Beach Day

(NY Driver, you should skip this blog post, you might be allergic to it!)

This morning I packed the folks into the car and we drove to the beach. Chairs, umbrella, towels and all. And enough sand castle building toys to put Castel dell'ovo to shame! What's that? Egg castle? Yeah. It's in Naples. It was allegedly built on the ruins of a Roman fort.

It was named egg castle because, as legend has it, Virgil buried an egg somewhere in the foundation of the original building and as long as the egg remained unbroken, Naples would be safe.

When we got there, the tide was... hmmm I couldn't tell if it was going out or coming in. The waves were very rough, coming one after another a few times. We originally decided to go because my mom hurt her leg and wanted to take a dip in the ocean to heal it. That's something I was always told, from when I was young: Anything that hurts or is ailing you, go into the ocean, if at all possible. Ask Her to take away. I did the very spell I mentioned here before, only this time it was an offering, not a request. Tho the tide looked like it was going out when I was making it, the offering was taken instantly. I was removing my finger from the last sigil when a wave came up unexpectedly and took it out to sea. Then I saw a crab walking around under the wave. I'll take that as confirmation of message received!

I like to use ocean water in my rituals. Why bother adding salt to water when it's already there? Silly Wiccans ;) Why do you think the salt water is such a big deal? Why is salt water sacred? Rhetorical questions. It's all about the ocean. Then again, My People were from coastal cities, with strong attachments to the ocean.

I've barely been to the beach this year and I can feel the difference in my energy. Love the smell of the sand and being in between the worlds where water, earth air and fire all meet in the natural world. Who's up for a beach trip? I'll bring the beach toys!

Domanda per i mie paisans...

Have you noticed a surge lately? Not just in "juice" but in the number of contacts you've been making amongst other Strega? I thought it was just me, that I've become more public and others who are out there come across this blog, but it seems to be happening to others around me as well. Are you riding a wave of interconnection? For those who run, have you noticed a larger gathering when you do? I don't expect anyone to answer the later, just putting that out there. 

I've always said ,when asked why there aren't more of us around, that Strega are often few and far between because we're so incredibly potent, and often have a certain Italian temper, that too many in one place is a bad idea ;) After all, too many cooks spoil the gravy!

Speaking of connections, let's revisit the magical kind: Since it's summer, I
like to make offerings on the beach, where strand meets tide. Dawn or dusk, either twilight, is the best time to do this. You can write your spell in the sand, as if you were carving a candle, or you can form a "sigil" out of shells for what it is you want. I find personal symbols work better than something you glean from a book. Collect the shells yourself, sing a song, a chant, repeat a mantra or intone your spell as you collect them. Place them above the water line, as in don't let the waves touch it until it's complete and you have time to say a prayer of offering and gratitude. Along with your spell don't forget to set aside the best shell as an offering. You can keep your chanting and prayers going until the sea takes it, or turn and trust in the tide. If someone comes along and takes one of the offered shells, it's meant for them to have.


I've asked lots of questions tonight, and will go ponder the answers.

Ciao e grazie a tutti!