astounding feeling in the world, but there’s a double-edged sword quality to it and that double-edged sword quality perfectly captures the upcoming energy of the solar eclipse. Where there is I-am-wonder-woman (wonder man) -I-can-do-anything –energy, there is also I’m-not-good enough energy. Everything contains it’s opposite, not in terms of opposing but in terms of complement. To cut one from the other for the sake of being positive is not positive at all; it reduces you to either or, I am either this or that. Wholeness says you are both: you can be a raging bitch, (son of a bitch) and you can be the kindest, most helpful inspiring person on the planet. One does not negate the other because as I wrote earlier everything contains its opposite, not in terms of opposing but in terms of compliment. What life demands is learning right use of our feelings. Sometimes you will bump into situations that demand the no-nonsense boundary setting of a raging bitch (s.o.b.). Sometimes there will be situations that demand the mirroring qualities of the moon mother/ good father God. Containing all that we are is what wholeness is. Now back to the eclipse. A great way to use this energy is to imagine/feel yourself having everything you want. Emotionally try on that reality; kick it up high, kick it up higher. Now be aware of its dark opposite. In between the two is a needle eye opening. As you sit with the opposites; the eye is going to widen. Feel yourself slip through it to the other side. Take a breath and exhale. You may feel a little shaky, that’s okay. From this place you’re going to say the following nine times: “She fades to grow Returns to return Seeds of beauty she sows….” Then say nine times: “I fade to grow Return to return Seeds of beauty I sow…” Write down your intention(s). With this kind of energy you want to get to go for the essence of your intention, rather than the form. To do that you boil down the desire in much the same way you boil down soup to get the perfect broth. What’s do you need to get what you want? Inspiration? Courage? More love? Self esteem? Ease? Financial security? Health? Healing around someone or something in particular? Then say: Windows of opportunity open, open, open to me Bring me __________ (whatever is it you want) So mote it be. Try on the emotional reality of what you want. Sit with it a bit, then say, “This is or something better,” and release. Wow. Some kind of powerful huh? I am loving all of you deeply, Kat x0x0x0  https://iamachild.wordpress.com/2012/11/09/michael-hiep-1959-dutch/ The Mother Goddess has recovered from the arduous birth of the sun at Yule. The light of the longer days awakens her. She stretches, hears her son, the growing God, running up and down the hall with the greyhounds. She smiles. She can feel his warmth from her bed. Deep within the earth, the Grandmother feels the slight quickening of the seeds in the ground around her. “The God is young, but He’s getting stronger,” She thinks. “Grandmother?” The maiden asks. She fixes her rheumy eyes on her granddaughter, stirring life’s mysteries in Her cauldron. “Yes, child,” She says. “It is time.” The Maiden very carefully stops stirring; she taps the wooden spoon on the side and waits. The Grandmother peers into the swirling blue and green mists. “Slowly,” She says, “there is no hurry.” The maiden carefully inserts the spoon into the energy and begins to stir in the opposite direction from before— clockwise. “Return to return,” the Maiden croons. Waking whispers of the coming spring rise out of the mists and enfold her. Soon she will journey to the surface.
***************************************************************** Imbolc is a sabbat, a festival of light and fertility and a fire celebration, of purification. In my experience there is a subtlety to Imbolc, unlike a sabbat like Beltane (May Eve). When I still had a small garden, in February I’d clear out the beds and cut back whatever needed cutting back. Most of the gardeners I knew cut everything back in the fall but I never did. I also left the fallen leaves because I knew it was better for the earth and the winter survival of her little creaturas. It wasn’t a huge task cleaning out the beds, it wasn’t overwhelmingly strenuous and exhausting, but this quiet, small action prepared the beds for that which I would soon be planting and that which (hyacinths, daffodils, bleeding hearts) would be returning. In other words, this quiet, small action was a determining factor in the health of that year’s garden. Imbolc is a powerful time to burn away something that is of no benefit to the garden of you. It can be a person, a place, or a thing. Nine times out of ten, what we have in our lives that we don’t want is a direct result of low self-esteem, which is rooted in our programming and socialization. So you might try writing low self esteem on a piece of paper, hold it in the flame of a candle with hot dog tongs, and when it catches drop it in a burning pot; either a cauldron, a clay pot, or a pasta pot works quite well. Say: I bless and release you from me. Follow with affirmations. I deeply love and approve of myself – all of me. I am fearless in my pursuit of my truth. I am grateful for the gift of creation I am magnetic and receptive to my deepest and highest good. I am loved beyond all reason. The burning and the affirmations will begin to change the course of the river. If you’d like to go further with the exercise, before the burning, chant to Ganesha, three times round the mala beads. I have written the chant as it sounds, not as it’s spelled. OM SHREE GA NESH SHA YAY NA MA When you’re finished chanting, say the following, which I have adapted from a spell by Silver Raven Wolf. At this moment there is no tomorrow There is no yesterday There is only today Ganesha come to me I have clothes on my back, food to eat. and a place to stay Ganesha come to me I am perfectly ok Ganesha come to me I am one with the Universe and the Universe provides for magnetic, receptive me in every way Ganesha come to me At this moment there is no tomorrow, there is no yesterday, there is only today. I have clothes on my back, food to eat, and a place to stay. I am perfectly ok. The universe provides for me in every way. Ganesha, come to me, come to me. This is true as I will and as I say. So mote it be. (clasp hands together in front of you) Aim clasped hands to the right and say....In peace Aim clasped hands in front of you and say....In harmony Aim clasped hands to the left and say...In truth Bring hands together in prayer position and say...In love With your hands in prayer position say.... Ganesha Rain your blessings down upon me Life all obstacles within and around me to confidence and healthy self-esteem Then push your hands up into the air and bring them apart say... I am the source of loving and being loved. So mote it be. ************************************************************************************* Follow with affirmations: I deeply love and approve of myself – all of me. I am fearless in my pursuit of my truth. I am grateful for the gift of creation I am magnetic and receptive to my deepest and highest good. I am loved beyond all reason. ************************************************************************************* The fires of Imbolc represent our light and our warmth, our illumination and inspiration. Brigid is the Goddess of Imbolc, which makes perfect sense because She is the Goddess of inspiration and creativity. On the eve of Imbolc, Brigit walks the earth, so if you want to leave a piece of clothing outside for her blessing, do. Brigit is one of the ancient Mother Goddesses of Ireland. When the church began to convert the British Isles, they couldn’t shake the peoples’ faith in her so they made her a saint. I'm still irritated over that and that so few people know the truth! Have a great Imbolc my dears and as ever: Live loud, love fierce, and suffer no fools. Katherine Manaan  It's July and it's hot and I thought it was the right and perfect time for a Buddhist prosperity chant. I love Buddhist chants; they're calming, clarifying and enormously effective. In my experience a very simple altar works best.
This is the chant: OM VASUDHARE SVAHA This is how you pronounce the chant: OM WA SU DHA REI SWA HA And here's a youtube link if you'd like to hear the chant. It is recommended that you do the chant 800 times the first time, and 108 times three times a day after that. If you have mala beads, there are 108 beads per strand. Though 800 repetitions is suggested the first time you do the chant, I go around the mala 8 times so I'm actually doing more. I'm still here, I didn't explode, so I'm sure it's fine. Enjoy. Much love, Kat  Summer magick is big magick. Dream big — life changing big — and work specifically. When I say work specifically, I'm talking about the nuts and bolts work — it may not feel wildly mystical but it works. June 4th is new moon; June 20th is summer solstice and full moon. That’s a tremendous amount of power available to you. For this spell you will need mala beads. If you don’t have any I strongly suggest you get some. Mala beads are one of my very favorite magick tools.
First be very clear about what you want. One thing only, A new home, a new job, a new life, a new love? Write it down on a note card. Then write down what’s intrinsic to your desire. For instance, a small home, a cozy home, an easily affordable home? A job where you have your own hours, where the people respect you? A job that pays the bills but doesn’t sap your strength for other things? A small company? A large company? A love who’s been around and knows how special you are? A love who’s humor is simpatico with yours? A love who’s astounding in bed? You get the idea. Get it all written down on a note card. Take your time. Don’t rush this part of the process. The more specific you are, the more powerful the magick. Read the note card first thing in the morning, at lunch and last thing before you got to bed. Twice a day sit down with your mala beads and say the following; “I am receptive to and easily magnetize the right and perfect opportunities for the right and perfect job.” If it’s love you seek say, “I am receptive to and easily magnetize the right and perfect opportunities to meet the right and perfect partner.” If it’s a home you seek say, “I am receptive to and easily magnetize the right and perfect opportunities to find the right and perfect home.” You hold the bead, say the affirmation, move onto the next bead, say the affirmation and so on and so on around until you’ve worked your way once around the malas. Again you will do this twice a day. Outside of the malas and the note cards, you might want to do some affirmations. "I give myself permission to have what I want," is always a good one. As are "I am loving, lovable, and desirable," and "The angels bring harmony into my life." As for the mystical, there is something delicious about walking at sunrise or sunset during this time of year. I'm pretty sure I've seen the hooves of the Green Man poking out from under the boxwoods, the sweet sheer color of Tatiana's scarves, and fey folk peering down at me from tree branches. The more pragmatic nuts and bolts work I do, the more I am opened to the mystical. And that my darlings is the delicious alchemy of the opposites. Much love, Kat 
As a witch, the hub of my spirituality is an ever-deepening connection to the earth. This chi exercise, which I have adapted from Francesca de Grandis's wonderful book, "Be A Goddess," is one my favorite tools for deepening this connection. Chi is the Chinese word for life force. When chi/life force is blocked disease and illness are the result. You are your own life force. You are the beginning, the middle, and the end; the alpha and the omega. Impacting your life force is the life force that runs that through everything — the animate and the inanimate — people, places, and things. If you feel run down and at the end of your tether, now you know why. Your chi is completely depleted from doing battle and/or simply showing up. Kat’s Chi Exercise: If you can get out in nature, do it. If you’re city or home bound, simply unplug, and create sacred space around you. You can sit or stand for the exercise. Take a deep breath — hold it, Take another deep breath on top of that one — hold it. Take yet another deep breath on top of that one and hold it. Look upwards. Imagine your higher self is hovering over you and ask it to divide the chi equally between the three selves, (talking, ancient, and younger) Exhale slowly into the higher self. The resulting sensation of feeding all of you is delicious. Just so you know.......The chi at Samhain feels nothing like the chi at Beltane; the chi at Summer Solstice feels nothing like the chi at winter solstice. I love that — energetic diversity — every esbat, every sabbat feels different. The more I give over to the energy, the more deeply I feel my place in the cosmos. Whenever I get stuck, I do the chi exercise. It unhooks me from whatever I’m so fixated on so I can see clear to right action. Enjoy! Much love, Kat  Art: Eight of Swords, Anna K Tarot, Anna Klaffinger This the simplest way and most effective way I know to begin breaking toxic emotional loops. I hope it works as well for you as it works for me, my inner circle, and my beloved clients. Choose one invalidating feeling you have about yourself. Examples include: I’m not worthy, I’m so fucked up, I’m not good enough, there’s something wrong with me, I will never succeed, etc. You get the idea. Unplug everything and sit down. Get comfortable. Breathe. Allow a root to drop from the base of your spine deep into the earth. Now, feel the invalidating feeling in the left of your heart. Place your hand ever so gently on that feeling. Now, say an affirmation that is directly opposite to the feeling you’re having. “I am worthy and deserving of the best life has to off; I am vibrantly alive, sane, and confident; I am talented, etc. Again, you get the idea. Feel that in the right side of your heart. Place your other hand on that feeling Hold the two feelings. Feel them press against the other; they may even grind. Stay with it until you feel the change, the transformation. It will feel like balm. Say: I love myself beyond all reason. I change everything I touch and everything I touch changes. Rub both hands counterclockwise three times on your heart are and pull off. You are pulling out that which has no benefit to you. Now with your power hand, right if you’re right handed, and left if your left handed, rub the heart area three times clockwise, sealing in the change. Give yourself a hug and say, “Mine is." Write down the new affirmation on a note card, along with "I love myself beyond all reason, and I change everything I touch, and every I touch changes. Say the three affirmations, first thing in the morning, at lunchtime, and right before you go to bed. Bright blessings, Kat |
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