The Witches Hat.

Written and Compiled by George Knowles.

Still today the stereotypical image of a witch is that of an ugly old hag wearing a broad brimmed, tall and black pointed hat. “But where did the hat originate”?

In medieval times, woodcut images of witches show them as wearing a verity of costumes associated with those times, including headscarves and hats of differing fashions. Many are also shown bareheaded with their hair locks blowing in the wind.

Old Woodcut of Witches and Demons.

Is it possible that the witches hat is an exaggeration of the tall conical “Dunces Hat”, popular in the royal courts during the 15th century? or the blunt-topped hats worn by the Puritans and Welsh of the same period? At one point long ago, pointed hats were a fashion icon in the city of London (then the fashion capital of Europe), but it took a long time for fashion to trickle into the country, and by the time they did, they became way out of fashion in the city. City folk called Country folk 'pagani' (which means country dweller), much the same as calling someone ‘a hick’, today.

Pointed hats soon became considered something only the 'pagani' would wear, most were Herbalists and Farmers wife’s who lived in the country and understood the land. Since they were wise to the ways of nature and could grow and harvest herbs, so the pointed hat became associated with the ‘Wise Woman’ or ‘Witch'. During this same period the Christian Church chipped-in and associated pointed hats with the horns of the Devil, by which time they frowned upon their use.

Brimless conical hats have long been associated with male Wizards and Magicians, Goya the famous artist painted witches wearing such hats. It is possible that other artists somewhere along the way added the brim to make the hats more appropriate for women. By Victorian times, the tall black conical hat worn by an old crone became readily identifiable as symbols of wickedness in illustrations of children’s stories and fairy tales.

Another possibility is that the witch’s hat may date back to antiquity. Ancient Etruscan coins from the city of Luna depict a head on one side of the coin; some believe it to be the goddess Diana, who is associated with witches. The head on the coin depicts the wearer with a brimless conical hat.

Today most contemporary witches go bareheaded or wear ritual headgear such as headbands with a crescent moon or other religious symbols on it. Normally the symbol is positioned on the forehead. During rituals in which the Goddess and Horned God are represented, the high priestess may wear a headband or a crown, while the high priest may wear a helmet with horns or antlers.

End.





Best Wishes and Blessed Be.

Hereditary Witchcraft

This refers to those people that can trace Craft practice back on their family tree in an unbroken family tradition passed down through the generations by their ancestors from the ancient Pagan Mysteries, and were taught the secrets of the Craft by a living relative (my mother’s grandmother’s sister’s cousin was a Witch, doesn't count). Many Hereditary Witches do not consider their traditions Wiccan, and some admit that they only use the term Wicca because of what they had read about Gardnerian beliefs and practices, which seemed to fit more or less closely with their own beliefs and practices. Hereditary traditions are also often referred to as FamTrad, or Family Traditionalists i.e. a Tradition that has passed down within the family and hence by hereditary descent.

Cyber Wicca


Cyber Wicca is less of a tradition of witchcraft in the practical sense of the craft, and more about networking and disseminating information. The Internet is the ultra-modern age of Wicca, and more and more people are turning to it in their quest to practice The Old Religion. It is the ideal medium for the solitary or eclectic practitioner, to learn from and communicate with others in the craft. It is also ideal for those people unable to meet with and practice with others, and indeed for those who for various reasons need to remain anonymous.

There are now many groups on the Internet that take part in live play and group rituals. This is accomplished through synchronized live imagery and the typed word. When you think about it, magick holds no boundaries, a person practicing in England using the same tools, method and intent, synchronized with a person in America, should and now do work together in common magical goals.

Many teaching covens operate on the net, offering no end of courses in varying aspects of the craft. These range from courses on Healing, the use of Herbs & Spices, Stones & Gems, courses on Divination including the use of Tarot cards and Crystal Ball scrying. Some even offer degree courses for certain traditions, and the list goes on.

I would caution readers here, for many people charge for the privilege of learning, nothing wrong in that, but some do so unscrupulously. It’s worth finding out who they are, what they are, and how qualified they are, before paying them anything. Bare in mind what the “Wiccan Rede” tells us:

"When ye have and hold a need, harken not to others greed.

With a fool no season spend, nor be counted as his friend".

There are on the Internet many Chat rooms, News groups and E-mail discussion groups that can be joined where many Wiccans and other like-minded individuals meet, talk and exchange information freely. These are well worth investigating. My own internet E-mail discussion group can be found at:

Eclectic Wicca


An eclectic Wiccan as the term implies doesn’t follow any strict traditional guidelines in their practice of the craft. Eclectic Wicca includes a broad range of groups and individuals who have based their philosophies, rituals and practices on a wide and varied number of sources, and practice only those beliefs that suit them best. They often mix traditions and practices together in order to find that which most suits their own circumstances, lifestyles and religious belief’s, practicing whatever magic they consider obtains best results. This is mostly of modern origin for previously Wiccan traditions had more restricting boundaries.

Eclectic Wicca emphasizes spontaneity and therefore plays down the importance of such concepts as Initiations, Oaths, Tradition and Lineage. Critics claim that the majority of Eclectic practitioners take the position that Wicca is a completely modern religion created by Gerald Gardner, and that the beliefs and practices of Wicca are completely individualistic, therefore nobody can define “Wicca” for others. Many traditional Wiccans object to these groups using the name Wicca, and believe their practice should simply be called Eclectic Witchcraft.

The Witch in You

As a child, did you ever make mud pies, but knew that your concoction wasn't quite right until you added that special blade of grass or flower or berry on top?

"Then you know the care a witch puts into his/her brew and the painstaking importance of every last magickal ingredient in his/her spell".

As an adult, have you ever prepared a meal for others and paid careful attention to the ingredients that you were using because you wanted it taste scrumptious along with being healthy?

"Then you have practiced a bit of kitchen witchery".

Have you ever looked up into the sky and seen clouds that resembled an animal or a person's face or some other object?

"Then you have divined like a witch".

Have you ever as a child (or even as an adult ) attempted to make one of those clouds disappear through the sheer power of your mind?

"Then you have practiced a little weather magick".

Have you ever spoken to your pet as if they were human, or known what they wanted by simply observing their actions or the look in their eyes?

"Then you have begun to communicate as a witch does with a familiar".

Have you ever felt sad and cried when something or someone you didn't even know got hurt or died?

"Then you have experienced one of the many feelings of the empathic witch".

Have you ever had a fortunate "coincidence" happen to you, or a project that seems to have flowed flawlessly, or written a book that feels as if it wrote itself?

"Then you've been introduced to synchronicity and the witch's secret of aligning with the Universe".

Have you ever had everything go wrong, or struggled to write even a simple sentence, or felt strangely down and out-of-sorts for no reason?

"Then you know the first step of the witch's secret of how s/he knows s/he is *not* aligned with the Universe".

Have you ever spoken a quick prayer for your safety or the safety of others?

"Then you have practiced one part of a witch's protection spell".

Have you ever wished it would stop raining and then the sun made a sudden appearance, or ever wished someone would just go away...and they did?

"Then you have touched on the powers of a witch".

Have you ever been attracted to or studied ancient mythology and become familiar with names such as Zeus, Artemis, Aphrodite... Diana, Jupiter, Venus... Isis, Horus, Bast... Freya, Odin, Thor... Brigid, Cerridwen, or Lugh?

"Then you know something of a witch's pantheon and who s/he might be consorting with".

Have you ever woken up refreshed and said "hello" or "good morning" to the sun?

"Then you have hailed and honored one of the many witch's Gods".

Have you ever gotten so angry that unwittingly whatever you were holding in your hand broke... felt your pulse quicken during a scary movie... found something so funny that you couldn't stop laughing at until your sides hurt... or been on the tail-end of a "whip" at the roller skating rink?

"Then you have experienced a wee dose of raised energy".

Have you ever planted a garden and firmly patted the rich dark soil around a seedling, sat by the heat of a fire and wondered what fire actually was, gone swimming in the ocean and felt its undertow grab at your feet, or listened to the howls of the wind before a storm?

"Then you have played with aspects of the Elements a witch works with".

Have you ever "wow"ed at a sunset or sunrise, the largeness of the moon as it crests the horizon, the wrath of the ocean waves during a storm, or.. (insert your own "wow" moment here)..?

"Then you have felt what a witch feels all the time".

Have you ever daydreamed of making love in the grass under a full moon, or in a field of lavender under a blazing sun, or in the water of a pristine lake under a canopy of twinkling stars, or on the beach in the rain during a thunderstorm?

"Then you have dreamed of what a witch does".

Have you ever sunk your teeth into a ripe peach or melon, savored the flavor of mint or butter pecan ice cream, or enjoyed a slice of freshly-baked apple cinnamon pie?

"Then you have tasted the sweetness of a witch's Goddess".

Have you ever marveled over how the crystals grew inside that geode, or over the intricacies of a seashell's form, or over the infinite pattern of a fractal, or over the face that looks back at you in the mirror?

"Then you have glimpsed the Goddess/God in you".

"The Witch In You" © Patricia J. Martin - August 2005

Ostara...It's Not Just For the Kiddies Anymore!

When did our blessed Ostara get to be such a juvenile holiday? I recall being new to the Craft but long attuned to the seasons and cycles of the earth, and smelling the first breath of Spring in the air. There was a subtle shifting of energies, an inward stirring of freshness, possibility and new hope in the air. As a wilderness child, I avidly searched for the first hint that the cold earth had thawed, for the first glimpse of wild dutchmans’ breeches, sweet violets and bloodroot flowers to come pushing up out of the ground. Ostara brought silver minnows swimming in the creek, gusty breezes to coax kites aloft and wish bubbles to be blown out on the wind with a jar and plastic wand.

Somewhere along the way in the Pagan community, Ostara became only a children’s sabbat with grown-ups hovering awkwardly while kids scouted colored eggs. There might be a picnic afterwards, with another avalanche of eggs. What once was heralded as a light-hearted observance of greenings and hatchings and sighings of robins, wrens and hares, has been diminished to Cadbury eggs, jellybeans and egg coloring kits.

For all of us earthlings who are childless, or those whose children have grown, I propose returning Ostara to its roots…and stems and leaves and flowers. If your young ones or grandkids have lost sight of their connection to the earth, and have no idea why there are chocolate rabbits hopping down from every grocery store shelf, this will be an educational outing for them. There is magic and meaning in this observance, whether you are a covener of solitairy. Make of Ostara a day of discovery, of newness in the wild.

If means permit, arrange a weekend camping or cabining trip to a place in nature. Get away from the city’s concrete and steel. Along with other supplies, take your camera, notebook and pen. Once settled in, find a picnic bench or break out your camp chair. Seat yourself comfortably and invoke Ostara, Goddess of Spring:

“Lady of flowers returning, Lady of the earth’s green mantle,

Sweet your presence, blessed your spirit.

Awaken my senses to you, that I might be renewed.”

Now embark upon your great discovery. Beginning with your sense of hearing, listen to the sounds of spring. Is there a gurgling brook or a sunlit creek skipping over small stones? Are there birds in the trees, industriously setting up housekeeping for the year? Listen for as long as you like, then record what impressions came to you.

Next consider the smell of spring. What is the scent of the earth, watered by spring rains? How does the waterfall smell, rushing by? Press your face to a leaf or bend to sniff a wildflower. Tilt your face up towards the sun and drink in the fragrance of the day. Jot down your thoughts or write a poem about this experience.

You may have to take the taste of spring camping with you. Put together a salad of spring greens and herbs. Set a dish of plump strawberries or blackberries for dessert. I dare you to play at face painting by tracing some of the juice across your nose or cheeks! Pour yourself a glass of spring water with a sprig of mint. Dice up an apple and scatter it nearby, that the creatures of the earth might dine too. If you are led to say a pagan grace, it might be something like this:

“Blessed is the earth on which I stand. One Mother, giver of all life, renewed and renewing for time without end. Blessed is the goodness you provide to nurture my body and soul. May I walk gently, ever mindful of your grace. So mote it be.”

Savor your little feast and thank Ostara for feeding you once again. Take time to be grateful. After your meal, see what gift you can give back to the earth. Pick up some aluminum cans or trash. Pour the last of your water at the base of a tree, or bury a few silver coins for the unseen spirits of the land.

Next look around you, visually noticing the colors of spring. Ostara has painted the land with her palette, hoping you have the eyes to see. Notice the changes in light and in shadow this time of year. How many wildflowers have stars outlined in their pastel centers? Like every good artist, the Goddess signs Her work. Choose a single flower or a leaf, and press it in your journal. Stand by a stream and note the patterns on wet stones. Have your camera ready to catch the budding trees’ reflection in the water.

Finally, reach out with both your body and your spirit. Skip a few of those smooth flat stones! Roll up your pant legs and go wading and splashing like the earth child you are! Take your hiking stick in hand and see what’s around the bend. Rake aside a bit of old brush and reveal the seedlings popping through the ground, tiny mushrooms and insects busy at work. Tuck leaves into your hair. Revel in the joy of spring!

When you have returned to your camp, write down anything of special significance to you. Then thank Ostara with words like these:

Here in the heart of nature, my spirit is renewed

And all my senses quickened.

Let me never lose the sight of beauty,

The scent of the breeze,

The taste of all the earth provides.

Let me hear the living earth hum around me

And feel your love in the weaving of nature’s web.

Blessed Be.”

Kiss your hand, then blow a kiss to Ostara on the balmy air. She is all around you, and Her arms encircle the world. List the treasures your day of exploration has revealed, by saying something like:

“For the little chipmunks who came for food, Ostara, I thank you!

For the first butterfly in the meadow, Ostara, I thank you!

For the shiny stone in my pocket, Ostara, I thank you!

Hail to the Mother of Beginnings! I’m betting that Ostara soon becomes one of your favorite sabbats. Here’s to the sweetness of welcoming Spring!

Sun Enters Aries

Sun Enters Aries
Aries, The Ram
March 20 to April 19


Modality: Cardinal
Element: fire
Ruler: Mars

Keywords: Initiative, action, adventurous, enthusiastic, dynamic, impatient

As an Aries you are a born leader, eager to take the initiative and be a leader. Be careful, though, as you tend to be impatient; this trait can get the better of you at times. You are energetic, and fiery Mars ensures that you are good at what you try. Sports and exercise for you are relaxing and help you free your mind.

You have a wide social circle, though it is mostly comprised of acquaintances, rather than close friends. Your love life is nurtured by your energy and enthusiasm, which is helpful being that you place a lot of value on relationships and partnerships. You likely have a strong need for children, but be careful that you don’t dote too much on your kids. Be sure to spend your time (not your money) on them.

Your enthusiasm and motivation translates well to your career, and you are mindful to keep moving up the ladder. You excel at analysis with an eye for detail; be sure that your impatience doesn’t hinder your good career prospects. You have excellent earning potential and can do well with long-term investments; make sure that you look before you leap when diving into a large financial risk. You are frugal and understand value.

For the year ahead:


Affirmation: Every challenge is ultimately an opportunity!

Jupiter exits Aquarius on January 17, ending the year-long focus on friends and socializing.
Jupiter’s visit to your Twelfth House will bring added protection and good fortune.
Upheaval in your job or work environment will end when Saturn completes its Virgo transit on July 20 and make its last Virgo/Pisces contact at the end of April
Pluto in Capricorn, your tenth house, will have a powerful influence on career during its long transit (lasting until 2024). This placement can help you achieve ambitious career goals, but it can also signify trouble at work (think personality clashes or downsizing). With Pluto in your tenth house, be aware of what is going on at your workplace.

New Moon in Pisces, March 15, 2010

Look at this
New Moon in Pisces, March 15, 2010 Source: llewellyn.com

sammid0333@gmail.com sent this using ShareThis.

I fill a little better

I fill a little better today then the other day, but not that much! Thing are going crazy in my life right now, and I fill that I'm stuck in this place full of negativity... I know that I should do some kind of spell, but the player's in this drama, is just warring me down. I know that I need to get off my ass and really get on the ball so I can live a negativity free life. And I'm going to tomorrow.  I will find a spell, so I'm gonna look for one tonight.  Online and hope there is something out there, I know there is and I'll find it, if not then I will go to my library and look for something there.  That sound like a plan to me....Thanks so much for lessening to me I do appreciated it.....Blessing To All

The photo is of My friend K.T. and my dog Miss Peppers and my friend Ernie photo shop it Thanks Ernie

I DONT NEED TO KNOW!!!!

I don't need to know everything that goes on in your head........I wish the best for you and yours..But come on is it really necessary for you to tell me all of your thought!!..... Oh that right I'm A Witch and I have to lessen to all of the Evil crap that your Devil speak in your head!!!!!!!!!You need to be committed in a dame mental hospital, YOUR NUT!!!!!!!SHUT UP.....No One Trying to Kill You 

What you like

If you like what you see, then you should find your way to the place where the sun and the moon find each other, then look back at yourself and see what you like about you and make it better .

Got it Good

Well I figured out what had to be done with my page, but now I need to change the music because I don't think that the song that is playing on it now it appropriate for my blog at this time, and I want to change my bookshelf so it will mach my blog also. so that is what I'm going to do now, but I'm not filling that well so maybe tomorrow I see how I fill by then,

Working on My Blog

I’ve been working on my blog and it’s been driving me crazy, I’m trying to make it so wonderful for everyone, so let me continue and try to figure it out, I’ll get it so thanks for lessening to me while I bitch about it.

Ritual of the Day

Sun Mantra Ritual


March 7
Sunday

Color of the day: Yellow

Incense of the day: Juniper

According to vedic astrological gem remedies, ruby is governed by the Sun, a planetary deity representing the male or father principle. The Sun’s color is blood red. Its nature is bile-dominated, and it presides over the east direction. The Sun is responsible for our immunity and physical makeup. It is also said to govern the brain, nerves, liver, lungs, heart, and bones. For gaining self-confidence, vitality, resistance, ambition, understanding of parapsychic phenomena, intellect, prosperity, success in worldly affairs, and strength, the Sun’s gems are worn after sanctification and repetition of the Sun’s mantra:

Om Hring Hamsah Suryaye Namah Om.

For horoscopes where the Sun is not well posited, it is advisable to perform “Mantra Yoga” by reciting the Sun’s mantra 108 times daily for a period of thirty days. Incense and tealight candles can be lit during mantra recital. Begin by clearing all mundane thoughts and breathing in a relaxed manner.