Monday, April 28, 2014

August Full Moon

Full Moon Post written and posted on time? What?

Actually called "The Dispute Moon" This is a time to relax and enjoy the warmth of the days and nights the heat of the nights synchronizes well with the spark of life within us all, slow and sensual leads to passionate.

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

At this time of the year, the Full Dispute Moon brings us the opportunity to release any anger that we may be holding onto. Ending anger at the beginning of August is Lughnasah, the Sabbat of the first harvest. Mother Earth is beginning to give birth to the bounty which will support Her creatures through the winter. This is a good time to finish unfinished business in preparation for the introspection that the fall and winter bring. 

Anger is a destructive emotion, which does far more damage to the one who is angry than the one who "caused" the anger. Releasing our hold on our anger allows us to take the energy that we have been using to keep it going and use that energy for more productive things.

As the times of the Waxing and Full Moon are most commonly used for attracting, rather than banishing, energies, this ritual is designed to help us release anger so that there is room in us for peace to take its place. Spirit will not remove that which we are holding onto. Our release of anger is necessary before it can be removed by Spirit and replaced with something better.

The Mending
Smudge both parties and embrace.


Monday, April 21, 2014

August New Moon

This is week 52, and as you may have sorted out I am going to keep this Blog rolling. As a small note that I neglected on the 14th, on April 15th with the Full moon was a Lunar Eclipse, part of what is called "The Blood Moon" which is a series of four lunar eclipses expected in a single year, an occurrence roughly every 20 years and something to make note of in timing spells.

On the Celtic Tree Calendar this is the Holly Moon, a Warrior Moon to promote inner strength.

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 Holly moon  is one of water. For our ancestors, water was vital to ensure a bountiful harvest, which would secure their future, their survival. This is true for us too, but if we have a drought in our area, food can be brought in (and usually is anyway) from other areas. Summer showers give us respite from hot afternoons, and water more than anything else, deeply quenches our thirst. In this ritual the chalice is used to enjoy a drink of cool, clear spring water. The Celts referred to this month as Tinne.
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In the Ogham, it was stated that the Holly was "best in the fight," since it helped balance both the positive and negative aspects of the self, thus revealing a new direction. It was believed to restore lost energy, bestowing the strength needed to continue toward a resolution.

The Holly Moon is associated with the recent coronation of the Holly King at Midsummer.


Talismans

As with most other trees the Holly was revered for its protective qualities. When planted around the home it protects the inhabitants and guards against lightening, poisoning and mischievous spirits. When confronted by wild animals throwing a stick of Holly at them would make them lie down and leave you alone. A piece of Holly carried on your person is said to promote good luck, particularly in men for the Holly is a male plant (the Ivy its opposite female). As a charm to enhance dreams, nine Holly leaves gathered on a Friday after midnight, wrapped in a clean cloth to protect against its needles, and tied up using nine knots was placed under a pillow to make dreams come true.

Monday, April 14, 2014

Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh, one of the ancient Celtic Fire Festivals.

August 1st the celebration of Lughnasadh  a time of games and dance, honors the Celtic hero and Sun God Lugh. Lugh is the solar deity of the Irish Tuatha de Danaan. This is his festival day, and the first of the harvest festivals. Without Lugh (the Sun) shining on the fields, there would be no harvest and no food for one's family or community during the winter months. So Lugh is a very important deity to the Celts; born of Ethniu, the daughter of the one-eyed King of Giants - Balor. His father was the Dagda, the 'Lord of Perfect Knowledge'. Lugh was schooled in the arts, crafts, magikal ways. This festival celebrates Lugh's marriage to the "Sovereignty of Ireland", the Goddess Eriu. Eriu, a hag, is transformed into a beautiful Goddess by the marriage and personifies the land of Ireland in her every feature and character. Some Celtic traditions view Lughnasadh as the moment when the Sacred King dies as a sacrifice to ensure the fertility of the next year's crops.

As a spiritual holiday, Lughnasadh represents the time of honoring the summer and sun, giving thankfulness for the start of the harvest season and the bounty to be provided. These are the themes of preparation, getting ready for the waning year and end of life. It is also a time to honor Elders, both in the clan,and in the family. At this time, honoring the knowledge you have gained during the year is acknowledge. But honoring the wisdom given to you or received from your Elder is paramount.

Title the page, you can write it in English or Witches Alphabet. Lammas, Lughnasadh, or Lughnasa. Whichever you prefer.

To start this page, draw the Solar Cross.

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 strawberries, blackberries, sunflowers, roses and sage. But that won't be the same for everyone. Put some thought into it. Here is another post that is a great reference.

Monday, April 7, 2014

July Full Moon

Full Moon Post written and posted on time? What?

Actually called "The Claiming Moon" This is a time to relax and enjoy the warmth of the days and nights the heat of the nights synchronizes well with the spark of life within us all, slow and sensual leads to passionate.

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 July, the hottest month of the year. The time when we are drawn to public markets and passionate, temporary, relationships. A time for divination and meditation.  The energy is slowing down, the first harvests are about to begin.  July is an excellent time for prosperity spells and for planning for the immediate future. As sunlight slants across fields of golden grain, we do rituals in the sultry heat of high summer to celebrate sacred fire. Fire has great powers of destruction, but it also has powers of healing and transformation. Shimmering waves of heat rise skyward during the day, and night does not always bring cooling relief. The Moon of Fire reminds us that her brother, Sun, is at his peak. Bask in the heat of this season and think of the sacred flame that burns within us all.

Think of this as the time when human's are batteries, draw in from the natural world.

The Reaping
As Drawing Down the Moon draws the Goddess energies of the moon into you, a Reaping pulls the energies of the Earth into you. This is essential because in working Magick you are putting your hands on the same forces that move the tides and create tornadoes. And that by doing so, you have the potential to harm yourself or others. If you are working magick regularly then your resources will gradually diminish, you must take the time to pull energy back into you.

You will need:
A Place in Nature (where you will not be disturbed, it may sound morbid but I recommend an OLD cemetery, and this is not to be creepy, people will leave you alone, and its as close to nature as you can get in some cities.)
A Bottle of Water (or 2)
Athame 
Incense (Stick is best for this, Sandalwood or Dragons-blood) 
An Offering (I recommend an old piece of jewelry, a necklace or ring)
A Crystal Point (Most of my magick uses crystals)

Bring a blanket, and go get settled in, then take a swallow of water before pouring the rest of the bottle on the ground around you in a circle. Light your incense and poke the sticks into the ground, lift a piece of sod (or dig a hole) and place your offering into the hole, covering it say:

"I give of myself, that I may receive, by the power of three times three, may what I have sent out return to me. With harm to none as jobs are done, as I will it so mote it be!"

This is calling energy into you. After you speak hold your Athame aloft and visualize a vortex forming in the clouds above you, then stab it into the ground as you feel the energy pummel you. Hold the visualization as long as you can then using your Crystal point position the tip to your heart and allow it to flow into you as the visualization fades. It is common to get a headache.