Thank you very much for your helpful information.  I have read about Wicca for 8 years now, but hardly anything I've read has been about the "practice of the craft".  Most of it has just been on the Lord and Lady, Gods and Goddesses, and the Watchtowers.  I've always been scared to practice it though because as a solitarian, the "how to's" are quite intimidating.  You feel like you are just talking to yourself, and feel like an idiot because in the back of your head your thinking:  is this right, or am I serving the Gods and Goddesses with humor?

I was just going to say: burning herbs in a cleansing  ritual , but it seems like Gem really has it covered!

Sister Ianna, never fear serving the Lord and Lady with humor. There are times that even They enjoy a good laugh. Look about, at some of the Creatures and the people around and tell me if YOU can't see how much They like a good laugh!

 The reasoning behind many of the books on Wiccan practises , Solitary and Covenly, focus so much on Circles, the Watchtowers, the Goddess and her Consort/Mate is that these are the very FOUNDATIONS of the Craft.  New Solitares are given the freedom to create thier own traditions and New Coveners have the basis to understand the Coven's traditions.  

 I was very nervous about being found out back when I first started practising the craft, afraid of the ridicule and negativity Wiccans can accrue by the 'muggles'.  If you are in a nice private secret place, you have no need to feel embarrasment.  The Goddess loves you no matter how silly you feel.  


--Bless the bees  

 MysticVirgo

Smudging is a Native spiritual tradition.  It seems to have gotten lost in the new age approach.  The ritual and items used have a special significance and meaning to the Native tradition.  And this is often lost, like many old traditions, when translated to modern practices.

IN YORUBA LANGUAGE WE USED TO SAY "AGBA KO NI TAN LORI ILE" THAT IS TO SAY 'ELDERS WILL NOT PERISH ON THE EARTH" OR MORE GREASE TO YOUR ELBOW. YOUR POST ON SMUDGING IS SOMETHING TO RESEARCH MORE.
THANK YOU I APPRITIATE IT.

PRINCE OLOYINDE