The Sea Witches Guide

A blog dedicated to Sea Witchery and all the the things under the sea.

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The Selkie is a being found mostly in the seas around the Orkney Islands just off the north-east coast of Scotland. The word Selkie is the Orcadian word for “Seal.” The Selkie are said to take the form of seals while in the water but are able to shed their Seal skin and take on a human form allowing them to come ashore.

Sources don't agree on the exact conditions the Selkie needed to shed their seal skin. Some say they could make the transformation every twelve days, some say once a year on Mid Summer's Eve and some think they could make the transformation at will with as much regularity as they desired.

However if their seal skin was damaged or stolen they would be forced to live out the rest of their lives as humans, forever separated from the ocean. If a mortal man were to steal the seal skin of a female Selkie she would be under his control and must marry the man. Selkie women are said to make wonderful wives but the matrimonial bliss is usually short lived as she begins to long for the sea and so she steals back her skin and returns to the ocean. Sometimes she would take her children to the sea with her or sometimes she would abandon them completely.

Male Selkies are thought to be incredibly beautiful in their human guise. Their beauty could easily mesmerize human females and possibly even human males. In the folklore they would usually come to women who longed for the physical comfort of a man, perhaps their husbands were on a long voyage at sea or perhaps their husbands were cruel to them. All the woman had to do was to shed several tears into the ocean and this would attract a Selkie mate. Unlike the male members of their race the female Selkie was no more beautiful than any other mortal woman.

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The Sea Does Not Like To Be Restrained.

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Dolphin Animal Totem

Considered the "king of fish" by many ancient cultures, dolphin meaning is closely associated with kingly qualities. Not the dominating kind. Observe the dolphin for any length of time and you know if dolphins ruled the world they would be gracious in their reign.

And that is the core theme to dolphin meanings. Grace.

A quick-list of symbolic dolphin meaning includes...

Playfulness

Transcendence

Gentleness

Harmony

Intelligence

Contentment

Friendship

Community

Resurrection

Generosity

Power

Christian symbolism conveys the dolphin as an aspect of Christ. Dolphins seen in Christian art are symbolic of resurrection. Some artists utilise the protective, stabilising, compassionate demeanour of the dolphin as a message of well being to the pure of heart. Some artistic renditions speak of dolphins transporting the spirits of the faithful to Christ's side upon leaving their physical bodies.

This dolphin meaning is mimicked in ancient Greece where legend tells us the dolphin was responsible for carrying the souls of the dead to the Islands of the Blessed.

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/dolphin-meaning-dolphin-symbolism.html

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Crab Animal Totem

Animal symbolism of the crab deals primarily with elements of water, moon and carries themes of protection.

Crabs are strong lunar symbols, and we see the crab's connection with the moon astrologically, esoterically and universally. For example, the crab is featured in the Tarot where a crab (or sometimes a lobster or crayfish) is indicated on the Moon card and enhances the overall symbolism this card represents.

Indeed, the moon symbolically serves as a matronly guardian of the crab, and oversees its well-being amidst its watery world. More about moon and its symbolism can be found here.

Crabs cast off their shells for new ones, and this is where the rebirth/cycling association plays its part.

The protective animal symbolism is evident in the hard, spiny exo-skeleton found with these creatures.

When the crab crawls into our consciousness we're reminded of the cyclical nature in our lives and what protection we may need for the path on which we embark.

The Crab signifies prosperity, success and high status in Chinese symbolism because the Chinese word referring to its shell is a pun on the term used for the highest score a candidate can make on the Chinese Imperial Examinations (first, orjia). Two crabs represent the first and second scores of the Examinations.

Crab animal symbolism includes attributes such as...

Cycles

Trust

Emotion

Protection

Regeneration

Transformation

As an animal totem, the crab's ambulation is noteworthy. Never taking a direct (forward, or head-on) route, the crab makes its way on land with a sideways tap-dance.

This is a reminder that not all paths are direct and not all ways will be forthcoming in their meaning. When you are moving in a certain direction, and you feel a bit misguided, call upon the travel-savvy crab. She will guide you in an unorthodox way - taking lesser known paths of least resistance and bring you to clarity.

The crab reminds us that we may live within the diversity of this world with the preparedness of a warrior (wearing armor), but we are born with this preparedness - we do not have to guard or defend ourselves on purpose.

In other words, when we relax and move in the waves of wellbeing - moving in the natural flow of things, we have no need for defense. All of our needs are met, andwe are divinely cared for.

There's a reason for the old adage: "happy as a crab." It's because the crab is content to move with the natural cadence of the moon, the water, the land, and the perfect rhythm of nature. We would do well to follow her lead.

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/crab-animal-symbolism.html

[salt-like-wine-deactivated20201]

Sea Witchcraft: "Sinking"

What I refer to as “sinking” is another form of grounding and something that I think every sea witch (or any kind of witch) should try.

In the typical grounding practice, one takes time to calm the mind and align your energy with that of the Earth, in sinking you are instead aligning your energy with the ocean. This is good to try before any spell, especially if you want it to pack a bit of a punch.

Now, a few notes that I feel should be taken here;

  The ocean is a strong, untamed force of nature. Respect that.

 You do not take from its’ power, you simply borrow it.

Alright, now that being said, sinking is very powerful. The first time I tried it I was overwhelmed and had to take a tiny break just because the sensation is a lot stronger than any I’ve ever gotten while grounding. But that’s just me. Anyhow, here we go!

How To Go About Sinking

Things you’ll need:

Water. (Sea water if you can but if not, any other kind save for tap is fine.)

Sea Salt

A sea shell

A candle that reminds you of the ocean.

A picture or video of the ocean

The sound of waves, seagulls etc (easily accessible on Youtube.)

Make sure that you’re somewhere that you can’t be disturbed. Turn your video on or place your picture in front of you and play the ocean sounds. Light your candle as well. Just listen, take it all in for a few minutes. Imagine that you’re actually there, try to picture the way the sand feels against your skin. Once you begin to truly feel the sand and all of that, grab your shell and hold it in your hand. Take all of this in and until you can feel yourself actually by the shore.

Take a pinch of your sea salt and taste it (Do not drink or even sip your sea water! It’ll make you sick!) Tell yourself that the salt in the sea and the salt you have just eaten are one and that the waves that splash against the shore are also in your blood and that the very sea itself rages in your veins.

When you are ready, take your sea water and drip it on your wrists, feet, wherever you would like and feel the water. What I like to do is imagine myself sinking but not struggling for breath, feeling the water, the energy around me and allowing my body to be a receptor of that energy. It moves through you and strengthens you.

Now as I’ve said, this is simply how I do it and what works for me but yeah, there you have it!

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Properties Of The Beach

Seaweed- luck. Take some seaweed and place it in a jar, cover the dried or fresh seaweed in whiskey, close jar and seal with dark blue wax. Place in a window seal or some place prominent in your home to increase wealth and positive energy.

Peach Pit- love, wishes, banishing, longevity. 

Shark Teeth- protection in the water as well as traveling on or above water

Tongue Stones- is a petrified shark tooth, they have the same properties as actual shark teeth

Coral- curative powers, used as a base in many sea spells

Sand Dollar- natural pentacle, keep in mind that a sand dollar is a living thing, to kill or buy from a local shop may have karmatic repercussions

Starfish- natural pentacle, see above warning for Sand Dollar

Sand- controlled by the moon, great for lining boundaries and circles, especially that of the 'place in between worlds'

Sea water- best to use for New Moon rituals, great for beginners since Sea Water is the water of Her womb, which everything came from. Use sea water in anointing. It represents newness.

Holey Stone- This is a stone or pebble you find on the shore that has a natural hole in it.

http://strawberrymooncoven.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/sea-witchery.html

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DIY seashell candle tutorial- sea witch, pagan, wiccan crafts!