Yule

"December 21st, Marks the 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. Call it MidWinter, Winter Solstice or Yule. Whatever you prefer.

To start this page, draw Some Holly.

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 Yule are Rosemary, Peppermint, Frankincense, Myrrh, Mistletoe and any hot spiced beverage. But that won't be the same for everyone. Put some thought into it. Here is another post that is a great reference.

November Full Moon

Actually called "The Dark/Descent Moon" This is a Time for Healing and Communication, or Healing relationships.


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

We have entered the dark of the year. Days grow cold and nights long. The earth begins her winter’s rest. The Crone beckons: “Come into the darkness, explore what lies within.” November is a time that is betwixt and between. We have passed through the gateway of Samhain into the dark of the year, and we await the rebirth of light—the rebirth of the Lord at Yule. This moon, the Dark Moon gives us the opportunity to descend within ourselves and find the inner realm. It is through this inner place that we can connect with other realms.

As the Full Moon is its Final phase preparing for growth so as an act of healing you are banishing things from your life, like smoking... However, as the channels for communication are open it is a great time to mend fences in your personal life. If you have been looking for a good time to apologize to someone, then there is no time like the present.

Banishing Spells and Cleansing Rites.




Finding Resolutions

Performing this ritual during the Dark Moon will help you to clear the air from difficult circumstances and move on. To perform this ritual you will need:

*A Coffin Nail (or Two)
*A pen
*A Card
*A Blue Candle (or Two)

1. Write out your apology or what you are seeking to amend.

2. Drive the Coffin Nail(s) into the bottom of the candle(s).

3. Deliver the card (and other candle if you can) to the other party.

4. Return home and light your own candle, as it burns the Coffin Nail will aid in banishing the energy surrounding the conflict and help you mend the relationship.


Healing Incantation

*Chamomile and Peppermint Tea

 Make your tea, however you like it, then in the light of the moon take a swallow. Recite your chant. Then drink the rest.

"May the light that shines from deep inside,
Flow ever out, and never hide.
May the shining light within my soul,
Heal me now, and make me whole..."

November New Moon

On the Celtic Tree Calendar this is the Ivy Moon; The Moon of Healing.

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 Ivy moon rolls in at the end of the harvest season. Ivy often lives on after its host plant has died -- a reminder to us that life goes on, in the endless cycle of life, death and rebirth. The Celts called this month Gort, pronounced go-ert.

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.

Protection Spells and Home wards.

The plant teaches us that restrictions are necessary to help us hone our skills. During this month remember that your enemies are your teachers and that opposition is a blessing in disguise. Focus on magic that strengthens your resolve.


Facing Challenges

Performing this ritual during the Ivy Moon will help you to learn from difficult circumstances and move on. To perform this ritual you will need:

*A piece of paper
*A pen
*A white candle
*A fireproof dish

1. Write a list of the troubles that you are experiencing

2. Next to each one, write what you have gained from it, for example "It made me stronger".

3. Light the candle saying, "This flame represents my faith in the universe. I give thanks for the lessons I have learned."

4. Burn the paper and feel yourself grow stronger.


Ivy Incantation

*Ivy Leaf
*A Marker

Write on the leaf what it is you need, then either release the leaf into a strong wind or body of water, or burn it.

Samhain

Working Front to Back until further notice.

"October 31st, Marks the Third Harvest of meat slaughtering all animals that would not be able to survive the harsh winter ahead and the Celtic New Year and is recognized as the start of the New Year by almost all Pagans, and has renown as the day when the veil between the worlds is thinnest."

Title the page, you can write it in English or Witches Alphabet. Call it All-Hallows-Eve, All Souls Night, Halloween or Samhain. Whatever you prefer.

To start this page, draw a Jack-O-Lantern.

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 Samhain are Cranberry, Pomegranate, Pumpkin, Apples, Cinnamon, Corn and Pork. But that won't be the same for everyone. Put some thought into it. Here is another bloggers post that is a great reference.

Rituals

This is a subject I mention, with some slight hesitation.

Rituals play important roles in both sacred and secular life. The way you prepare for your day is a ritual. The way you travel to work is a ritual. Holiday celebrations are rituals. Rituals serve as links between past, present, and future, providing a sense of order and continuity. Pagan rituals take you out of the mundane realm and bring you into the magical one. The steps of a ritual build energy and enable you to release it toward your goal.

A ritual is like a spiritual instruction book. Ritual participants express a desire or goal to the universe. The environment, words, movements, and objects involved in the ritual raise energy and direct it toward that desire or goal. In effect, each participant becomes part of the Magick.

For me discussing it in great detail is approaching lines established by my Oath.

So here the first blank page following your name I ask that you diagram/draw the wheel of the year.

You have the option of explaining the diagram on the following page, but personally I leave out the explanation. 

Now, this next bit is going to be spread over the next several weeks as it deals with a great many of the religious aspects of the Craft.

The Pagan calendar is often referred to as the "Wheel of the Year", emphasizing the cyclical nature of the world around us. A beautiful deference to the life cycle; Life, Death and Rebirth. As the wheel turns each Sabbat or holy day reflects in its celebration, some of the most essential aspects of life.

The Pagan Holidays are based on four Greater Sabbats and four Lesser Sabbats, alternating about six weeks apart. The Greater Sabbats are based on Pre-Christian Fire Festivals that were held in Europe on fixed days of the year. The four Lesser Sabbats are celebrated on the Equinoxes and Solstices.

Also coming into play is the celebration of the Esbats, or Lunar Festivals for the New and Full Moon all acting in concert to shape our faith.

Your Name

I know some of you may have been disappointed by last weeks small break, but we are picking up where we left off, still at the front.

By now you have your own name that you are using for craft work, on this page you are entrusting that name to your Book.

Using the Witches Alphabet.

Like a Priest standing before the Altar you are declaring yourself.

Writing Vertically near the spine of your BoS capture your craft name. On the page itself define your path. This can be as poetic or simple as you like.

"Witch of the Wood"

or

"Keeper of secrets, observer of the ancient ways. I give myself to the old Gods."

Blessing

Still at the fore, I wanted to take a moment of your time. As we enter October we can feel the changes in the natural world as the world cools and the trees become dormant leaves are falling and night comes earlier than even it did last week, life becomes more fragile and people start withdrawing because of Cold and Flu season. This is the evidence we see in the natural world that the Veil between the worlds is becoming thinner we are much closer to the other-world, to death than we would otherwise be during warmer months.

I know I haven't called out the Sabbats in this Blog yet, and I have not been unintentionally remiss. While it’s important to honor the ebb and flow of seasonal patterns so that you can adapt yourself to these shifts its not the focus of this blog today (might tough on everyday spirituality later). However, when you try to keep the same pace year round, you stop noticing subtleties, and patterns that make your life rich. One event seems to blur into the next.

We are coming up on the most vital and beloved Sabbats for Witches, Samhain the Celtic New Year it is a magical season and very important to re-establish your connection with the spiritual world while grounding yourself with the sensation of the physical world. This is a very fortuitous time, magically for what I had planned. This entry will be very ritualized. Go back to that post I made in May/June on the Ritual and get yourself ready, pour libations: either wine, apple juice or chamomile tea work lovely.

Braid together Rosemary and White Sage and smudge your BoS and yourself, ground your energy into its pages. Make an offering and relax while the smoke dissipates.

I know, not much for you to do, but vital just the same.