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The Ordains: Part 21 – Don’t Share Your Secrets With Fools
This is the twenty-first entry in a series on a set of Pagan guidelines known as the Ordains. The Ordains, as we know them today, can be found in the works of Gerald Gardener. Maiden’s Circle uses a simplified version that has been edited and altered to reflect our core beliefs.
“Witches use common sense and do not share their mysteries with fools.”
If you’re a Wiccan, this Ordain might ring sort of familiar to you. In fact, the Christian Bible has two proverbs that speak to the same topic of avoiding fools. In the long version of the Wiccan Rede, we find a similar line in the sixth quartet.

No Season Spend
The idea of avoiding the fool is certainly intriguing. It’s especially so when we consider the Tarot. For me, the Fool represents forging one’s own path. It speaks to individuality, leaps of faith, and trusting one’s self. Contradictorily, when most people hear the word “fool,” they imagine an imbecile—someone who doesn’t think before they act or holds too tightly to ignorance. Indeed, there are times when the card speaks to that sort of energy, as well. In either case, the Fool offers a lesson that aids in the growth of whoever receives the reading.
In that same light, I think we learn a lot from the foolish people in our lives. Now, some of you might be asking who gets to decide whether someone is a fool or not. Shouldn’t we all just live and let live? Well, of course, we should understand that people will make their own choices. Their lives are not our lives, and only they can decide what path those lives will take.
However, if another person is doing things that’s bringing harm on themselves, we can and must acknowledge it. Perhaps not always to that person, but we should acknowledge their behavior to ourselves, learn from it, and probably distance ourselves. That’s where this Ordain comes in. If we’re able to recognize that a person is behaving foolishly, we’re more discerning about what we tell them and how much time we spend with them.

We’ve all done it.
Many of us have known a person who seemed nice, but something about them simply didn’t click with us. Maybe they lived a life filled with violence and drugs, or perhaps their moral views directly conflicted with our own. Those of us with a calling to heal most likely tried to offer guidance only to be met with derision. Whatever the reasons, we’ve all had to let someone go at some point. We knew that we could no longer spend time with them and, even if we never said it, we saw them as a fool in our lives.
These situations can often cause guilt, but if we live by this Law, that guilt is lessened. This tenet reminds us that it’s our duty to protect the sacred wisdom given to those of us on this spiritual path. To do so means being aware of the foolishness of people and acting in a way which keeps us and that wisdom safe. Sometimes, that means biting our tongue and walking away when our relative makes choices that put them in danger. Even if we feel helpless and want to guide them away from their current path, it isn’t our job.
We use common sense to know when some arguments just aren’t worth having. When we learn to cultivate our common sense, it can tell us whether a person is interested in learning from us or not. Once we’re able to know that, we stop wasting our breath on those who aren’t interested. We stop trying to share with people who don’t want what we’re offering.
When we shift our focus to helping those who seek it, we find ourselves far more fulfilled. If we offer guidance, sacred wisdom, or our own secrets, let it be to the ones who are receptive to it. Otherwise, we’re just asking for a headache.
What do you think makes a person a fool? Do you find yourself locked in useless arguments with people who have no interest in hearing you out? How do you deal with those situations?
From a fool at heart,
Lady Morgana Brighid HP MCCA
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The Ordains: Part 10 – Balance is the Word of the Day
This is the tenth entry in a series on a set of Pagan guidelines known as the Ordains. The Ordains, as we know them today, can be found in the works of Gerald Gardener. Maiden’s Circle uses a simplified version that has been edited and altered to reflect our core beliefs.
“Witches understand that the universe consists of perfect balance; therefore, everything has an opposite.”
When it comes to balance, you’ll find I’m a bit of a broken record. In videos and blogs, I often stress the importance of pursuing a balanced, healthy life. But what does it mean to be in perfect balance? And how is the knowledge that everything has an opposite useful when it comes to guiding us on our Pagan path?
Acknowledging that everything has an opposite can be as deep as we want it to be. We can think of it simply—as light and dark, hot and cold, up and down. Or we can consider more complex pairings—life and death, destruction and creation, right and wrong. Whatever we imagine, it will find its opposite in some form.
But, again, what does it do for us to acknowledge this concept? For me, life is all about cycles. I see the idea of opposites on a circle rather than a straight line, and it allows me to be a lot more zen about my life. Knowing that there’s always another side allows me to take the harder times in relative stride by reminding me that I’ll soon get back to good.
Looking at this concept as a wheel also helps me to reconcile the idea of balance with my spectrum-galore lifestyle. I’m no stranger to the “gray” areas of life, so I try not to view the world through a black and white filter, either.
The problem I think some people have with the idea that everything has an opposite is that they’re looking through that black and white filter.
You know the people: “If you’re not with us, you’re against us.” “If you don’t love everything about this thing, you must hate it.” “If you have a gap in your knowledge about this one thing, you must be stupid.” The list goes on.
Those same people hear “everything has an opposite,” and they immediately begin to decide that only certain things are allowed to be the opposite of others. So, while they’re happy with the idea of night opposing day, to say that pansexual is the opposite of straight (as opposed to gay/lesbian) might spike some fur. Even worse are those who ascribe opposites in much the same way, but this time assuming that that’s what you mean by “everything has an opposite” and being mad at you in advance.
If we really break down what that phrase means, there are no limits to what can and cannot have an opposite. Nor are there to what can and cannot be the “appointed” opposite of things that rest on a spectrum. And acknowledging this can bring us a deeper understanding of our universe.
I think asking these questions opens our minds to expansion. The more we question our universe—the more we ask “why” or “what does that mean”—the closer we come to reaching our potential as human and spiritual beings. Billions of people exist in this world, but many don’t actively pursue balance.
To me, that’s a dangerous way to live.
In my practice and the practice of Maiden’s Circle Coven, health and balance are primary concerns. Of course, I had to learn this the hard way. I’ve gone to extremes plenty of times—with drinking, with relationships, with things that were supposed to be good for me—you name it. Luckily, I’ve never gone so far with anything that I wasn’t able to come back to a healthy medium.
Today, balance is something I have to enthusiastically pursue, so I’ve arranged my life in a way that keeps me on track. Now, when things seem out of sorts, I can sense it in my energy much sooner and deal with the imbalance before it manifests in some physical way. I notice quickly when I’m more tired than usual, when I’m more or less hungry, when I’m suddenly sad for no reason.
Striving to maintain balance in my everyday life, in my spiritual practice, in my health and relationships allows me the comfort of feeling content in my life even when things are difficult. Having that kind of balance internally also affects my external life and being. Things seem to work well for me. Life seems a lot smoother the more I work towards understanding the concept of perfect balance.
What do you think about the ideas of “perfect balance” and “everything has an opposite”? When it comes to the overall universe, what do you think this Law means? What does it mean to you on a personal level? Let me know in the comments or on Facebook.
P.S. I’m in the process of starting a charity that offers aid to people who are homeless. Would you be interested in participating in a grassroots endeavor to create care packages for New York’s homeless?
The idea would involve bags of essentials including blankets, non-perishable food, feminine hygiene products, and more to help someone navigate life without a home. Homelessness can happen to anyone, so I want to do my part.
If you’re interested, email me here and I’ll let you know how you can help!
Blessed be,
Lady Morgana Brighid HP MCCA
Check out our Monday to Friday Tarot readings here, and subscribe to catch them every week! Have any questions or topics you’d like to see on the blog? Interested in writing a guest blog? Let me know in the comments or reach out through the contact page! PLUS Did you know we have an MCCA newsletter? Sign up to get updates whenever there’s a new blog post and any other MCCA news. Sign up now!
How To Be A Healthy Heathen
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ve probably guessed that health is an important subject here at Maiden’s Circle. I believe that if one intends to serve in any way, one must be well in all aspects. That means spiritually, mentally, and physically.
The internet is host to tons of websites about having a healthy body. You can find anything from diet plans to entire wellness agendas. Looking for that kind of information is how I came across bullet journaling. And we all know how I feel about that.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that I love hunting for ways to incorporate my spiritual practice into literally every aspect of my life. That includes my health and fitness routine. So, today I want to talk about the Pagan things I do to stay balanced and healthy.
Here in New York, it’s easy to feel bogged down by the energy of such a dense population. If you are someone who’s sensitive to those energies, it can affect both your mood and body. This could lead to bouts of depression or irritability, and even to physical illness.
It’s important that we make cleansing and shielding part of our daily routine—or at least something we do whenever we go out. The easiest method I have found for this is to incorporate a short visualization in with my morning drink of water. Drinking water is something I have to do every morning to function like a person. Since it’s going to happen daily, it’s easy to see the water as a purifying, expanding light source. As I drink, I am cleansed and balanced.
If I’m going out, I will often do a shielding meditation during my morning commute. In fact, you can add meditation to anything you do. It’s the perfect way to add a little spirituality to your mundane life.
Like the need to regularly cleanse and protect our bodies, mental health is imperative to living a well-grounded, Pagan lifestyle. As someone living with a mood disorder, I have always been interested in mindset “hacks.”
My favorite method of altering a negative mindset is to use affirmations. Affirmations, for those who don’t know, are statements meant to support and empower by repeated use.
I use a number of affirmations that keep my mind from going dark, such as “I am naturally healthy” or “I am strong in mind, body, and spirit.” Speaking the words every day, or even just once a week, has drastically improved my outlook and energy levels.
To further keep my mood up (and keep track of it when it isn’t), I set daily intentions. Each night before bed, I decide how I want to spend the following day and note it in my bullet journal. I include any physical exercise I want to do, along with the energy I’d like to rule my day.
This all leads to me starting my day with intention. When I wake up with goals, I generally feel better. Why this is, I’m not 100% sure, but it may have something to do with having a sense of purpose. When we have that sense of purpose, it’s a lot easier to care about our own well-being.
Of course, visualizations and affirmations aren’t necessarily Pagan methods. One definite Pagan health tool is the use of spells. Spells can be cast for just about anything, so why not for better health? In fact, spells for health are among the top three most requested spell types in the Pagan community—including spells for love and spells for money.
Because I practice daily activities towards healthy living, I don’t need to cast health spells all that often. Still, there are times when my usual meditations could use a boost, and then I work a little magick.
Coincidently, I’m in the process of writing a book of spells for a healthy Pagan lifestyle. It’s a lot more well-organized and in-depth than any blog post could cover. It contains a handful of spells and a bit of bonus material that cover all aspects of healthy living.
I suppose this is the first “official” announcement of 10 Spells for the Healthy Witch. So, woohoo! The book will be available in the fall and should be available for pre-order in late Summer.
In 10 Spells for the Healthy Witch, I offer spells for sleep, for breaking bad habits, for dealing with anxiety, and so much more. I am so excited to share this with you and I know you’re going to love it!
There you have it. These are just a few of the methods I use to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I focused on mental and spiritual health because I believe those are necessary for physical health.
On top of that, there are a million sources with information on how to be physically healthy. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for finding spiritual balance nor for incorporating your spiritual “self” with your physical and mental “selves.”
Yes, we have a lot more Pagan health resources now than we did just ten years ago, but it’s still far from adequate. It’s necessary to work towards health and balance on all levels of being if we are to fulfill our purpose in this lifetime.
It’s likely that this topic will be revisited in the future, because there’s so much more I could say. I’m still in the process of healing and learning the best way to care for myself.
I still have some unhealthy habits I’m working on—like staying up way too late. As I type this, it’s a quarter to four in the morning. Nights like these are rather common for me, and they used to be a huge problem.
Now, I work in the afternoon, and so I get to sleep in—but there was a time when my bad sleeping habits affected my school and my jobs. During that time, I wrote a spell to help myself sleep at night.
I think it’s appropriate to share that with you here now. If you’re a night owl like me, take this spell and sleep with the brightest of blessings. May you awake refreshed and ready to start a successful new day!
Sleep come easy,
Sleep be sweet.
Goddess hold me,
From head to feet.
When night should fall,
Before morning comes.
By midnight play
The Sandman’s song.
To dream through night,
To wake with ease.
As I will it,
So shall it be.
What do you do to stay healthy and incorporate your spiritual practice in your health routine? What’s most important to you when it comes to being healthy?
Send me your responses in the comments!
With love,
Lady Morgana Brighid HP MCCA
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