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.
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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.

October New Moon

~ Again originally posted as Alder.

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On the Celtic Tree Calendar this is the Vine Moon and a time of resurrection, transformation and reflection.

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 Vine moon  is a time of transition as the earth prepares for winter’s rest and we prepare for our journey through the dark of the year. At night there’s a chill in the air. The leaves of trees have blazed to their full autumn splendor and are drifting away on the wind. This is the of the Dark Mother who stands alone. This is the time to contemplate the cycle of life, death and rebirth.

Vine is a a "tree" that can be overshadowed by the lore of other cultures. Grapevines typically come to mind when discussing vines, we can thank the Romans for this, but it was more likely the blackberry vines that captured the hearts of the ancient Celts. Descriptions of the Vine have it as wrathful, that lends that it is capable of great harm. When I was growing up in the Northwest the tenacity of the blackberry and its indomitable nature made us hate it, it took over acres of forest, hornets nested in their tangled shoots. It was like the thorny vines that kept Prince Philip from Sleeping Beauties tower. The vine earned its symbolism from its growth patterns. They recognized the vine grows opportunistically, and would dig in wherever feasible in order to gain a strong foothold to assure its own growth. The vine is a theme repeated over and over in Celtic art. Interconnections and winding vines are commonly seen on tapestries, writings,knot work and carvings. This indicates the symbolism of connection, eternity, and diversity as we expand in new directions. The Vine teaches us, in spite of the philosophical urgings to take things as they may come, the thorns of these vines are symbolic of defending or protecting ourselves when necessary. The Celts referred to this month as Muin.
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Vine is mentioned in the Welsh tale "The Battle of Trees" as having gone to ground, holding the line. The last bastion of defense, the kings own champion.


The Vine Moon is associated with the healing God of the Tuatha de Danann: Dian Cecht. It was Dian Cecht who once saved Ireland, and was indirectly the cause of the name of the River Barrow. The Morrígan, the heaven-god's fierce wife, had borne a son of such terrible aspect that the physician of the gods, foreseeing danger, counselled that he should be destroyed in his infancy. This was done; and Dian Cecht opened the infant's heart, and found within it three serpents, capable, when they grew to full size, of depopulating Ireland. He lost no time in destroying these serpents also, and burning them into ashes, to avoid the evil which even their dead bodies might do. More than this, he flung the ashes into the nearest river, for he feared that there might be danger even in them; and, indeed, so venomous were they that the river boiled up and slew every living creature in it, and therefore has been called the River Barrow, the ‘Boiling’ ever since.

As a the time for inner cleansing. Meditate on the laws of Karma and thoughts of reincarnation. This is the time of letting go, justice, balance, and inner harmony. 


Scrying a Past Life

You will need:
1 white Candle
1 black mirror or scrying bowl (With spring water)
A cup of blackberry tea or raspberry zinger.

Set the candle next to the mirror so the light from it can hit your face, but so that you will not see the candle in the mirror. Turn off the lights and sit in front of the mirror look into your eyes and say these words:

"Oracle of lunar light, Send me the second sight"


Stare into your eyes and try not to blink. Your reflection will dissolve and another will appear. Try to look at the face, body, clothing and surroundings. Coming back to yourself write down what you saw, drink the tea for help in grounding any wayward emotions.

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.