September Full Moon

~ Originally posted as a copy of the July Full Moon

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Actually called "The Singing Moon" Now, after the seasonal harvests are complete comes a time for acceptance, mellowing, and rest after labor. Many believe this moon to possess great magickal powers, and numerous superstitions are connected with it.

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 September, we have had our first autumn rains blanket us in relief of the summer heat, the bleached greens and ambers are becoming crimson and brilliant gold before fading to rust. A time when we retreat to well loved past times and out dearest and oldest friends.

The Singing Moon is a time of protection, prosperity, and abundance. This is the time of year when the grains are being harvested, and it is a good time for magick involving your prosperity, abundance, and the nurturing of others. If you have had a long illness, this is the time to finally come back to full health again. This is also the time to obtain that higher paying position at work. The energy of the Harvest Moon will help along any magick that is geared to bring you or someone else abundance. The power that has been filling your batteries is ready for some direction.


Corn Dolly
Many preserve the Corn Dolly Tradition as a Lughnasadh activity. To me it makes more sense to create you Dolly under the magick of the Singing Moon. The corn dolly really represents the spirit of the harvest. Many witches use corn dollies in spell work they make exceptional Poppets when done right, made on the moon, kept on your altar and then burned or tossed in open water during the Ice Moon or.at Imbolc.

Be careful when splitting, buying, or bind the corn stalks. The corn stalks are pretty sturdy but can easily rip with excessive or rough handling.

You will need:
two small bunches of corn stalks
green/yellow strips of  wool or cotton
a grape vine

1)Take one bunch of the corn stalks and with the yellow cotton strips, bind the stalks just below the top and tie them tightly.

2)Around a half inch to and inch below your first knot, do the same.

3)Split the bundle into four strands. This will make the arms and body for your corn dolly. The middle two will become the body and the outer two strands will become the arms.
4) Bend the stalks that make your corn dolly’s arms and bind carefully with the yellow cotton strip.
5) Take a longer strip of cotton and tie it around the neck of your corn dolly. Bind the body pieces together and crisscross the yellow cotton strips around the body. The body should be around 4 inches in length. Take the green cotton strips and tie it around the base of your corn dolly’s middle and body section.

6) Split the bottom of your dolly to form the legs, just as you formed the arms. Bind with the green cotton.
7) Ask for blessing for your corn dolly. You should ask an agricultural deity. You might say: God of plenty, bless now this image of your fertility.
8) Decorate with the grape vines, other greenery and the ribbons that represent your celebration or festival.


To make the corn dolly representative of a female deity just leave the bottom section to free so that it looks like a dress or skirt.

September New Moon

~Personal Note this was mis-posted as the Alder Moon (April) which I was using as a template, again posted automatically while I was having issues with Blogger. Edited with corrections.

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On the Celtic Tree Calendar this is the Hazel Moon and a time of manifestation and Spirit Contact.

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 Hazel moon is a period that leads up to and often includes the Autumn Equinox. Falling at the end of summer, this is the best time of year to focus on gaining wisdom and absorbing knowledge. The hazel might be said to be the quintessential Celtic tree because of its legendary position at the heart of the Otherworld the embodiment of spiritual change or crossroads. As might be expected from their legendary reputation for bestowing prophetic powers, hazels have been used for divination throughout the centuries. Druidic wands were made from the wood, and it has always been the preferred wood for water divining and dowsing. Hazel Lore is a steady lesson on how all things are connected. The alder teaches us the price and value of knowledge hard won. The Celts referred to this month as Coll.
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Hazel is mentioned in the Welsh tale "The Battle of Trees" as having been at the back, associated with Cerridwen and her Cauldron, a guiding hand or strategist.

The Hazel Moon is associated with the story of Mabon in the Song of Taliesin, the journey all begins with the Hazelnut falling into the Cauldron.

Use this time to start on a journey or craft ritual tools.


The Wand

Hazel wood is excellent for making all purpose magickal wands. Wands made of this wood symbolize white magick and healing.

Take a naturally hewn branch (Wind broken, not touched by blade) of Hazel, you may or may not choose to strip the bark, if you strip the bark sand it smooth. As a note I brand all my tools, so using a wood burner mark the hilt with the Kenaz Rune or other symbol of power.

Kenaz: (K: Beacon or torch.) Vision, revelation, knowledge, creativity, inspiration, technical ability. Vital fire of life, harnessed power, fire of transformation and regeneration. Power to create your own reality, the power of light. Open to new strength, energy, and power now. Passion, sexual love. Kenaz Reversed or Merkstave: Disease, breakup, instability, lack of creativity. Nakedness, exposure, loss of illusion and false hope.

If your path doesn't make use of runes (I am a Scottish American with Pictish ancestry and a bit of Sweden/Belgium) then you may omit this or use another similar symbol of your path. Set the wand with a crystal if you like.

Combine, 1 tbsp base oil, 1/4 tsp melted beeswax, three drops of your own blood and a drop of lemon essential oil, when cooled it will look vaguely like vasoline. Massage into your wand while visually the wands purpose in the most dramatic fashion you can.

If you want to at this point you can wrap the hilt (yes even if it obscures Kenaz, you know its there.)

Mabon

~Personal Note~ I was having problems accessing my Blogger account so this originally posted as Lughnasadh again, this is because I copied and pasted it in order to schedule the post, that I might edit it from my smartphone. Please forgive me it has been edited and fixed, albeit two months after it posted.

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Mabon, the Autumn Equinox.

September 21st, It is the time of the autumn equinox, and the harvest is winding down. The fields are nearly empty, because the crops have been plucked and stored for the coming winter. Mabon is the mid-harvest festival, and it is when we take a few moments to honor the changing seasons, and celebrate the second harvest. For many traditions it is a time of giving thanks for the things we have, whether it is abundant crops or other blessings.

As a spiritual holiday, Mabon represents the balance between light and dark, a thresh-hold holiday, personifying "A time that is not a time." In a more practical aspect it is a time to give thanks for the harvest that there is enough to carry your family through the dark months of winter. It is customary to give an offering to the earth that the next harvest be plentiful.

Title the page, you can write it in English or Witches Alphabet. Mabon or Autumn Equinox. Whichever you prefer.

To start this page, draw a bundle of wheat.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.