May Full Moon

First my apologies for the late post, real life hasn't been accommodating.

Actually called "The Bright Moon" It is time for communication with other beings and recommitting yourself to the Gods and the Earth.

Like the Sabbats, this is less about writing the ritual and more about what sets the ritual apart. For the Esbat title the page.

This is May, the time of opening, the time of blossoming. The world is gently wrapped in a sweet blanket of flowers. Fruit trees bloom and carry the promise of abundance to come. Newly arrived birds sing in the warmth of the strengthening sunlight. We do ritual in this soft part of the year to open our spirits to receive. Flowers, a gift from the Lord and Lady, beckon to our souls. Their endless varieties give us beauty and fragrance to enjoy. Some flowers, such as lavender, can be used for healing and others, such as geraniums, can be used to enhance the flavor of food. Like flowers, we are children of Mother Earth, and in this time of blossoming, we too need to open. Flowers are delicate and beautiful and serve to remind us that we need to be gentle with ourselves and to be able to find the beauty within.

This is the time for working with Faeries and nature spirits. For those not in the know each plant, animal, rock, and other entity has a spirit awareness and sometimes a sprite who is dedicated to that plant, animal, rock etc. These spirits can join together, in a hive-mind, as a spirit of an area. Nature spirits include real biological intelligences, are psychically powerful, and are much less abstract and controllable than the Elementals that many magical people who perform all of their rituals indoors are familiar with. They can be extremely powerful allies. It is possible to sense nature spirits, to determine if they are receptive to a ritual planned, and to have them actively participate in magical workings if they are.

The Sight Ointment

Many a legend has accounts of an ointment used to bless people with the second sight. This is the time to use it.

*Grease Free Recipe*

1/3 cup flax seeds.
1 cup Spring or Rain water

In a glass pan, boil them until the liquid starts to thicken then set a timer for 5 minutes as the gelatin extracts, remove it from the heat and carefully strain it into a crystal bowl Allow it to cool for about a half hour. While it is cooling prepare your vessel, this can be cobalt glass or crystal it should have a wide mouth, rinse it in spring water and then smudge it, placing inside it three chips of fluorite and a quartz crystal point a rosebud and a small piece of Mistletoe.

Into your gel add 9 drops each Thyme Essential oil and Yarrow Essential Oil. Then 3 drops of Chamomile Essential Oil. The ointment itself will be a pale green color.

Makes 1/3 cup (approximately) Fill your container and chill for 3 days before use. Refrigerated it will keep about 3 months.

*Greasy Recipe*

 Herbs Fresh (double when dried):
1/4 cup Thyme
1/2 cup Roses
1 tbs Eyebright
1 tbs Lavender
1 tbs Mistletoe

Any fresh herbs you use should be bruised in a mortar and pestle.

Fill a glass jar, like a canning jar or a ceramic container, and cover the herbs with your carrier oil to about a half inch above the herbs themselves this should be a little more than 1 cup, traditionally this was reduced animal fat, olive oil, jojoba oil or vegetable oil work, the type of oil you choose affects the shelf life. Tightly seal and store in a dark place, inverting and alternating its position daily, consider storing it on its side and rolling it, for one lunar month to allow the herbs to infuse the oil. Strain with cheese clothe, press and squeeze it to get full extraction, floating flotsam from the herbs is fine, the oil should be slightly green.

You will have about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of infused oil as your end product. You can use this oil by itself or continue to craft it into an ointment:

2 Tbsp of Beeswax, grated or granules.

Melt your wax over low heat, or in a double boiler until transparent (this will help protect the integrity of your extracted essential oils as they diffuse at a relatively low temperature.), remove from heat and work quickly stirring widdershins with a wooden, bone, ceramic or mother of pearl spoon (symbolic to parting the veil, it's important to avoid exposing your ointment to metal.) add your oil. This will start to set the wax immediately. Continue to blend it for about 9 minutes it will cream slightly, then transfer it to your container and store it in a cool dark place for another lunar month when ready the ointment will have a texture similar to shoe polish once it sets up.

Either recipe makes enough to share with a friend, the greasy formula is the traditional blend that I recommend, it works better. If you are lucky enough to already have some fraction of the Sight then the gelled recipe will work fine.