June New Moon

On the Celtic Tree Calendar this is the Hawthorn Moon this Moon is used as a time of Dedication, either one for a personal dedication rite, dedicating sacred space or a tool.

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 Hawthorn Moon like the other New Moon's takes its lessons and guides action as the Hawthorn tree of old lore. Its essence represents the energy of cleansing and preparation. It clears the mind of negative thoughts and mental confusion, offering clarity. Known to be both a sign of fertility and death, it was said to contain the knowledge of both reproduction and transformation. Both of these processes take time - and if you were born under the sign of the hawthorn, you have an innate understanding of both the importance of process and the necessity for change. The Celts referred to this month as Huathe.


The hawthorn is closely linked to witches due to an ancient belief that it was created from witches who had been transformed into trees.  Magick performed beside the hawthorn during its month is though to be twice as powerful.  Hawthorn wood was traditionally used in amulets and charms.  The wood grows into many twisted patterns, thought to be the origin of the love knot charm.  As an amulet, the flowers were thought to ward off depression.  The Romans placed such amulets in cradles to protect babies from curses.

Anointing Oil
1 tbsp Hawthorn Berries
3 Whole Cloves
1 Acorn
1 tbsp of Elder Flowers
Pinch White Ash Bark
1/2 cup Carrier oil
9 Drops Orange oil (2 tbsp zest)
9 Drops Lemon oil (2 tbsp zest)

In cheese cloth gather your loose ingredients. with room to allow them to expand as they may puff while hydrating from the oil, bind the edges up with butchers string or hemp twine and place in a small glass bowl. Over the top of the herbs pour your carrier oil. Cover and allow it to steep in a warm dark place for up to 6 weeks or heat the oil below boiling/smoke point for 20 minutes. You may use a double boiler process, we are looking to extract the herbal essence or infuse the oil without evaporating the essential oils from the herbs, essential oils evaporate at a very low temp, so the long process will make a better end product. After it has steeped transfer the oil to a new glass bowl, squeeze as much as you can from your sachet, you will have less than you started with, a little more than 1/3 cup at this point. Dispose of the sachet, it will make a good offering if you have an out door sacred space. To the new bowl add the essential oils if you did not use zest, swirl it with a stick (I use crafting Popsicle sticks. And at this point I imbue the oil magically.) then divide into Cobalt Blue Glass bottles these usually come with an eye dropper but you can get a screw cap easily enough.

To Imbue your Oil while stirring raise a cone of power and chant three times:

"By Sun and Moon,
An ancient Rune.
Stirring, growing manifesting
Mark of the Witch
I charge thee,
Blessed Be.
I summon the power so mote it be!"

 Once you have worked through the chant the third time funnel the energy directly into the oil.

Litha

Litha, the Summer Solstice.

June 21st is the longest day of the year. Traditionally, Summer Solstice marks the onset of the Sun's dying strength, the season itself is one of abundance. Flowers, herbs, and fruit are in full bloom and heavy with the weight of their fruit, much as the Earth Goddess herself. While the goings on at Beltane have a playfull nature, the parched heat of Midsummer creates in us a breathless fiery passion. The need to explore new things, the anticipation of what the world has to offer in the later months. Midsummer in an erotic, sexy time of year, as the sun blazes hot upon us in full flower and the Summer skies collide with flashes of heat lightning and thunderclouds, fire dancing and throwing fire wheels has long been a surviving custom, as have Midsummer weddings.

As a spiritual holiday, the Mid-Summer festival is a time to honor your elders. Education provides each of us with great knowledge, but experiences begets wisdom and it is time to prepare for the late summer growing season. Place a rooting plant in a new pot with fresh soil allowing it to settle into a new home before the cold months arrive. For me this feels like the combination of energies of the God and Goddess. The plant represents the birthing of the Goddess who is bearing her first child at this time. Where as the soil and potting process represent the grounding and cultivating energies of the God.

Title the page, you can write it in English or Witches Alphabet. Litha, Midsummer or Summer Solstice. Whichever you prefer.

To start this page, draw the Sun.

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 fresh fruit and Sun Flowers, Sage and Coriander. But that won't be the same for everyone. Put some thought into it. Here is another post that is a great reference.

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.

May New Moon

On the Celtic Tree Calendar this is the Willow Moon this Moon is used to fortify your home and self.

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 Willow Moon teaches you to release pent-up emotions and experience your grief.  Tears are linked to healing, and as you express difficult and painful feelings, you are able to purge yourself of subconscious fears.  The Willow Moon offered a healing month to the Celts, who literally spring-cleaned themselves in steamy saunas, known as sweat lodges, in readiness for the Beltane festival at the start of May. The Celts referred to this month as Saille.

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.

The willow is imbued with the power of the Moon, and so it has always been particularly linked with witchcraft.  The traditional witches’ broom is bound with a willow branch, and lunar wands used specifically for Moon magic are made of willow wood.

Protection Spell

Planting a willow tree in your yard will banish bad luck from your home.

You Will Need:
Willow branch
Spring water
 A clear quartz crystal
A lock of your hair

On the new Moon, dig a hole and place the quartz crystal inside it:

“Earth to earth, in power and love grow.”

Add the lock of your hair, to bring your own energies to the spell, and say,

“I welcome you.”

Place the willow branch in the hold and refill the earth around it. Shower the covered earth with the spring water while saying this chant:

 “Water to water, in power and love grow.”

Water the buried branch each day until it is strong.

Beltane

At Beltane, the Opposite Fire Festival to Samhain,the veil is again thin.

May 1st or the first Full Moon in Taurus. Is also the word for May's Eve and Fire of Bel in the Irish language. The Festival of Beltane is a celebration of the beginning of the second half of the ancient Celtic year, and the return of the harvest season in Gaelic culture. It is the beginning of the Mother's rule, and is one of the two most important Sabbats of the year. This is the compliment of Samhain, or All Hallow's Eve, the other time in the year that the veil between the Earth and the Otherworld is thinnest. At Samhain the Otherworld visits us, at Beltane we can visit the Otherworld.

Title the page, you can write it in English or Witches Alphabet. Spelling either Beltane, Beltaine, also spelled Beltine, Belltaine, also known as Cétamainor. Whichever you prefer.

To start this page, draw an BaleFire or Maypole.

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 Ostara are Lilacs, Meadow-sweet and Rosemary. But that won't be the same for everyone. Put some thought into it. Here is another post that is a great reference.

April Full Moon

Actually called "The Growing Moon" It is time to look at your life and restore its' balance.

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

In April, the thunderstorms of March are beginning to subside, and the wind picks up. Seeds are being blown about on the breezes, spreading life all around from one place to the next. In fact, this lunar cycle is often known as the Seed Moon. Trees have buds on them, spring daffodils and tulips abound, and the birds are nesting once more. Much like March, this is a time of conception and fertility and new growth.

This is the time to do those workings that release your energy out into the universe. It's the time to stop planning, and start doing. Take all those ideas you've had brewing for the past couple of months, and make them come to fruition.

Growth

Paint or draw magickal runes on your flower pots, on markers, or in the soil. The rune Berkana is particularly well suited for planting. Put crystals and stones in the soil to energize plants. Moss agate is the gardener's stone. Charged and placed in the soil, it will assure the abundant growth of your garden. Other agates and quartz crystals work fine as well.

Magickally charge the water used to nourish your plants. This can be as simple as saying an incantation over the watering can or setting water out under the full moon to charge. Sprinkle a few fertility herbs or a moss agate in the water while charging. Again, draw fertility runes on your watering can and charge it with abundance. Plant Marigolds as a good multipurpose magical plant.

MARIGOLD
G/P/E: Masculine, Sun, Fire.
Magical attributes: Prophesy, legal matters, the psychic, seeing magical creatures, love, clairvoyance, dreams, business or legal affairs and renewing personal energy.

"I bless this leaf, I bless this flower, 
I bless this root, For I endow.
From root and bough 
As you thrive and flower 
So too shall my power."

April New Moon

On the Celtic Tree Calendar this is the Alder Moon and a time of Spring Cleaning, and purification.

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 Alder moon  is a period that includes the Spring Equinox. Falling at the start of spring, this period symbolizes the reawakening of the Earth Mother’s fertility. Alder is a tree that can make one drunk with its lore. The Alder is a tree that supports and protects physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Its associations with both weapons and shields reminded the ancient Celts that part of the skill of the warrior lies in knowing when to take up the sword and when to take up the shield. Although an alder shield will protect you and give you courage and an alder-forged weapon will help you defend yourself, ultimately the most important aspect of the warrior is his or her intent. This is the key to success or failure. They alder reminds us of the need to blend strength and courage with generosity of spirit and compassion. There is a time to challenge things and a time to hold our peace. The alder teaches us this discrimination and the need to see beneath the surface of things. It combines the desire for self-preservation with the desire to serve and emphasizes the need for a firm foundation to stand on. The Celts referred to this month as Fearn.
.
Alder is mentioned in the Welsh tale "The Battle of Trees" as having been on the front lines, Associated with the God Bran and interestingly enough when cut this pale wood slowly turns red as though bleeding.


The Alder Moon is associated with A master of the Isle of Britain, a cauldron-God, associated with a cauldron of regeneration which would revive the slain while leaving them voiceless. His cauldron destroyed, he was mortally wounded in a war to rescue his sister Branwen, he instructed his adherents to decapitate him, after many travels, bear the head to London and bury it (the site of the modern Tower of London.) where it would become a defense and a protection to the whole Isle.
"If the Tower of London ravens are lost or fly away, the Crown will fall and Britain with it.".
As a time for purification, burn all old Magical Implements that may no longer be used. (Candle leavings, herbs well past their use, unlabeled incense.. etc) 


Talismans

Alder wood talismans provide strength to the words of the Witch. The wood provides the authority of her verbal skills and strengthens spell casting.

Take a naturally hewn  (Wind broken, not touched by blade) piece of Alder and drill it for stringing on a cord.


Ceremony of the Raven

Work within the ways of the partner totem of this night. The Raven. Raven magick is a powerful and can give you the courage to enter the darkness of the void, which is the home of all that has not yet taken a form. The void is called the Great Mystery. Great Mystery existed before all things came into being. The Gods/Great Spirit live in the void and emerge from the Great Mystery. Raven is a messenger of the void.

In your circle, position a black mirror and a single candle, visualize the Ravens wings closed around your torso and allow your eyes to unfocussed on the mirror.

"I am the Voice of the Raven Upon the Wind. My harsh cry echoes long upon the Earth and Air: Nothing is forever. Not life, not love, not death, nor loss. Only change is eternal, and only in destruction can the seed of creation form. My wings bear me between Darkness and Light, Land and Sky, the Garden and the Wildwood. I perch upon the Threshold of the Worlds, both flesh and spirit, gifting the Brave Seeker with the Visions and Magic of the Otherworld. To face me is to face your greatest terror, the Shadow of yourself, the unknown and dangerous. In chancing destruction, your fear loses its power to destroy. For only in acceptance of mortality will you learn the Secrets of Immortality as I, the Raven, possess. "

Tilt your head back and light your smudge stick on the candle. As it smokes and smoulders walk the circle:

"Mother Earth, Fire, Wind, Water and Spirit; I ask thee to Cleanse my home of all negative energies."

Walk the circle again:

"Mother Earth, Fire, Wind, Water and Spirit; I ask the to Free and heal my body from all negative forces."

Walk the circle a third time and while doing slowly speak your spell if you have magick that needs working. If not:

"Smoke that rises take away
Negative energy—
These thoughts can’t stay.
Anger, misery,
Worry and doubt,
Smoke, please carry them
Out, out, out!"

Extinguish the lone candle, and dispose of the smudge.

Throughout time and many cultures and traditions, Raven has carried magick. It is sacred, in the medicine ways of the Native Tribes, to honor Raven as the bringer of magick. If the magick is bad medicine, the carrier may be honored out of fear rather than respect. Those who fear Raven may do so because they have been dabbling in areas which they had no knowledge, and a spell may have backfired on them. Rather than analyzing the dark side of sorcery, realize that you will fear Raven only if you need to learn about your inner fears or self created demons.

In Native teachings the color black means many things, but it does not mean evil. Black can mean the seeking of answers, the void, or the road of the spiritual or nonphysical. The blue-black Raven contains an iridescence that speaks of the magick of darkness, and a changeability of form and shape that brings an awakening in the process.

Raven is the guardian of ceremonial magick and in absentia-healing. In any healing circle, Raven is present. Raven guides the magick of healing and the change in consciousness that will bring about a new state of wellness from the Void of Great Mystery and the field of plenty.

Raven is the messenger that carries all energy flows of ceremonial magick between the ceremony itself and the intended destination. For instance, if a ceremony is being performed to send energy to a disaster area where people need courage and strength, Raven would be the courier for that energy flow. The intention could be to allow the people of the devastated area to feel the concern and support of the participants of the ceremony.

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