Monday, February 20, 2012

Moon Day - Last Day of this Lunar Cycle

Moon Day - the Day of Remembering and Feeling - Impression Day ..... Magickally, Monday encourages the lunar energies of inspiration, illusion, prophetic dreams, emotions, psychic abilities,
travel, women's mysteries and fertility.

Candle Colors for Moon Day - Colors for this lunar day may include silver, white, and pale blue or gray. Ellen Dugan in Book of Witchery suggests to keep your eyes open for celestial themed candles with moons and stars on them. Try your hand at a little candle-magick aromatherapy. Look for the following scented votive candles to coordinate with your lunar enchantments: gardenia-scented candles promote spirituality and love, jasmine-scented candles encourage peace, sleep and psychic dreams, sandalwood, a highly spiritual scent may be used to support meditation and helps to set an excellent magickal mood. All of these enchanting fragrances correspond to Moon Day and the moon's gentle magick.
During this last waning moon day of this cycle all psychic work will probably turn inward. This often forces a person to contemplation and it nudges them into turning psychic abilities and all that focus within. That is when you gain the opportunity for self-discovery. Work with your divinatory tools now to gain an appreciation for what events and people have led you to this point in your life. By looking to the past, we can acquire a good overview on what has brought us to the point we are standing at now. Then we may gain understanding, wisdom, and insight.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Sun Day - Balsamic Moon - Sun enters PIsces


Today the Balsamic Moon moves in the sign of Aquarius and the Sun enters Pisces. 

Sun Day - is the Day of Intent, Creation, and Renewal ......Sun Day brings bright solar energies into our lives and have the magickal correspondences of success, promotion, leadership, pride, light, generosity, warmth, fitness and personal growth. The charms and spells that would compliment this magickal day of the sun are ones for personal achievement of any kind. Health issues, increasing personal power or simply sticking to your diet and being proud of what you have accomplished all fall under the sun's golden influence.

Candle Colors for Sun Day - In her Book of Witchery Ellen Dugan says: "Candles colors for Sun Day include yellow and gold. In magick, the color yellow is used to aid communication, knowledge and creativity. The color gold arepresents royalty, the God, riches, wealth and frame. For centuries candles have been lit to welcome deity and to symbolize a connection to the magickal realm. In actuality, a burning candle is a physical symbol of your spell. Watch for gold metallic tapers and pillar candles around the winter holidays and you can usually pick them up on sale.  Yellow may be harder to find, so keep your eyes peeled. For my (Ellen Dugan) candle magick, I like to work with scented votives. They comes in all colors and lots of yummy fragrances. Try looking for citrus scents to bring health and cinnamon scents for success and prosperity. These bewitching scents will help link your solar magick with a little magickal aromatherapy." 


Sun in Pisces - The Mutable Pisces Sun asks us to feel the ambient pools of unabashed emotion and be moved to compassionate action. As the bears stirs in their dens this time of the year, Pisces calls us to use the growing spring light and clear nights to explore our dreams. 

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Balsamic Moon in Capricorn - Saturn's Day

Saturn Day - the Day of Manifestation and Structure, Assessment and Responsibility - Foundation Day.... Saturn's Day is traditionally the day to work on protection, remove obstacles, bind troublesome or dangerous individuals and banish negativity. Saturn's Day is like a magickal 'let's clean house' day. Any magickal messes left lying around that need to be addressed, or any problems that need to be cleared up, are best dealt with on the day devoted to Saturn. Saturday is a day filled with opportunities to clean up and clear out.

Candles For Saturn's Day - Black is also the traditional candle color for protection magick as well as for spells cast on Saturn's Day. There is something extra intriguing and witchy about black candles. Sometimes these may be hard to locate throughout the year. Ellen Dugan says in her book Book of Witchery your best bet is to watch for black candles during the fall months (especially around Halloween) and stock up on them. If you check out a few specialty or trendy candle shops at the mall, you will be able to find black jar candle and votives. It always makes Dugan smile to see a classy jar candle labeled something like 'Midsummer Magic' or 'Midnight Spice'. Typically these are patchouli scented which is perfected to use in candle magick as patchouli is associated with Saturn and protection. Work with either of these dramatic and dark-featured colors for Saturn's Day candle spells designed to protect, neutralize gossip, and deflect harm.



Thursday, February 16, 2012


A Priestess's Litany for a New Day -
This can be done indoors or outside. Know your directions or have a compass with you to help you find them. You can candles and incense burning if you wish or you can just chant this litany as you face each direction. .....

I come to the East. I ask the wind to clear away preconceptions and muddy reasoning. At this moment of sunrise, the beginning of a new day, I come to thee seeking the wisdom I may need.
I come to the South. I ask the fire and the full light of noon to give me courage and energy. Burn from me all my angers and smallness of mind. I come to thee seeking right action and protection in whatever I am called to do.
I come to the West. I ask the still waters to hold me sensitive to the material needs of my world. Let the moving waters wash from me the busyness of mundane concerns. I come to thee seeking the quiet sensitivity of thy flow in twilight.
I come to the North. I ask the earth and stones for wisdom, stability and endurance. Absorb from me all stolid heaviness. I come to thee seeking growth and the quiet of thy might.
I come to the Center. Let me never forget that all things had their source in spirit and to spirit shall all return. I come to thee seeking balance.
I come to the silver light of Moon, the golden light of Sun. May I, this day and this night, find my path and walk it with grace, serenity, hope.
And so I begin my day.
[From Deepening Witchcraft by Grey Cat]

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Valentine's Day


Valentine's Day

While in no way a Wiccan festival, Valentine's Day has become so much a part of our modern calendar that it seems unreasonable to omit here.

  While this day is named after one of two Christian Martyrs of the same name, there have been fertility festivals around this time for much longer.
    The 15th of February is the Roman festival of Faunus, also know to the ancient Greeks as Lupercalia or the festival of Pan. Both woodland deities, Faunus and Pan are closely linked at this time to Priapus who originated in Asia, definitely a fertility God. Images of the God were decorated and displayed through the streets and the Priests would whip members of the crowd, especially women, to bring on fertility.
    In addition to the Gods and festivals of fertility there are a great number of Gods and Goddesses who are linked to love, like Eros, Venus and Hathor, and these are perhaps more appropriate deities to honor if you are seeking love and romance. Light a pink candle to your chosen deities and ask them to bring you a true love. Resist the temptation to work magick to make someone to love you: not only is it unethical but it also invariably results in problems and disappointment.
    While today it is customary for us to send greeting card, whether romantic or humorous, to those we love, this only originated in the Victorian era. Before this it was a country custom, which still exists in some parts, for unattached girls and boys to draw names from which to choose their partner for this day.
[From Kate West's The Real Witches' Year]

St. Valentine's Day: The First of the Resurrected Lupercalia Festivals (Roman) -
    Lupercalia was the festival of the natural 'heat' - the sexual readiness that permeated nature, especially the wolves. Lupa is the wolf; she was a sacred animal symbolizing Mother Nature's breeding aspect. This was the original St. Valentine's Day, when the original minds of people turned to celebrations of their sexuality and attraction.
   St. Valentine's Day customs originated in Rome, when willing young maidens wrote their names on slips of papyrus, put them in a box, shook them up, and let young men pull out the names of their valentines. The young people then spent the day together as companions, and Goddess knows what great adventure came of it all - romance, marriage or just a day to remember. The names were equally matched by both sexes so nobody had to go home alone after the drawings.
    Records in England go back to 1479 of girls writing letters to their valentines, when the custom of drawing names was no longer in use and youth simply sent letters to each other with their feelings expressed inside. In the 1880s lace, heart-painted satin, ornaments, birds, baskets, ribbons and cupids were added to the letters, and rhymes and perfume followed. Today it is a thinly fertility holiday of love and sex. Yes, the fertility rites never die, they just acquire more props!
[From: The Grandmother of Time by Zsuzsanna Budapest]

Monday, February 13, 2012

Love Divination

Love Divination

Love divination traditionally takes place at many times of the year, including St. Agnes' Eve, Midsummer's Eve, Halloween, Christmas Eve and of course St. Valentine's Eve.

   While historically these are usually carried out by girls, there is no reason why they would not work just as well for a boy. Here are just a few.....

   A blue thread should be thrown over the left shoulder and out of the window. Its shape will indicate the initial of the loved one.
    Two girls should sit in silence from midnight to 1AM. Each should pull as many hairs from her head as she is years old and place them in a clean white cloth with some Moonwort fern. At the stroke of 1, each should burn these hairs, one at a time in the flame of a white candle. Then, still not speaking, they should retire to bed where they will dream of their true love.
    To bring your true love to you, you should sit on the doorstep shelling peas until you find a pod with nine peas in it. This should be placed on the threshold of the kitchen door and the next man to cross over it will be your sweetheart.
    The new bride should a piece of wedding cake to each of her unmarried friends, which, if they put it under their pillow on the night after the wedding, will give them dreams of their future partner.
    Go out at dawn on St. Valentine's Day and seek the trail of a snail. The first you see will have the shape of your future lover's initial.

"Remember, relationships are easy; it's
having good ones which is hard."



Sunday, February 12, 2012

Water Scrying

The waning moon enters Scorpio - this is a good time in a lunar cycle to practice your scrying abilities.....

Scrying in Water - a practice of receiving messages or information by focusing attention on a reflective surface and seeing what kinds of images come up. I find a good way to practice this is to look into a black clay bowl filled with water - you attempt to see what images come up to the surface of the water. Probably all you will see the first few time you start practicing is water. This can be a difficult form of divination. But like so many other types of magickal practices that you want to be good at, it takes practice and focus. Part of being a witch is knowing when to trust what your experiences and your intuition. This doesn't happen overnight. It only comes with practice, practice and more practice Most novices are not able to scry right away and some, maybe a lot, won't ever be able to do it well. But that is okay because we all have abilities we are a natural at and others that we never do well. So let's say you think you see something in the water - but how do we know if we really are seeing messages or are they something we make up in our head? Or if we are daydreaming? That is where practicing over and over comes in - you can learn to tell what's real from what isn't. And sometimes you still can't be sure.
But this something you go through when you start meditating - so you ask what is the point of meditating? This practice is to clear your mind, to change your mental status, to open yourself up to noticing what's going on around you and how these things are affecting you. And so in the same way you are doing this when scrying - you open yourself up to receiving information you normally wouldn't receive because you're so busy thinking about other things and doing other things. So many times this is always there - we're just aren't always tuned into it.
So learning this witchy skill doesn't happen overnight. It only comes with practice, practice and more practice. No one can scry right away but keep working at it and especially at time like these next couple of days - Scorpio energies will help your mind to focus on opening itself up to messages.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Create Your Astral Temple

Create Your Astral Temple

An Astral Temple is a form of Sacred Space which
is created on the Astral (or psychic) plane.

   It has a number of advantages over the conventional Sacred Space. It can be located in any environment you choose, and will be available to you whenever and wherever you wish. It does not require the use of special tools and equipment and, created properly, will always be away from prying eyes and touching fingers. Some Covens will create one which provides them with a meeting place for magical working when they are physically distant from one another. Some Solitaries use one so that they have a private and safe place for meditation, pathworking and the like.
   An Astral Temple is created through meditation and visualization, so you will need to make sure you will be completely undisturbed during your working. Before you begin, decide what sort of setting you would like; indoor, outdoor, etc. Now settle yourself down comfortably, close your eyes and do a few breathing exercises to relax. Visualize yourself travelling to your chosen environment, taking with you something valuable by way of an offering. Call upon each of the Elements, the Goddess and the God=, in your usual way, and ask each for their Blessing on your Sacred Space. Visualize yourself casting the Circle and making all secure. Now kneeling in the center of your Sacred Space, visualize the Goddess and the God at your Altar, rise, greet them and make your offering. If they place an offering on your Altar, then your Astral Temple is ready for use. Otherwise, repeat the exercise another time.

"The more you worship your Goddess, the greater in power She grows."
[From: The Real Witches' Year by Kate West]

Monday, January 30, 2012

Imbolc and Brighid

Imbolc - First Light in the Dark of Winter ....
The first stirrings of new life are felt as the great wheel turns from winter to spring. Water begins to move beneath the ice. We notice the lengthening of days. Dreams conceived on the Winter Solstice begin to take root. Although the weather is still wintry, there is no turning back on the journey to the sun's return. Winter's darkness begins to loosen its grip, and new beginnings are seen all around as spring approaches. This is a time for rebirth and healing, sacred to Brighid, goddess of poetry and arcane learning.
Brighid is unique among the Celtic pantheon. While the majority of Celtic deities were associated with features of the and and were usually confined to a specific geographical area, the worship of Brighid was, in contrast, widespread Her names comes from the Celtic root Brig, meaning 'exalted.' Considered to be a bringer of civilization, she is called the High One of Strength, daughter of the Dagda. The Dagda was the Celtic god of fertility and supreme deity of the land.
The worship of Brighid originated in the southeast region of Ireland known as Leinster and was attended by an all-female priesthood. She is often characterized as having two sisters, or alternately a triple aspect whose attributes also include healing and smithcraft.
Many sources purport that Brighid the goddess was assimilated into St. Brigit of Christian lore. Certainly there are striking similarities between the goddess and the saint. The shrine of St. Brigit in Kildare is attended by nineteen nuns, echoing the exclusively female priesthood of the goddess Brighid. Additionally, many stories surrounding St. Brigit prove somewhat impossible for a single mortal woman to accomplish. Her legend claims she was born at sunrise and was so chaste a woman that she gouged out her own eyes in protest of her impending marriage and became a nun instead. [Now does she sound like patriarchal influence or what]
Other accounts claim she was a friend to the Virgin Mary, and in fact was Mary's midwife when the baby Jesus was born. She has also be described as Jesus' foster mother, and it is said she assisted Mary in her search for her son when he was lost in the temple and was later found instructing the rabbis. It does not take a huge leap of the intellect to discern the improbability that a blind nun from Ireland was able to escape the confine of time, let alone the limits of transportation, to be present in Bethlehem for the Natiity. The lines between the goddess and the saint are blurred, and Imbolc is celebrated as Candlemas or the Candle Mass in honor of St. Brigit to this day.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Saturn's Day - Imbolc Crafts




Saturn's Day - the Day of Manifestation and Structure, Assessment and Responsibility - Foundation Day....  Saturdays are traditionally days to work on protection, remove obstacles, bind troublesome or dangerous individuals and to banish negativity.  Saturdays are like a magickal 'let's clean house' day. Any magickal messes left lying around that need to be addressed, or any problems that need to be cleared up, are best dealt with on the day devoted to Saturn.  Burn a black or deep purple candle as you do your 'cleaning up'. 

I surfed around the Net looking at various Imbolc sites.....  there is this one that caught my attention:
http://luckyredrabbit.com/2012/01/26/imbolc-2012/   Something pointed out in this blog entry was the fact that Imbolc date is set exactely six weeks between the Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox ... interesting. She says that this time of the Year is a time of awakening, of new life (sheep), some of the first blossoms - snowdrops - and of new potential. 

Here are some links to varius Imbolc Crafts:

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/imbolccrafts/ss/Brighids_Cross.htm







http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/imbolccrafts/ht/Priapic_Wand.htm     I found this one quite interesting and new to me.


http://www.examiner.com/paganism-in-atlanta/imbolc-crafts-video    and this one is a great video about making a Cross out of straws.

Friday, January 27, 2012

This is Lunar Month of Luis/Rowan and the Crescent Moon
is in the sign of Aries.... impulsive and impatient energies abound.

Freya's Day - Venus Day, the Day of Sharing and Relationship ..... A pink candle lit today as you meditate on working for happiness and harmony in your home and/or friendships is perfect. Love magick is a perennial popular topic. However, there is more to this topic than meets the eye. There are many enchanting layers here for us to explore. What about creating a loving home or producing a loving and nurturing family? What about keeping your intimate relationships vital and on track? How about promoting happy, healthy and enduring friendships? So see, there is more to be considered than just the 'You shall be mine....' type of fictional love spell. The truest, strongest magick always comes from the heart.

Imbolc/Candlemas - At Imbolc awakening begins and the return of light seems assured. Energies within the earth, as well as the physical body, begin to gently pulsate as the days lengthen, and our hopes turn to spring. Traditionally a time of transformation and initiation, Imbolc brings 'big dreams' and a raised vibration. Sap rises, trees bud, and agricultural people everywhere look to nature for the omens that might tell them whether to plant their crops early or late this year. In these tumultuous times, however, human-caused global climate change has caused more intense storms and weather conditions that make it difficult to read these simple oracles. As old structures crumble inside and all around us, a mantra can help to stabilize our energies and subdue our fears. Try saying the protective Sanskrit syllables OM AH HUM over and over whenever you feel afraid and imagine yourself sitting safely inside of Kali's dance of liberation.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Thor's Day - Waxing Crescent Moon phase - Imbolc coming

Thor's Day - Jupiter Day - the Day of Vision, Spiritual Insight and Expansion.... this is the day of the week that is associated with prosperity, abundance, leadership, and good health. Think about how you
view these qualities - prosperity, abundance and good health. These views can vary greatly between individuals. Each day of the week has magickal correspondences and surrounding yourself with some of these correspondences for the day can greatly improve your chances of getting in touch with the energies of boosting your spellwork... The color correspondences for Thursday are royal blue, purple and green. So why not burn an appropriate color candle and meditate upon prosperity, abundance or good health today while you stare into the candle's flame. Perhaps you will see some insights in the flame for achieving one of these qualities in your life.


Imbolc - Next Wednesday is February 1st and many witches observe Imbolc on that date - some observe it on February 2nd. Imbolc, is known also as Imbolg, Candlemas, the Festival of Brighid, and the Feast of Lights. The word Imbolc means “in the belly,” or in the womb of Mother Earth, as well as “in milk,” which refers to ewes coming into milk for the first lambs of the season. This Sabbat marks the return of spring, even as winter seems to continues its reign. Imbolc on February 2nd is of course, in modern times, also known as Groundhog’s Day. Imbolc is a time of cleansing and purification. It’s all about Spring Cleaning! It is time to throw out the old and bring in the new. This not only means the “stuff and clutter” in your home, but also your old thoughts, anger, hurt feelings etc. To Sweep out negative and stagnant Air and bring in fresh, clean positive Air. To re-new your home and yourself. Cleanse and Bless your home and those who dwell here, and cleanse my body and my soul as well. Imbolc is when you can re-dedicate yourself to your path every year. Though it’s not necessary to do, it re-energizes and re-connects you to your path and your way of life.
The customs of Imbolc include ritual “spring cleaning” of the house, to banish the last of winter and hasten the coming of warm, sunny days. Some things you can do while cleaning…..use lavender and rosemary in a pot of boiling water to wash floors and walls, vinegar and mugwort for windows and mirrors. Burn sage to cleanse the psychic energies, and replace old protection and prosperity charms. Wash all your curtains and linens and give them a good spritz with lavender water before re-hanging them. Clean out drawers, closets, cupboards. Sweep high and low. Replace burnt out light bulbs, anything that’s broken, throw out and that is which no longer of use or pleasure. The house will smell and feel amazing when you’re done!

You also should spend some time on yourself. Taking a ritual bath scented with your favorite herbs/oils or sea salt is always cleansing and renewing. As you soak, meditate to clear your mind and heart of any thoughts or emotions that no longer serve you. This is all to “start a-new” in mind, body, spirit and home. Anoint your chakra points with Blessing oil after and spend some time meditating and focusing inward on yourself. Let go what needs to go and open yourself to new possibilities, Joy, Peace and Love only. Let the negative go and the positive take over. You will feel so great afterwards.


These Imbolc suggestions came from http://autumnearthsong.com/....

Monday, January 23, 2012

New Moon - Lunar Tree Cycle of Luis/Rowan

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

1st Day of the 2nd Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Persephone
Lunar Tree Cycle of Luis/Rowan
3rd Day of the Celtic Tree
Month of Luis/Rowan
Moon Phase: New - 2:39AM EST
Moon rises: 7:32AM EST
Moon sets: 6:13PM EST
Moon in the Fixed Air Sign
of Aquarius
Blodeuwedd's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: A plant or flower
of your choice.
Sun in Aquarius
Sunrise: 7:37AM EST
Sunset: 5:26PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What memories
do you most appreciate?"
Imbolc (Gwyl Mair) Quarter
of the Year
January 23rd, 2012

New Moon - Age 0 - 1 day old; the moon is 0-45 degrees directly ahead of the sun, rises at dawn, and sets at sunset. Magick should be performed between dawn and sunset. A new moon's power may be embryonic, you can be assured that the power of any spell cast at this time goes on. Working with sun Goddesses such as Sekhmet, Vesta, and Heartha or the God Ra will increase power. Work for self-improvement, gardening, careers, romance.

Moon Day - the Day of Remembering and Feeling - Impression Day .... Magickally, Moon Day encourages the lunar energies of inspiration, illusion, prophetic dreams, emotions, psychic abilities, travel, women's mysteries and fertility.

The Celtic Tree Calendar is a calendar with thirteen lunar divisions. Most contemporary Pagans use fixed dates for each
'month', rather than following the waxing and waning lunar cycles. Myself I follow the lunar cycles as you can figure out from my 'daily headings.' I am a very lunar oriented witch. But I have several followers who use the Celtic Tree system and it also fits in with my Celtic/Avalon traditions.
The Celtic Tree month, the Luis/Rowan tree month began on January 21st - a fixed date in this calendar. Hence whereas this is the first day of the Lunar Tree Calendar - it is the 3rd day of the Celtic Tree month. This modern Celtic Tree calendar is based on a concept that each letter in the ancient Celtic alphabet corresponded to a tree.
This month of Luis/Rowan is associated with Brighid, the Celtic goddess of hearth and home. Honoured on February 1st, Imbolc, Brighid is a fire goddess who offers protection to mothers and families, as well as watching over the hearthfires. This is a good time of the year to perform initiations (or if you are not part of a group, to do a self-dedication). Known by the Celts as Luis (pronounced 'loush' ), the Rowan is associated with astral travel, personal power and success. A charm carved into a bit of a Rowan twig will protect the wearer from harm. The Norsemen were known to have used Rowan branches as rune staves of protection. In some countries, Rowan is planted in graveyards to prevent the dead from lingering around too long.

Imbloc Quarter - The Spring Quarter of Imbolc brings the gift of insight and inspiration and is a time of beginnings and of essential truthfulness. Begun in the dark and often icy days of early Spring, it is traditionally the time to appreciate innocence, truth and justice, to make resolutions and plans and to prepare for unfolding year. In the human growth cycle, Imbolc corresponds to the period of childhood, when all things are questioned or enjoyed for their own sake. Imbolc is a good time to celebrate the lives of all 'soul-midwives' who have taught and prepared us, all who have been upholders of justice and truth, all holy ones who have gone to the heart of the matter with great clarity and insight.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Self-Cleansing

Self-Cleansing

After the excesses of the festive seasons many people choose to start a new dietary regime. However, these New Year diets often fail, usually because we ask too much of ourselves.

    It is unreasonable to go from what is effectively a life of excess to one of virtual deprivation, overnight. Also, we often tend to think of them in terms of good and bad foods rather than in terms of treating ourselves kindly. If you have tried one of these for the New Year and are now struggling, why not avail yourself of a little Witchy help?
     Take a piece of Amber, a teaspoonful of Fennel seed (from your supermarket herb shelf), a teaspoon of Rock Salt granules and a tablespoonful of powdered milk.  Wrap these in a cloth and secure tightly with string or a plastic bag tie. At dawn or dusk, run a fairly warm deep bath with your sachet in the tub. When it is read, add 3 drops each of oil or Rosemary, Rose and Rosewood. Immerse yourself as completely as you can, ducking your head under the water three times. As you duck, say in your head
(otherwise you might inhale water): "Water, water take away all my cares from me today. Give me health, give me strength, help me prolong my life at length."  On the last immersion say "Blessed Be." Relax and soak away your worries. After you have got out of the bath, remove the sachet and dry the Amber. Carry this in your pocket, or somewhere you can readily touch it, until you have achieved your desire.
"Food you eat but don't want is as
wasted as that thrown away."
From The Real Witches' Year by Kate West

Monday, January 9, 2012

Full Moon - 2:30AM EST - Moon moves into Leo this evening



Full Moon - The age of the Full Moon is now 17 days from the New Moon and the moon is 180 - 225 degrees ahead of the sun. The moon rises at sunset and sets at dawn,  thereafter a midnight working (or when the moon is directly overhead) is best. Now the moon is at the height of its strength - spells cast at this time are ideal for completion. The Mother is represented by the full moon. Prime time for rituals for prophecy, protection, and divination. Any working that needs extra power, such as help finding a new job or healings for serious conditions, can be done now. Also, love, knowledge, legal undertakings, money and dreams.
   Astrologically the Sun and Moon are in opposition (ie., opposite each other in the sky and in opposite signs of the zodiac), She is visible all night long from moonrise to moonset. She opens and blossoms during the Full Moon into the FLOWER, with the desire to share her beauty with others. Keys for the Full Moon phase are: fulfillment, realization, illumination, and experience. It is the time in a lunar cycle that you are given a clear view so that you can make adjustments to put you back on track to manifesting the goals you set at the New phase. Go to a public place. Do something with a friend. LISTEN. Receive awareness. Understand others. Those born during the Full Moon phase enjoy companionship and partnership and desire to merge deeply. Fulfillment and illumination are their goals.

Moon Day - the Day of Remembering and Feeling - Impression Day ... Magickally, Monday encourages the lunar energies of inspiration, illusion, prophetic dreams, emotions, psychic abilities, travel, women's mysteries and fertility.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

Waxing Gibbous Moon in the Sign of Cancer - Sun Day

Sun Day - is the Day of Intent, Creation and Renewal - The charms and spells that would complement this magickal day of the sun are ones for personal achievement of any kind - such as if you are seeking fame and wealth, working for that much-deserved promotion at work, or being acknowledged for a job well done. Health issues, increasing personal power, or simply sticking to your diet and being proud of what you have accomplished all fall under the sun's golden influence.

Full Moon tomorrow morning - The moon will reach its peak of fullness for this lunar cycle tomorrow
morning at 2:30AM EST. This is a wonderful time for an elaborate full moon ritual due to Cancer's sensitivity and psychic attunement. Here is a Full Moon in Cancer meditation from Teresa Moorey's Power of the Moon book. 
   Setting the Scene -
If you take a little trouble to prepare yourself and your surroundings, you are  more likely to slip into the necessary altered state of consciousness easily. If you are busy and can only spend half an hour, that's fine because it's better to make your meditation manageable than not do it all. It may help if you can record the meditation on to a tape in advance. That way you can simply listen and lose yourself.
    If you have plenty of time, start by taking a bath containing a little jasmine oil. Heat some of the oil in a burner and light candles.
  Pepare your altar for a Full Moon ritual and settle yourself comfortably before it.  If you have a CD
or other source of music of waves hitting on a shoreline it will help the meditation along in your trance
here. "You see yourself standing on a rocky beach at midnight with the Full Moon radiant overhead. The rocks glisten white in the moonlight and shimmer as though inlaid with jewels. You hear the steady swish-swish of the waves. Their crisp white edges fold gently, one over another, onto the shore. The tidepools are patches of onyx scattered around the beach [Pause]
    You find yourself close to an especially beautiful rock pool. The Moon lies within its surface as if it has been captured. You kneel down and cup the reflection of the Moon, feeling the cool water run through your fingers. The pearly reflection runs away from it, but is still there, rippled now, in the pool.
You become aware that you do not always have to hold onto something to remain in contact. [Pause]
      You continue your walk along the beach. Ahead of you, lying on the beach but rising and falling with the waves that lap it is a small boat. You approach it and decide to get in. As you push off from the shore you become aware that you can direct the boat to go wherever you wish. [Pause]
      Drifting over the smooth waves, the boat comes to rest on an island. You get out of the boat and walk up the shore. The sand is soft between your toes. You become aware that ahead of you above the highwater mark there is a cozy dwelling. You enter and find it comfortably furnished and beautifully decorated, just as you would wish, with delicious food in the cupboards. You become aware that you can make a lovely home wherever you may be. [Pause]
    When you are ready to go, you walk back down to the little boat, get in and direct your passage over the moonlit tide and back to the original beach where you began. The boat beaches itself gently and you get out. You find yourself standing next to a large white shell. Within that shell there lies a gift for you. Take this and treasure it.
     Come back to everyday awareness, bringing your gift with you. Be sure to note feelings and experiences you have begun keeping in a notebook."

Friday, January 6, 2012

Twelfth Night, Birdfeeding in Winter

Freya's Day - Venus Day - the Day of Sharing and Relationship .... Freya's Day classically is the day for love, fertility, romance and beauty magick as well as working for happiness and harmony in the home and for friendship.

Twelfth Night - This is Twelfth Night and on this date on Christian calendars is the time taking down the decorations.   January 6th is the twelfth night after Christmas. Also called the Feast of the Epiphany or King's Day or simply Twelfth Night, January 6th is the official end of the Christmas season, In New Orleans January 6th Twelfth Night, is a significant day for another reason. It's the official start of the Carnival season, that leads up to the day before Ash Wednesday, or Mardi Gras.



Feeding the Birds - At this time of the year natural foods for the birds are in short supply, so it is more important than ever to ensure that we supplement their diet. While there is a huge variety of commercial feeders and feed available it can be more interesting and usually far cheaper to create your own. 
   Fat balls can be hung in the kinds of net bags that fruit and some vegetable often come in. The basis for these can be lard or peanut butter (or both mixed) - you can save the fatty residue left over from your cooking too. Add breadcrumbs and oatmeal and search your kitchen cabinets for raisins, seeds and shelled nuts. Mix everything together, roll into balls and chill in the refrigerator. Hang in the string and plastic bags in a safe place away from the reach of cats.
   Apples which have past their best can be impaled on twigs and branches. If you had mistletoe in the house for the Yule season, this can also be put out for the birds, as the berries need to pass through the digestive system of a bird to aid germination. You never know, you might get your own Mistletoe plants in years to come.
 The best foods to offer birds in colder weather have a high fat or oil content that will provide abundant energy for winter survival. Nutritious winter foods for birds include:

•Black oil sunflower seed
•Hulled peanuts
•Niger seed
•Suet mixes with seeds or fruit
•Peanut butter
•White millet seed

Monday, January 2, 2012

New Year's Resolutions

New Year's Resolutions -  Rather than setting yourself one or two difficult targets. make a list of 6 to 12 things you would like to achieve during the coming year. Some could be linked to self-improvement like eating in a more healthy way or learning a new skill while others are perhaps more in the way of personal treats; for example, saving money for a new book or CD or DVD about the Craft coming out later in the year . You could set a goal to try to observe the cycle of the Moon or by writing in your Book of Shadows. It can also be helpful to apply a 'rule of three' approach: for instance, for each item of improvement, have one for the benefit of others, the Land or Craft and one which is for pleasure. Ensure that your list includes things which are relatively simple to achieve as well as more difficult goals.
  Write a list of all your goals and while burning a gold candle, recite them to yourself, repeating after each: "As is my will so mote it be." Pin the list in a place where you will see it every day. If you don't want to announce your intentions to the world, you could place it on the inside of your closet door. Now select one goal from your list and start work towards achieving it as soon as you can.. Perhaps you can make plans to be sure to observe the Full Moon coming up nest Monday, January 9th.

Here is something to do for a New Year's Resolution: 

Find out why eating breakfast can lead to a happier and healthier you

http://shine.yahoo.com/shine-food/10-reasons-eat-breakfast-222000466.html

Sunday, January 1, 2012

The New Year

The New Year
"Wind from the West, fish and bread;
Wind from the North, cold and flaying;
Wind from the East, snow on the hills;
Wind from the South, fruit on trees."
    ___ Scots new year weather omen


    New Year's Day is a time of reading omens for a fresh beginning. It is widely held that the first twelve days of the year will reveal the disposition of the weather for the year ahead. This is a good day to go for a long walk, to divine the possibilities of the year ahead in a very simple way.
    Before you set off on your walk, stop and tune your intentions to the unfolding year ahead; sense the pathway of the year that stands ready before you. Now begin your walk, attentive to everything that is about you, including the mythscape, story, folklore, and feeling of the Land. Keeping the year ahead in your conscious, allow your attention to widen to include everything about you. If you come across something that draws your attention with urgent filaments of greeting - it might be the sudden movement of a bird, the beauty of a patch of moss, the intensity of the light through the trees - stop and be attentive to what caught your attention.
    Listen and attend to the greeting and intuitively reach out for and feel its meaning - a meaning that might not be experienced in words or even in sound but may come to you as a subtle understanding. Appreciate it, note it, and then pass on. Keep repeating this throughout your walk until you have had twelve such experiences.  Each time stop, attend, and intuit (without fishing for a rational explanation) why your attention has been engaged. Then return home and review the omens in the order you experienced them, relating them successively to the months of the year. Next New Year's Eve you can  check your findings.

"Take a walk as suggested above."
{From: The Celtic Spirit by Caitlin Matthews]