On the Celtic Tree Calendar this is the Rowan Moon and a powerful time to give voice to the Elements.
Like the Sabbats, this is less about writing the ritual and more about what sets the ritual apart. For the Esbat title the page.
The Rowan moon rolls in at the end of Winter. Rowan is the tree of power, causing life and magic to flower. Possibly one of the most magical trees from the ancient lore of many cultures. When you halve a rowan berry in their center you will have a pentagram, like the apple. The Celts referred to this month as Luis.
As the New Moon is its
Dark phase preparing for growth so as an act of healing you are drawing
into yourself, like taking Vitamins to insure future well being. Do
workings related to improving yourself.
As a time for elemental work, feed your hearth with bits of Rowan, cast rowan berries in a stream or burn them in incense.
The Rowan Moon is associated with Brighid, the Celtic goddess of hearth
and home. Honored on at Imbolc, Brigid is a fire goddess
who offers protection to mothers and families, as well as watching over
the hearth-fires. This is a good time of year to perform initiations, or ascensions. 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 stave's of protection. In some
countries, Rowan is planted in graveyards to prevent the dead from
lingering around too long.
Help at the Gateway
Mount a Rowan wand over your door or place Rowan Berries under your mat. To protect your home.
Asperging
The flowers’ of Rowan have an energy leans more towards the Lunar nature of the Rowan. In fact you can use them as an adjunct to any recipe or spell that uses charging by moonlight as a part of its process. Unlike the Sun, the Moon can be seen both during the night and the day. Rowan flowers have this Lunar power in the sense of existing in multiple realms at once. If Rowan flowers are steeped in rain water, that water can be used to part the veils between the planes. It must be rain water that is gathered in a glass or glazed ceramic bowl, never metal or wood. Let it rain for at least 30 minutes before putting out the gathering bowl or the rain water will have too much dust, pollutants, and pollen in it. Rowan flower water can be used to scribe gates, to charge tools, to wash scrying mirrors and crystal balls, etc.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013
Imbolc
"Imbolc is derived from the Gaelic word 'oimelc' which means 'ewes milk'."
February 1st, Marks the First Fire Festival of the the New Year, following both the standard solar calendar and the principal that Samhain is the Celtic New Year (On October 31st, with the year actually starting on November 1st). Shortest Day and Longest Night of the year. When works of magick or meditations to bring light back to the world take place."
Title the page, you can write it in English or Witches Alphabet. Spelling either Imbolc or Imbolg, is standard however the traditional of "Oimealg" can also be used. Whichever you
prefer.
To start this page, draw a Candle.
We are not writing a Ritual, some things should be taught and not written down. But if you choose you can record a ritual after the rest.
For detailed information read here.
First and Foremost it is a feast and celebration
Make notes on your Altar, herbs you use. Deities.Incense recipe or Anointing oil.
For me the strongest connections to Imbolc are Cinnamon, Cedar, Dragon's Blood, and Dairies. But that won't be the same for everyone. Put some thought into it. Here is another post that is a great reference.
February 1st, Marks the First Fire Festival of the the New Year, following both the standard solar calendar and the principal that Samhain is the Celtic New Year (On October 31st, with the year actually starting on November 1st). Shortest Day and Longest Night of the year. When works of magick or meditations to bring light back to the world take place."
To start this page, draw a Candle.
We are not writing a Ritual, some things should be taught and not written down. But if you choose you can record a ritual after the rest.
For detailed information read here.
First and Foremost it is a feast and celebration
Make notes on your Altar, herbs you use. Deities.Incense recipe or Anointing oil.
For me the strongest connections to Imbolc are Cinnamon, Cedar, Dragon's Blood, and Dairies. But that won't be the same for everyone. Put some thought into it. Here is another post that is a great reference.
Monday, December 16, 2013
January Full Moon
The Full Moon in January is also known as the Quiet Moon, like the New Moon this is a time for introspection. Save your energy, stop worrying about others and concentrate on yourself. That's right, if ever there were a time to be selfish this would be it.
The Quiet Moon is a time of protection and strength. While it is the first full Moon of the calendar year, in terms of nature it occurs in the middle of the cold winter season, a season of death and desolation. In these respects, the Quiet Moon can be seen as a time of both beginnings and endings. This is the time to start to consider what you want to plant and plan for the spring.
Being a full moon it is the time to banish or make right, which as it occurs 13 times in a year makes a little bit of variety important. So aside from your normal magick workings you may try something from a different tradition.
The Blot (pronounced Bloat)
Traditionally a practice of the winter solstice among the Asatru. But you may find similar practices among many other branches of Paganism. In its simplest form a blot is making a sacrifice to the Gods. In the old days this was done by feasting on an animal consecrated to the Gods and then slaughtered. As we are no longer farmers and our needs are simpler today, the most common blot is an offering of mead or other alcoholic beverage to the deities, the practice of making a plate for the Gods is also done.
As I am not Asatru in my family and circle we do a mead pass, accompanied with story telling in either the spring or deep winter.
The Quiet Moon is a time of protection and strength. While it is the first full Moon of the calendar year, in terms of nature it occurs in the middle of the cold winter season, a season of death and desolation. In these respects, the Quiet Moon can be seen as a time of both beginnings and endings. This is the time to start to consider what you want to plant and plan for the spring.
Being a full moon it is the time to banish or make right, which as it occurs 13 times in a year makes a little bit of variety important. So aside from your normal magick workings you may try something from a different tradition.
The Blot (pronounced Bloat)
Traditionally a practice of the winter solstice among the Asatru. But you may find similar practices among many other branches of Paganism. In its simplest form a blot is making a sacrifice to the Gods. In the old days this was done by feasting on an animal consecrated to the Gods and then slaughtered. As we are no longer farmers and our needs are simpler today, the most common blot is an offering of mead or other alcoholic beverage to the deities, the practice of making a plate for the Gods is also done.
As I am not Asatru in my family and circle we do a mead pass, accompanied with story telling in either the spring or deep winter.
Monday, December 9, 2013
January New Moon
A brief note, I am going through a personal trial and keeping my topics objective is difficult. Please take the information as you find it useful while composing your BoS.
The Moon of Birch is when decisions are made as to what spiritual seeds you will plant this year.
The Tree itself is one of the few trees native to Iceland with Runes of its own. Birch means protection, exorcism, purification and new beginnings, also cleansing of past and for vision quests. Through these aspects we learn a lot as the seasons start to lead towards that transition.
Summer is a fond memory and autumn’s splendor has turned dull brown and gray. The hardest part of winter lies ahead even though the days are lengthening with the promise of spring and renewal. But now it is winter. This is the time of year when many animals hibernate. For us, winter is the time for turning inward to take stock of our spiritual journey during the previous twelve months and to prepare for the year ahead so that we will emerge with spring’s life-force knowing where we have been and where we intend to travel. Now is the time to deepen your winter journey—your self-work. This night is the time to seek the place within you that is pure being, where you are both student and teacher. Learn to listen to your inner voice however it may reveal itself to you. It becomes easier to hear that voice as snow covers the ground and our world becomes a little quieter. Winter brings the power of silence. The light in our homes becomes a little softer as we may favor candles over electric bulbs on some evenings.
Power of Words
Take some time to write a few things that you want to give up on paper. Then on a separate piece write a goal or desire. Then go out doors and dig a hole about 9 inches. Place the first piece of paper in the hole and then light it on fire (what you are giving up). After it burns to Ashes, place a bulb (Tulip, Dahlia, Lilly etc) on the cooled ashes, then place your desire or goal paper in the hole with it. Cover it with soil, then snow if you have the stuff, (Bulbs actually need a hard freeze in order to grow).
"The night is dark, the world is still,
Seeds rest beneath snow-covered hills.
Waiting for spring, I turn within."
As the bulb grows to blossom and bloom the goal you set for yourself will too.
The Moon of Birch is when decisions are made as to what spiritual seeds you will plant this year.
The Tree itself is one of the few trees native to Iceland with Runes of its own. Birch means protection, exorcism, purification and new beginnings, also cleansing of past and for vision quests. Through these aspects we learn a lot as the seasons start to lead towards that transition.
Summer is a fond memory and autumn’s splendor has turned dull brown and gray. The hardest part of winter lies ahead even though the days are lengthening with the promise of spring and renewal. But now it is winter. This is the time of year when many animals hibernate. For us, winter is the time for turning inward to take stock of our spiritual journey during the previous twelve months and to prepare for the year ahead so that we will emerge with spring’s life-force knowing where we have been and where we intend to travel. Now is the time to deepen your winter journey—your self-work. This night is the time to seek the place within you that is pure being, where you are both student and teacher. Learn to listen to your inner voice however it may reveal itself to you. It becomes easier to hear that voice as snow covers the ground and our world becomes a little quieter. Winter brings the power of silence. The light in our homes becomes a little softer as we may favor candles over electric bulbs on some evenings.
Power of Words
Take some time to write a few things that you want to give up on paper. Then on a separate piece write a goal or desire. Then go out doors and dig a hole about 9 inches. Place the first piece of paper in the hole and then light it on fire (what you are giving up). After it burns to Ashes, place a bulb (Tulip, Dahlia, Lilly etc) on the cooled ashes, then place your desire or goal paper in the hole with it. Cover it with soil, then snow if you have the stuff, (Bulbs actually need a hard freeze in order to grow).
"The night is dark, the world is still,
Seeds rest beneath snow-covered hills.
Waiting for spring, I turn within."
As the bulb grows to blossom and bloom the goal you set for yourself will too.
Monday, December 2, 2013
December Full Moon
The Cold Moon: It is the time of rebirth.
The Full Moon seen in December represents the connection between the Moon's energy and the Earth. The Moon acts as the strongest source of light in this dark time, guiding us during the "night of the year". Soon the seeds sleeping peacefully in the frozen soil will awaken and begin to grow again. The time to plan for the coming year is now before this takes place. The stable energy of the Cold Moon can aid in manifesting the material items that may run low from the Harvest seasons. Use the energy of this moon to plan and organize for future seasons and recall that this is the season when the God will be reborn into the world. On the night of the Winter Solstice (December 21 or 22), the night is longer than it will be any other night of the year. It is also on this night that the God is born. This time reaffirms the adage that "It is always darkest just before the dawn."
Traditionally, this is the Moon where we perform the Drawing Down the Moon rite, if you are unfamiliar with it you can read about it in great detail here. Never undergo any sort of possession if you are practicing alone.
Re-consecrate your tools.
The simplest way to purify Wiccan tools is to bathe them in Moonlight. This will not only cleanse them, but recharge them as well.
Take them out at Dusk, bring them in at Dawn. When the sun is no longer in the sky. Keep it tucked away from daylight for the next day to allow the Moon's energy to sink in.
Imbue Water
Capturing the energy of the moon for later use can be immensely useful, not to mention a powerful way to add to spells for healing, protection and a myriad of personal rites. You can do this by simply placing a vessel of water in the light of the full moon for at least three hours according to modern Witchcraft. As tradition would have it place a piece of silver in the water to reflect the light of the moon, (Clean silver).
I was raised taking a bottle of spring water (mason jar originally later, a plastic bottle of spring water like Evian) placing it on an altar with no candles, placing a piece of (clean!) Quartz crystal in the water, or a silver coin (bacteria won't grow on silver but clean it anyway.)
Focus on the moonlight and charge it.
"Creature of water, Lady of Light! Power of all seen and unseen, and bless this Spring Water in the name of the divine goddess."
The Full Moon seen in December represents the connection between the Moon's energy and the Earth. The Moon acts as the strongest source of light in this dark time, guiding us during the "night of the year". Soon the seeds sleeping peacefully in the frozen soil will awaken and begin to grow again. The time to plan for the coming year is now before this takes place. The stable energy of the Cold Moon can aid in manifesting the material items that may run low from the Harvest seasons. Use the energy of this moon to plan and organize for future seasons and recall that this is the season when the God will be reborn into the world. On the night of the Winter Solstice (December 21 or 22), the night is longer than it will be any other night of the year. It is also on this night that the God is born. This time reaffirms the adage that "It is always darkest just before the dawn."
Traditionally, this is the Moon where we perform the Drawing Down the Moon rite, if you are unfamiliar with it you can read about it in great detail here. Never undergo any sort of possession if you are practicing alone.
Re-consecrate your tools.
The simplest way to purify Wiccan tools is to bathe them in Moonlight. This will not only cleanse them, but recharge them as well.
Take them out at Dusk, bring them in at Dawn. When the sun is no longer in the sky. Keep it tucked away from daylight for the next day to allow the Moon's energy to sink in.
Imbue Water
Capturing the energy of the moon for later use can be immensely useful, not to mention a powerful way to add to spells for healing, protection and a myriad of personal rites. You can do this by simply placing a vessel of water in the light of the full moon for at least three hours according to modern Witchcraft. As tradition would have it place a piece of silver in the water to reflect the light of the moon, (Clean silver).
I was raised taking a bottle of spring water (mason jar originally later, a plastic bottle of spring water like Evian) placing it on an altar with no candles, placing a piece of (clean!) Quartz crystal in the water, or a silver coin (bacteria won't grow on silver but clean it anyway.)
Focus on the moonlight and charge it.
"Creature of water, Lady of Light! Power of all seen and unseen, and bless this Spring Water in the name of the divine goddess."
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