What is Wicca?

This is a collaboration project that I’m doing with Pyperh’s Pagan Path. She is doing a video and I’m doing a blog. (Her video is at the bottom of this blog). Plus, my video's: Wicca & Parents and My Pagan Beliefs will also be linked down below. 

A special thanks to: Pyperh's Pagan Path, Savannah Dawn, Cerberus Blindweed, Michelle Turner and Carrie Hollister. Without your guy's help, this article wouldn't have been possible. 

How do you explain Wicca to other people if they never heard of it and want to know what it is? I come into contact with a lot of people asking me this question; I know what it is and I practice it every single day. However, it is really hard for me to sit down with other people and just explain to them what it is. The following is how I would now explain it to another person or this is how you might explain it to another person; plus, some really cool facts.

I follow a nature-based religion, where I worship both a God and a Goddess. I work with universal energies, as well as energies in nature. I see all living and non-living things sacred. I do not believe in hell and instead believe in reincarnation. I am psychic, so this is one religion I can express who I am as an individual and not be ridiculed for my psychic abilities.

Wicca is based on an ancient religion where people lived, worked, healed with the forces and flow of nature. The term Wicca is a relatively new word that explains the ways of Old. People who follow this path are in tune with the Goddess (Mother Earth) and the God (Father Spirit or Sun) and we walk with them rather than worshiping from afar. It is the belief that we all connect with and we live by these words, “Harm none and do what ye will”.

Wicca is science that has not been explained and defined yet. Sometimes I would say, “I have looked into a lot of religions and I have found one that truly answers what I want in life.” In addition, if they would like to look into it you could say, “Look up (Name a good book here)”. All what matters in the end of the day is how YOU feel about it.

When talking about Wicca, it really depends on the person that’s asking and what their interests are. Short and simple answers; just call it universal love and divine acceptance. You can explain it to them:

1. How well "the path" has worked out for you.
2. What you love about it.
3. How it makes you feel.
4. What you give and receive from it.

It can be quite hard to explain it because the definition of Wicca is so broad thanks to many traditions and even Hollywood. Back in the 1950’s Wicca was known as, “Witchcraft” and practitioners were called, “Witches.” Following that, we had what was known back then called, “The Salem Witch Trials”. People were being accused for practicing witchcraft. They would be hanged or they would be burned alive, but some of them got sentenced to jail. Some of the locals would say, they are doing the devils work or its devil worshiping.

Note: there are good and bad witches all around us; a male Witch is simply called a Witch, never a Warlock. It is considered an insult to them. The word Warlock actually means “Oath Breaker” or “Traitor”, regardless if you’re male or female. Remember that!!

For more reading about this topic, check out this site, "Religious Studies Hosts Lecture on Magick, Wiccan and Witchcraft". http://www.smudailymustang.com/?p=31917 

Explaining Your Path To Others
by: Pyper's Pagan Path

Wicca & Parents

My Pagan Beliefs

Make-Up Starter Kits for Aspiring Beginners!

This is way different from the $20 Make-Up Challenge, this kit is for a beginner make-up artist.

The $20 Make-Up Challenge is basically for younger pre-teens and teens, to give them an idea that you don’t have to buy expensive make-up; cheap make-up works just as well, especially if you’re on a budget and don’t know what to get.

That’s why these videos are made on YouTube as well as the beginning make-up artists who are creating their own kits.

Please keep in mind that you don’t have to get the same products that I have in my kit, this just gives the artist an idea on what to have in his/her kit nor do you have to get everything that I have listed; you could get one item each from what I have listed down below.

I will give a list of products that I have collected over the years to make this beginning starter kit for you guys. Now remember, in this kit, I do have expensive and cheap products and they both work very well. If you can’t buy the expensive products that I am going to mention, then there is a cheap alternative that you can afford. 

Here are some examples to both cheap and expensive products. 

Cheap: Aziza (Which is the 99 cent only store make-up brand), E.L.F, NYC, Wet N Wild, Maybelline, CoverGirl, Revlon, and Rimmel London. 

Expensive: NYX, Mary Kay, Physicians Formula, Ulta and Urban Decay.

The products that I mentioned are my cheap drug store brands and expensive department store brands. Remember, you don’t have to buy the expensive products just to fit in with the popular crowd. 

Drug store products work just as well, sometimes even better than the expensive products; even the popular crowd uses the drug store products but won’t admit to it.

NOTE: If you want me to do a skin care day and night régime as well as hair, please let me know. Thank You!

To kick things off, there is everything that your gonna need in your kit; you can substitute a product for something else that’s just like it or get a product that best suits your needs and/or your clients. The best ones are hypoallergenic because you never know; your client just might be allergic to some cosmetics.  

1.      Moisturizer – Get one that best suits your skin needs.
2.      Primer – Hard Candy (Face) and Urban Decay (Eyes).
3.      Concealer – Elf Tone Correcting Powder, Mary Kay (Beige 1), Physicians Formula-Youthful Wear (Light + Yellow), Maybelline Wand (#35 Deep), Maybelline Cover Stick (Ivory), CoverGirl (#2) and a Concealer Brush.
4.      Eyebrows – NYC (#922 Dark Brown), Salon Perfect Brow Defining Powder (Taupe), Angled Brush, Tweezers and Eyebrow Comb.
5.      Eyeshadow – Palettes, Maybelline Color Tattoos (#25 Bad To The Bronze and #30 Pomegranate Punk), NYX (#ES09 Deep Bronze, #ES16 Copper, #ES110 Gypsy and #ES54 Cherry), Maybelline (#30 Rose Tints), Aziza Eyeshadow (99 Cent Only Store) E.L.F. Elements, Angled Brush, Eyeshadow Brush, Smugger and Blending Brush.
6.      Eyeliners – NYC (#921A Jet Black), Rimmel London (#117 Ginger Tea) and Mary Kay (Black).
7.      Eye Lashes – False Eye Lashes, Duo Eye Lash Glue, Eye Lash Curlers, Mary Kay Mascara (#1V09 I Love/Heart Black), Duo Mascara (Lash Primer and Mascara), Maybelline Mascara (Great Lash Very Black and The Falsies Black Drama).
8.      Foundations – I am going to list 3 different kinds of foundations

o       Liquids - Physicians Formula Organic Wear (Light to Natural Organics), Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse (Classic Ivory Light #2) and a Foundation Brush (E.L.F.).

o       Matte’s – Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse (Classic Ivory Light #2), Mary Kay Time Wise Matte Wear Liquid Foundation (Beige 1) and a Stippling Brush (Real Techniques).

o       Powders – Maybelline Fit Me (#120 Classic Ivory), CoverGirl (#215 Natural Ivory) and a Powder Brush.

9. Blush and Bronzers – E.L.F. Golden Bronzer, E.L.F. Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder (Sun Kissed), E.L.F. Contouring Blush and Bronzer, Aziza Blush, NYC Sun n’ Bronze Bronzing Powder (#706 Hamptons Radiance), CoverGirl Checkers (#150 Pretty Peach), E.L.F. Kabuki Face Brush, E.L.F. Bronzer Brush and Eco Tools Blush Brush.
10.  Lips – I am going to list 4 different kinds of lip products.

o       Chapsticks – Eos Lip Balm (Strawberry Sorbet), Chapstick Classic (Cherry), Wet n’ Wild Natural Blend Lip Shimmer (#106) and Blistex Lip Medex.

o       Lip Liners – Wet n’ Wild Coloricon (#715 Plumberry and #711 Chestnut), Mary Kay (Plum) and Rimmel London 1000 Kisses (#050 Tiramisu).

o       Lip Gloss – Mary Kay (Red Passion), Love and Beauty by Forever 21 and Aziza Lip Gloss.

o       Lip Sticks – Essence (#42 Fairytale), NYC (#410B Plum Rum), Mary Kay (Midnight Red), Revlon Lip Butter (#045 Cotton Candy), Wet n’ Wild (#510A and #528A) and Eco Tools Lip Brush.

11.   Miscellaneous – NYX (#S122 Butt “Naked” Eyes) Eyeshadow/Blush/Bronzer/Illuminator, Sharpeners, E.L.F. Shine Eraser Tools, Make-Up Removers (Aveeno), Duo Concealer and Foundation Brush, Blending Brush, Make-Up Sponges, Mac Fix Plus (But I Make My Own and So Can You).

Make-Up Starter Kits for Aspiring Beginners

Past Mistakes

Sometimes life just sucks!

You look back at the mistakes that you've made and ask yourself, "Was I fucking high or what?!"

But the mistakes that we make, is what makes us all human and we learn from them and to hope not to make the same mistake twice even tho someone got hurt in the process.

All we can truly say to that person who got hurt is, "I'm sorry" but I doubt that they will forgive us of our trespassing or even speak to us ever again.

We are human and yes we all make mistakes but is it truly human enough to hold it against us?

What is Beltane?

Beltane (Mayday-Rudmas) April 30-May 1
In this blog will explain to you guys what Beltane is. Plus, my Beltane Altar is at the end of this blog!

Beltane is a traditional May Day celebration of fertility, renewal, awakening & new beginnings that heralds the arrival of summer.

At this time, life is renewing itself. Birds and animals are mating. In the fields, newly planted seeds are beginning to grow. We emerge from the darkness of winter and our eyes savor emerging natural abundance… rolling green hills, budding branches and tender shoots. Love is flowering. It is a traditional time for Handfastings (bonding couples together), and a time for couples to bless the crops and the earth by making love outside. This is a time to fertilize your dreams with action, and make a fresh start.

The Maypole is an important element to Beltane festivities. it is a tall pole decorated with long brightly colored ribbons and flowers. As dancers revolve around the base of the pole, interweaving the ribbons, a colorful pattern emerges that symbolizes union in community. We are those colors, woven in a interlocking web of amazing diversity, more fabulous together than apart. Beltane is a time to create new connections and renew familiar ones.

It is said that at Beltane the veils between the worlds grows thin… allowing the Faeries return from their winter respite, carefree and full of faerie mischief and faerie delight.

How does one celebrate Beltane? Form a wreath of freshly picked flowers, wear it in your hair, and feel yourself radiating joy and beauty. Dress in bright colors. Smile and give away flowers to strangers. Dance the Maypole and feel your connections with community grow stronger. Bless your garden in the old way by making love with your lover in it. Make a wish as you jump a bonfire for good luck. Welcome in the May with lots of singing and dancing!


My Beltane Altar

Forgiveness

Forgiveness isn't an easy thing, some would say that it’s the hardest of all situations but so is a break-up. Those two go hand in hand and if you put both of them together, they can be very dangerous combo.

But can you really forgive someone who has sinned in the wrong way by accident? I guess it all depends on the person and the situation, really.

I have sinned in more ways then you could think of and the one person that I have sinned on, is hurt by all of this and I really hope that he could forgive me but the ball is in his court now and whatever choice he makes

I have to accept it. Even though, the choice he will make in the end, if it is a break-up, it would be very fucking hard because I don’t want to loose him, I care about him and even love him.

I always seem to make the wrong choices growing up, especially in high school, although I would have to say, a sin like this, it is my first offence and I have never even remotely done anything like this before.

He said that everybody, at some point in their life; will sin the way I have sinned. I wish that I could go back in time and not have sinned but what’s done is done and I really hope we can work this out and not break-up.

I am sorry for my sin and please forgive me, don’t write me off just yet…

Mistakes

Everybody tells me that I have to grow up and I now know that, but growing up, is a lot harder than you think.

You have to fend for yourself and rely solely on you and nobody else.

The mistakes that you’ve made helps you become a better person and learn from those mistakes.

But what if you never learn from those mistakes? What if you wind up making the same mistake as last time?

Maybe you will learn as soon as something happens to you. I have made my mistakes and obviously I haven’t learned from them because I’m right back to where I have started in same exact spot. I might loose someone and I might gain something.

These are the mistakes that we all must learn from and knowing that others have made the same mistakes, hopefully we all can learn from them and not make that same mistake.

I have dug my grave and I shall forever walk in that graveyard alone for all eternity. I am destined to always be a screw up and never learn from my mistakes…

Yule Log Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

o       1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

o       3 Tbsp. butter or margarine, softened

o       1 egg

o       1 cup all-purpose flour

o       1/2 tsp. baking powder

o       1/2 tsp. ground cardamom

o       1/4 tsp. baking soda

o       1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

o       1/4 tsp. ground cloves

o       1/4 tsp. ground allspice

o       1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

o       Red and green decorator icing

Directions:

1.      Preheat oven to 375°.

2.      In a medium bowl, beat the brown sugar and margarine until blended.

3.      Add the egg; beat until well blended.

4.      Lightly spoon flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices; mix well.

5.      Divide the dough in half.

6.      On a lightly floured surface, roll each half of dough with your hands to make two 10 1/2 inch logs; flatten slightly to 1 1/4 inches in diameter.

7.      With a spatula, place the logs 2 to3 inches apart on an un-greased cookie sheet.

8.      Dip a non-serrated knife in water; score each log diagonally at 3/4 inch intervals.

9.      Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, or until set and no longer moist.

10.  Cool for 5 minutes.

11.  With a serrated knife, cut the logs at the scored lines.

12.  Cool completely.

13.  Decorate each cookie with decorator icing to resemble a holly leaf and berries.