Black Amber

ד' באב תש"ע
Lughnasadh 5

I'm giddy with delight - the huge (4 x 3 x 1.75 inches) specimen of genuine black jet (also known as witch's amber) I acquired from a Yachaq Shaman of Imbabura arrived today! It was waiting for me when I got home. It's gorgeous!

The Witch-Kabbalist

ז' ברמחשון תש"ע
Phasma Priscus 8

Last night, I dreamt.

At the end of the dream, I and some of the members of my team were inside a deep cave system whose entrance was closed to the general population of the area by thick metal-rock many-layered door with a secret magical lock and key combination. I knew the key-lock combination and where it was located in a hidden formation of the rock's walls. I had taken a few of us inside.

Our diverse group was different than the rest of the general populace in the area - like we were ancient travelers and outcasts who had come together as a group, settled and integrated among the locals, but who had each (clan or family or individual) still retained its unique distinction in some way. We were all unique from one another, but had been brought together by some unique and mutually recognized commonality as well. Once inside the cave system, a whole new secret community was revealed. One family among our group was Arabic. They had a light-haired family dog with them that the locals found annoying and wanted to get rid of, so their dog was brought inside the cave for protection as well.

Hunters from the general population, who had a clue that we were somehow different, too different for them to tolerate, were trying breach our cave. I began preparing my part of our defense.

I began melting quartz crystals with a special high-powered torch I had in my hand. The quartz was melting like clear-white candle wax into my collection pan.

I woke up.

Wiki on melting quartz crystals:

Fused quartz is manufactured by melting naturally occurring quartz crystals of high purity at approximately 2000°C, using either an electrically heated furnace (electrically fused) or a gas/oxygen-fuelled furnace (flame fused). Fused quartz is normally transparent.

Fused quartz can also form naturally. The naturally occurring form is usually referred to as Metaquartzite and is formed under metamorphic conditions. An increase in heat causes the crystals within the quartz to become fused together.

Along with the association of quartz crystal as the 'envelope' through which the long-life high brightness of halogen lamps is made, are its associations with metamorphic conditions, a low extinction rate, high thermal shock resistance, resistance to cracking under conditions of rapid and large thermal change, sheathing electric elements, fiber-optic communications, information storage and transmission, energy amplification and focus, and as a substrate for projection masks for photolithography.

Quartz also has the ability to split light into a spectrum. Through its use as an oscillator or resonator, quartz crystal is clearly associated with Hod (the reverberating sefirah as named by my Jewish ancestors which gives energy form) and sekhel shalem (perfect whole consciousness, original arrangement, sustained growth, balanced knowledge and mind, a magical-mystical adept, a kabbalist). Grian cloch is the Irish term my Irish-Celtic ancestors gave to quartz and means 'stone of the sun'. Meta-language and language wholistically as one is key to the mystery of form given by Hod. In my experience, given to me by my Germanic ancestors, uruz is now known as the rune of the sun. Given to me in the shamanic tradition of my Native American ancestors, quartz crystal is now my shaman stone of the sun.

Two New Stones, Two New Chapters

י"ב אייר תשס"ט
Annwn 13

I just made the connection - the colors of the sea and of the tears in my dream (Two New Chapters Of Destiny) on astrological Beltane and on the 27th day in the Omer were the colors of the two shaman stones of the amulet I wrote of in Beltane Shaman Stones.

The color of the tears I cried atop the mountain were like the color of the White Quartz from Snowdonia, and the color of the sea was like the Preseli Bluestone (the kind of stone which forms the inner sanctum of Stonehenge).

Two new stones, two new chapters. The colors of my dream.

Extraordinary!

Blessed be all my Ancestors, who truly watch over me. So mote it be!

Beltane Shaman Stones

י"א אייר תשס"ט
Annwn 12

Today May 5th is astrological Beltane .. let the Beltane fires burn brilliantly within me!

I've acquired during this powerful season of Beltane a ritual gift for the only witch I personally know - me! LOL. I'll be using them as a special shaman stone set (along with the other 36 shaman stones I've collected) for my pathwork with the ancestors.

The stones are brought together as an amulet, made from a nugget of Preseli Bluestone (the stone used by the ancient Brits for building the inner sanctum of Stonehenge) from the Preseli Hills in Wales and a nugget of White Quartz from among those scattered all over Snowdonia and in the foothills to Snowdon, also in Wales. May it be a blessing and a protection for me from my ancestors. So mote it be!

Divine Unknowing

ב' טבת תשס"ט
Grael 3

The thirty-sixth shaman stone in my Temple Collection corresponds to the spirit of Unknowing - the power to reach into and create from one's core nothingness, unknowability, unrootedness, and experience of meaninglessness. Without a folklore of its own, I have designated the unwritten stone quantum quattro to correspond to the spirit of Unknowing. The colorful four mineral combination of royal blue shattuckite, robin's egg blue chrysocolla, forest green malachite and forest green dioptase (in a smoky quartz crystal base) found in quantum quattro corresponds to the mystical four-letter essential Divine Name. With this stone, from nothing, all is written.

So mote it be, amen.

Mystery Of Manifestation

ב' טבת תשס"ט
Grael 3

The thirty-fifth shaman stone in my Temple Collection corresponds to the spirit of The Key, symbolic of the vital power to unlock inner secrets, open doorways to the mysteries, reveal portals of magic, animate manifestation, and unleash the power to spiritual evolution. The Key imparts life force, vitality, breath, soul, energy and vigorous drive into shamanic work, bringing objectives to fruition.

As the shaman stone to signify The Key, I hereby designate a natural honey citrine cluster. A Stone of Manifestation, honey citrine adds vitality, evolves creative ability, enhances mental abilities, expands awareness, and brings success to any endeavor.

Artful Discipline, Sacred Sight

א' טבת תשס"ט
Grael 2

In follow-up to an entry from last month (A Witch's Familiar), the thirty-fourth shaman stone in my Temple Collection corresponds to the Feline spirit. As written in A Witch's Familiar, Felines epitomize "the archetypal qualities of grace, elegance, charm, deep insight and intuition, agility, speed, strength, ferocity, deadly claws, patience, affection, motherly protection, birth, bounty, luxuriant simple pleasure, playfulness, music and the dance of joy."

In Celtic shamanism, whether big or small, cats exemplify the lunar qualities of stillness, quiet watchfulness, waiting, patience, biding one's time, being in the right place at the right time, making one's move at the right time, and not being thrown by anxiety such that one makes the wrong move. The Feline spirit imparts the ability to practice patient self-discipline.

Cat is a guardian creature, especially in out of the way places, near stone circles, in ancient forests, on lonely country roads, along ley lines, in valleys, and in other zones of mystical power.

The Feline eye enables the witch to see through the darkness into the light. Wise, powerful and artful clairvoyance is a gift from Cat. This ability naturally flows from Cat's inclination not to rush, but rather to stalk, circle and wait in the shadows, allowing even deeper insights to rise to the surface over those immediately apparent. True wisdom develops with the power to willfully withhold.

As the shaman stone for the spirit of Feline, I designate a rare natural chrysoberyl cat's eye from Sri Lanka. In the gem trade, the term cat's eye alone always refers to chrysoberyl cat's eye. Chrysoberyl is highly esteemed for it's tendency to display a sharp cat's eye which can be seen in any kind of light. The thin bright band of light characteristic of cat's eye will open and close as the stone is rotated - this phenomenon is called chatoyancy.

Qualities associated with chrysoberyl include: discipline and self-control, the ability to focus and concentrate, clear thinking and foresight, and protection. Because chrysoberyl also transforms negative energy into positive energy, it promotes healthy tolerance, harmony and true peace.

Playful Survivor

א' טבת תשס"ט
Grael 2

Thank Goddess for friends through whom She communicates! My friend Makay has brought into my awareness the identity of the thirty-third spirit in my Temple Collection of shaman stones.

It is the spirit of Squirrel.

For about a year and a half now I have been steadily employed full time after a very long stretch of years of unemployment (sprinkled with a few months here and there of significant underemployment). Given my current experience of steady full time employment I have been on a minor spending binge to obtain ritual tools - like a squirrel stocking up should winter come again.

On Squirrel as a power animal, it is written (Beyond the Rainbow):

Like most people who have bird feeders, I have had battles with squirrels, most of which the squirrels have won. Despite my frustration, I have learned to feel a deep respect for this animal.

The idea of insurmountable obstacles is not part of Squirrel's viewpoint; nor is giving up. I once saw a film about an obstacle course designed to prevent squirrels from getting to bird seed. It included slides, revolving doors, and at least a dozen other obstacles. It took the squirrels less than a month to figure out what had taken scientists over a year to create.

Squirrel is a survivor of relentless determination!

As the shaman stone for Squirrel, I am designating chrysoprase. An apple-green chalcedony, chrysoprase is a magical amulet of protection which helps make conscious the unconscious, strengthens workings of the higher consciousness and brings fresh insight. Other shamanic qualities include: bringing success, joy, happiness, friendship and material abundance. It aids in bringing clarity to issues so that a solution may emerge.

Squirrel also likes to have fun and play!

And the winner of the game is ultimately Squirrel!

Into The Moment

ל' כסלו תשס"ט
Grael 1

In follow-up to my previous entry I hereby designate heliotrope (also known as bloodstone) as the thirty-second shaman stone in my Temple Collection and correspond it to the spirit of The Magic Word. Heliotrope is a dark green or green-blue form of chalcedony dotted with red jasper blood-like inclusions.

Associated with the sefirah Malchut and the base chakra, heliotrope brings magic 'into the moment' of the 'here and now'. The power to bring magic into the moment embodies the seal of spellcraft (so mote it be) and the seal of ritual prayer (amen).

Other correspondences associated with heliotrope include: abundance, wisdom, magic power, alignment, courage, detoxification and stabilization, stimulation of immunity, organization, promotion of smooth energy flow, and restoration of boundaries. The word heliotrope means "turning". The stone signifies fertile time.

Heliotrope specimen with a river of fire in it.

Higher Ground

ל' כסלו תשס"ט
Grael 1

In response to one of my dreams last night, the thirty-first shaman stone in my Temple Collection corresponds to the spirit of The Kindred. The Kindred are spiritual allies and coworkers, guides to the inner mysteries, teachers of ancient ways, ancestors of both blood and soul, and guardians of the way. Kindred beings aid the witch in shamanic work, to help maintain balance between the spiritual and the physical, and act as supports toward spiritual evolution.

Designated as the shaman stone for The Kindred is the Stone of Truth, a rich royal blue marbled, deeply veined natural specimen of sodalite, a gemstone formed in the heart of the earth. Nearly as old as the earth itself, sodalite is associated with fellowship, secrets of the ancestors, truth and wisdom, communication, balance between rational and intuitive modes of thinking, objectivity and detachment, peace and harmony, the planet Mercury, endurance, and healing. Sodalite also enhances creativity and self-expression, calms emotion, eliminates confusion to create clarity, and facilitates spiritual progression.

The white calcite veins which run through sodalite enhances the ability to meditatively center. The quality of double refraction found in calcite 'doubles the power' of any rite, ritual or spell. Kabbalistically, the white calcite vein corresponds to 'double portions' and to the rectified mystical power of the gid hanasheh.

The Kindred divination card of Witchcraft depicts the forms of four faerie beings (two by two) who come as spirit guides. Following connections, the ancient text of Ireland Annals of the Four Masters is linked through the Elder tree [see Elder Staff, Faerie Door and Gate 9 3/4] with the ogham letter tinne whose celestial current pertains to the concept of Mastery.

Radiant Being

ל' כסלו תשס"ט
Grael 1

In follow-up to an earlier post (No Ordinary Gargoyle, My Gargoyle) in which Gargoyle was further transformed into Radiant Being, I hereby designate my thirtieth shaman stone (shown below in magnificent glory) to be this exquisite specimen of absolutely stunning rust, exotic, rare, orange, reddish, radially transparent to translucent Creedite crystals on sky blue to dark aqua blue-green Fluorite crystals from Rodeo Durango, Mexico.

Appropriate for the spirit of Radiant Being, creedite [1] is connected to the Crown, flows with a high spiritual vibration, attunes to the Universal Wisdom embodied in ancient texts, imparts energy to spiritual evolution, improves and guides the ability to move between different states of consciousness, and harmonizes the physical with the changing spiritual vibration. Fluorite [1] grounds and integrates evolving energies, reorganizes and orders disordered energy, heightens intuitive powers, promotes quick thinking and delivers impartiality (justice in decision-making).

Totally awesome!



Footnote:

[1] The Crystal Bible, Judy Hall

Elder Staff

כ"ט כסלו תשס"ט
Shamash 30

The twenty-nineth shaman stone in my Temple Collection represents the spirit of Elder Staff, the card I drew last evening in a Hidden Path divination. On Elder Staff it is written [1]:

In ancient times, among some tribes it was believed that trees were the dwelling place of a god or goddess. This is one reason why sacred groves were established. A branch was taken from the tree and carried by the priestess or priest as a sign of her or his connection to the diety of the grove.

This is particularly interesting to me given that this divination occurred in the evening of the morning that I had my waking vision encounter with a tree and it's faerie door. Thus, for me, Elder Staff represents both my own inner Druid Priestess and my link to other Elder Druids throughout all time.

On Elder Staff it is also written [1]:

The Elder Staff informs us that the path we walk takes us through worlds not known by the average person in life. The message of this card is to live and walk the chosen path with lasting devotion and represents the inner mystery that light is at home in the darkness, and that enlightenment is found by passing through the night.

The appearance of Elder Staff officially marks my rite of passage from the dark night of the soul into a period of enlightenment.

As the shaman stone for Elder Staff I have designated an exquisite specimen of agatized coral. The fossilized skeletal remains of a sea creature, coral contains the "life essence of the Mother Goddess who dwelled in the ocean in a tree of coral." [2] Coral's powers include healing, peace, wisdom, regulating menstration, agriculture, and protection (against the evil eye, demons, furies, succubi, incubi, phantasma and all manner of ills, accidents, violence, theft, poison, possession, shipwreck and sterility).

Footnotes:

[1] The Seeker's Guide to the Hidden Path, Raven Grimassi and Stephanie Taylor

[2] Crystal, Gem and Metal Magic, Scott Cunningham

Related entry - Transformation of a Demon Creature

A Safe Home For Gargoyle

כ"ח כסלו תשס"ט
Shamash 29

The twenty-eighth shaman stone in my Temple Collection represents the spirit of Gargoyle (Golem). Once a demon creature magically sent to destroy, yet compassionately transformed and given a safe home instead, Gargoyle is an ever-faithful and loyal guardian.

A traditional witch's familiar derived from occultism in general, the stone designated for Gargoyle is carnelian. Of projective energy and elemental fire, carnelian promotes peace and harmony, dispels depression and negativity, prevents skin and blood diseases, prevents insanity and mental instability, stills anger and envy, confers eloquence and patience, bolsters confidence and courage, strengthens the voice and astral vision, and guards against malicious enchantments and storms.

Faerie Door

כ"ז כסלו תשס"ט
Shamash 28

The twenty-seventh shaman stone in my Temple Collection corresponds to the living spirit of Faerie Door (in follow-up to my previous post, Gate 9 3/4) and green moss agate. As the gardener's stone, green moss agate connects to the spirit of plantlife in general and provides a point of access into the magical realm of the fae and to the mysteries.

Greater Than Dark Or Light Alone

כ"ז כסלו תשס"ט
Shamash 28

The twenty-sixth shaman stone in my Temple Collection is dedicated to the medicine of steadfast remembrance (corresponding to my preincarnate memories), represented by the spirit of Penguin, whose wisdom includes life altering mystery, intrigue and transformation. Penguin waddles and cares for its single egg (or baby penguin) with steadfast determination and focus. With fluid grace Penguin swims, and with complete connection to it's inner rhythm Penguin toboggans on it's stomach with joy and agility at speeds up to 25mph. In the manner of royalty and perfect derekh eretz, penguins often bow to one another in acknowledged respect of the other.

The black and white colors of Penguin represent the unification of dark and light into a single state of actualized being, one greater than either dark or light alone.

As the shaman stone for Penguin, carrying the energies of overall wellbeing and living knowledge of the perfection of the Universe, I've designated tourmalated quartz, a white crystal with well-defined black tourmaline inclusions.

The Crystal Cave Of Hitbodedut

כ"ז כסלו תשס"ט
Shamash 28

When I was a child my parents frequently tried to coax me out of my bedroom where I was engaged in solitary play, reading, working with my microscope set or frequently, just thinking and being alone. They called my self-initiated retreat into my own space hibernation. I still hibernate to this day, whether at home or at the office. The drive to hibernate is integral to who I am, to my purpose in life and to my destiny. Importantly, I have naturally hibernated in my crystal cave of solitude (whether literally or thoughtfully) from my earliest memories of existence.

In light of this tendency toward cave-dwelling hibernation, linked from the dark depths to the Great Bear constellation and stars, the twenty-fifth shaman stone in my Temple collection corresponds to the spirit of Arth (the Welsh word for Bear), whose primal powers include hibernation, deep introspection, meditation (hitbodedut, self-seclusion), healthy vitality, reclaiming truth through unconventionality, attaining altered states of consciousness, astral travel and dreamworking. Arth is also associated with the winter solstice (the sabbat of Yule), bringing light from darkness (Chanukah), the North Star, the ancient stellar goddess, the throne of the queen of heaven, the realm of the crystal castle, the realm beyond time and the realm of causes. All of these associations link together through the idea that the great spirit of Arth is the great Crystal Cave spirit of crystal caves (which extend the field of apprehension), like in my poem The Magic Ladder.

As the shaman stone for Arth I've designated a natural peridot crystal specimen, a visionary stone whose shamanic qualities include protection, health, wealth, sleep, inner balance, peace and connection to destiny.

Active Disenchantment

כ"ז כסלו תשס"ט
Shamash 28

The twenty-fourth shaman stone in my Temple Collection is a recently acquired three-specimen set of aqua aura crystals which represent, with the force of three-fold Law, the spirit of Mermaid (tachash and dugong). The wisdom myths of Mermaid (tachash and dugong) communicate the ability to overcome and break free of harmful enchantment, to connect mind with heart, and to recognize truth. This shaman stone is connected to my previous entries, Pathwalker and Ketonet Pasim.

Myths Of Active Disenchantment

The little mermaid, who gives up her tail for enchanted love only to find herself trapped in lovelessness, returns to the deep in an act of active disenchantment and becomes a spirit of the air.

The enchanting mysterious tachash is skinned (representing an act of active disenchantment) and its skin is used in constructing the tabernacle.

The dugong is a rather homely sea creature who represents the ability to withstand the enchantment of the sea sirens' song.

Legends Of The Rise

כ"ז כסלו תשס"ט
Shamash 28

The twenty-third shaman stone in my Temple Collection represents the spirit of Mouse, the creature who shared the extraordinary and stellar experience of traveling consciousness with me in the epiphany of 1967. Today I received a surprise gift with one of my supply orders - a moonstone, the traveler's stone - and my twenty-third shaman stone.

Raven Grimassi (The Witch's Familiar) writes of Mouse:

In old legends witches were believed to be able to transform into mice. Some tales include the belief that the soul of a witch appears as a mouse.

How very interesting to me, as a witch.

As a power animal, Mouse's wisdom includes "scrutiny, order, examining life's lessons, shyness, quietness, understanding details, seeing double meanings, stealth, guidance in signing contracts, discovery and the ability to be unseen." This last characteristic - the ability to be unseen - may account for Mouse's scrutiny of me and surprise that I could truly see it followed by Mouse's question to me in 1967 "what are you looking at?" Indeed, what was I looking at with such stealth, examination, scrutiny and interest to discover that I was propelled into the experience of a lifetime?

Pathwalker

כ"ד כסלו תשס"ט
Shamash 25

The twenty-second shaman stone in my Temple Collection represents the spirit of Pathwalker, one who is engaged in the Great Work of unification. As a tool for attracting spiritual partners in this work, I've designated a witch's finger (of quartz crystal with actinolite, mica, and rutile inclusions) to the spirit of Pathwalker.

Shaman Stones Summary Page

כ"ד כסלו תשס"ט
Shamash 25

Shaman stones summary:

01. Wolf - moqui stone
02. Raven - first yard stone [lilac bush / bedroom window as a child]
03. Deer - deer creek fire agate
04. Blodeuwedd (flower) - jet (witch's amber, black amber)
05. Blodeuwedd (owl) - second yard stone [twin 1, closet wall]
06. Butterfly - third yard stone [twin 2, closet wall]
07. Evening Star - emerald
08. Well of Knowledge - tektite
09. Toad - river stone from woods
10. Fire - garnet
11. Star Woman - blue sapphire
12. Unicorn - infinite (serpentine)
13. Faerie Cow - whole uncut geode
14. Snake - moldavite
15. Child - hagstone
16. Hare - amber
17. Gryphon (Kruvim) - herkimer diamond
18. Weasel - black obsidian
19. Dog - carrollite in clear dolomite
20. Dragon - labradorite
21. Swan - salrose in cobaltian calcite cluster
22. Pathwalker - witch's finger
23. Mouse - moonstone
24. Mermaid (Tachash, Dugong) - aqua aura quartz, set of 3
25. Arth (Bear) - peridot crystal
26. Penguin - tourmalated white quartz
27. Faerie Door - green moss agate
28. Gargoyle (Golem) - carnelian
29. Elder Staff - agatized coral
30. Radiant Being - creedite on fluorite
31. The Kindred - royal blue sodalite with calcite veins
32. The Magic Word (Fertile Time) - heliotrope (bloodstone)
33. Squirrel - chrysoprase
34. Feline - chrysoberyl cat's eye
35. The Key - natural honey citrine cluster
36. Unknowing - quantum quattro

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