October Full Moon

Originally Posted as July's Full Moon. I have written and re-written this post now four times only to have blogger not post it.
--------------------------------

Actually called "The Blood Moon" This is a time to prepare for the coming months and return to our roots.

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 October, in the time since the Equinox we are now noticing the darkness. The time when we are called back to school or to our families for the comfort that comes from familiarity. Its also a time of mystery and power as the veil begins to shimmer at our peripheral and the nudge of power teases at our senses. Enjoy ancestral magick and divination. Cast spells for justice and balance, and to overthrow anything oppressive which may be blocking your path to success. Ambition is highlighted, use magic to increase the potency of your own, or cast magic to contain ambition that may have run amok. This is also the perfect time to step into the dark shadows and take advantage of the vibrations found there.


The Besom

The besom is the traditional witch's broom. It's associated with all kinds of legend and folklore, including the popular notion that witches fly around in the night on a broomstick. The besom is a great addition to your collection of magical tools - in fact in a few traditions it is an apprentices first tool after their BoS- it's used in many traditions as a method of cleansing or purifying a space. In some cultures, the rite of jumping the broom was considered an important part of a marriage ceremony. This ritual has seen some resurgence in popularity as more and more Wiccan and Pagan couples celebrate Handfastings.

Getting your besom is no great tiring task these days, but in days of old its the broom was used to hide a magicians staff, which as many of us know is not just a walking stick. Today it's easy to just buy a broom, it's also pretty easy to make one of your own out of different types of wood. Although the items that follow are for the more traditional style of besom, you can use nearly any types of branches available to you.

You'll need:
A length of ash or oak for the handle. (I like Elm for this purpose, magically)
Thin branches of birch for the bristle part (you can substitute a woody herb like mugwort or thyme for the bristles if you like)
Lengths of willow or heavy cord to bind everything together

You'll also need scissors and a bucket of warm water.
Whatever you'll be using for the bristles -- whether it's birch, an herb, or some other wood -- should be soaked in the warm water overnight to make them pliable, as should the willow binding, if you're using it.  The best detailed instructions can be found here.