#sandra kynes

[drowningwitchdreams]

I was quite glad to find that Rán was in fact included in the deity section of Sea Magic by Sandra Kynes, an essential reading for all beginning sea witches

[babylon-crashing]

seashells as tools

(… from Sandra Kynes' Sea Magic, 2008)

The most natural, and obvious, tool for Sea Magic is the seashell. On the most basic level, you realty only need one shell to hold sea water, but additional ones on your altar can help boost energy and serve other functions, too. And they do not have to be extravagant or exotic specimens. As you will see, even a broken shell can hold wonderful energy. 

As a water vessel, a scallop, clam, or cockle shell works well. So does a chambered nautilus, placed in a shell stand that holds it securely with the opening pointing up. This idea has been around for a long time: eighteenth-century goldsmiths created elaborate chalices from nautilus shells. But as an altar vessel it is needlessly large. In addition, the nautilus is endangered, so unless you already happen to have one I would not recommend getting it for this purpose.

Shells can also hold sand or sea salt; consider a scallop, clam, mussel, or cockle. If you find a complete shell with its hinge ligament intact, it can be used for a unique presentation of other small shells.

Although some shells may seem extremely delicate, most are rather tough. They have to be to prevent attacks from predators and to withstand the constant knockabout in the tides. Many of them handle heat well and can serve nicely as incense burners. (Be sure to set them on a heat-resistant tile or surface before lighting.) I have a six-inch-wide clam shell that I frequently use for this purpose. When it's not in service on my altar, it sits the other way around on a table in my living room. It's a beautiful and simple shell, but if you pick it up and turn it over you see the blackened area on its inner surface.

Consider letting shells represent the compass points on your altar: navigating the seas requires knowledge of the directions. Certain shells are especially suitable.

Shells for the Cardinal Directions

West: Represents dusk and the element water. Water is a force that shapes our physical world and symbolically cleanses our souls. Use a shell with the colors of the setting sun or one filled with water.

North: Represents night and the element earth. Earth is the solid foundation of our world. Use a dark-colored moon shell, a sand dollar, or a starfish. Unlike fish and other ocean dwellers, these critters spend their time in contact with the earth on the ocean floor.

East: Represents dawn and the element air. Air is the breath of life. Use shells the color of the rising sun. A yellow or pink scallop can represent radiant beams of light. Alternatively, jingle shells are delicate and light as a breeze.

South: Represents midday and the element fire. Fire is the spark of spirit that burns within us and connects us with the Divine. Use a white clam shell the color of the noonday sun which can also serve as an incense burner.

Seashells can be used in the same way crystals and gemstones are used. and vice-versa. Coral and pearls, too, can be used in place of shells.

Many legends note that magic mirrors were used by undines and mermaids. Gluing seashells or sea glass around a mirror frame is a way to create a scrying tool. However, that is about as far as I would go with “decorating” items for Sea Magic. I agree with Veronica Parker Johns, who noted that seashells don't have to, “do something or be done unto rather than merely being allowed to be.” After all, we find them on the beach. They simply are, and that is their beauty and power.

Shells offer potent visual symbols, too. The round single-shelled mollusks that sport a spiral design—such as the Moon Snail (Polinices duplicatus), Giant Sundial (Architectonica maxima), Ram's Horn (Marisa cornuarietis), and Common Periwinkle (Littorina littorea) — are particularly relevant on a sea altar. The spiral is one of the oldest and most enduring symbols of the Great Mother Goddess. On a seashell, of course, it represents Mother Ocean.

The yoni symbol of female (pro)creative power has been linked with the cowry shell (Cypraea moneta or C. annulus) since ancient times. Shells that represent male energy include the Florida Horse Conch (Pleurovloca gigantean), Crown Conch (Melongena corona) with its strong bull-like horns, and the giant Eastern Murex (Hexaplex fulvescens). A Pink Conch, also called a Queen Conch [Strombus gigas), and a Horse or a Crown Conch together on an altar represent the balance of male and female energies.

(pages 56-58)

[pagansquare]

Flowers for the Dead

Samhain is a time to remember loves ones who have passed beyond the veil, as well as ancestors and even beloved pets. It is still customary in some cultures to honor the dead with a feast. As in the past, the feast can be a complete meal with an extra place set for those not physically present, or it can be as simple as leaving cakes and wine by the fireside or on the front step.

Read more...

[babylon-crashing]

practice: seashell cleansings and blessings

(… from Sandra Kynes' Sea Magic, 2008)

As with anything used for a spiritual or healing purpose, shells should be cleansed to remove any unwanted energy and empower them with desired energy. Even a shell pulled directly from the surf should be cleansed: not only does this remove old energy, but we also imbue it with our intentions. We can do this with wet or dry cleansing methods.

If you can take your shells to a beach, you can do a real “on-site” Wave Blessing, spoken as you stand in the water. Simply wade in far enough that you can distinguish separate waves as they come ashore. You need not go far. The big breakers do not have to crash over you and your shells; the smaller and gentler waves closer to shore do nicely. If you have a number of little shells, you may want to place them in a small mesh laundry bag to prevent loss.

The Wave Blessing

Stand at the tide line and begin by saying:

Mother Ocean, I call on you to bless these shells.

Dip them into the water of three successive waves, saying one of the following lines for each wave:

Mother Ocean, cleanse these with your foam.

Mother Ocean, purify these with your salt.

Mother Ocean, charge these with your magic.

Cup the shells in your hands and close your eyes. Take a few long, deep breaths and feel the power of the sea. End with:

Mother Ocean, thank you for your flow of blessings.

When I used the Wave Blessing at the beach for my set of divination cowries, I was pleasantly surprised by a shell washing right into my hands on the third wave. Even though it is a broken and battered whelk, I have kept this gift on my altar ever since. I treasure the astonishing manner and timing by which it came to me.

If it is winter and you are not a polar bear, or if you live inland, the Wave Blessing can be performed at home. Collect or prepare enough seawater in which to dip your shells, and place it in a bowl. Ask Mother Ocean for her blessing and then, after each of the three calls to her in the Wave Blessing, dip the shells into the water. Although there will not be waves in your bowl of water, simply pause between each dipping. If you have a recording of ocean sounds, you can use that to cue your dips. If you are consecrating larger shells that don't dunk easily into a bowl, simply dip your fingers into the water and sprinkle it over the shells. End by thanking Mother Ocean.

If you prefer, a dry blessing can be done by sprinkling sea salt over the shells as you follow the blessing sequence. Once you have used the salt this way, gather it into a jar. At the next full moon, place the jar outside or on a window sill where it will be bathed in moonlight as you use the Moon Blessing. The salt can be reused afterward.

Moon Blessing of Salt

As you set the jar of salt in the moonlight, say:

Sister Moon, shining bright,

As you guide the tides this night,

Purify this salt for me

With the magic of the sea.

A note on purchasing seashells: shells that you find yourself are wonderfully gratifying because they seem like personal gifts from Mother Ocean. But if you can't get to a beach, or if you would like something that cannot find yourself, the remedy is—shopping! One drawback, however, is that the majority of shell shops tend to be in coastal areas, which is not very helpful if you are inland. The solution to this problem is shopping online, but of course, there are pros and cons.

It is important to know this about shells from the commercial trade: finding beautifully intact seashells is not left to chance. Mollusks and other sea creatures are taken alive and killed. Because of this, if you choose to buy shells it is important not only to do an energy cleansing, but also to thank the creature that created the shell and lost its life because of it. Above all, treat it with respect.

(pages 58-61)

[pagansquare]

Follow the Wheel of the Year with Plant Magic

My name is Sandra Kynes and I’m a writer who loves to develop creative ways to explore the magic of the world and then integrate them into my spiritual practices and everyday life. I find the green world endlessly fascinating in so many aspects: from magic and lore to science and culture.

Read more...

[foxandcatlibrary]

105th Book I Read in 2024

Title: Sea Magic

Author: Sandra Kynes

Notes: I liked this book just as much as I thought I would, which was a lot! Super happy with it. Will definitely be keeping it in my shelves.

[spiritualsimtatyana2000]

Sea Magic by Sandra Kynes

I thank her for this book from Amazon and I absolutely starting to read this 💙💙

[lorellies-blog]

august 29 2015

10/10 recommend this book