Waxing Gibbous Moon in Taurus - an Earth sign and Hecate's Day

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

15th Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Gaia
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ruis/Elder
Moon Phase: Gibbous
Moon sets: 5:34AM EST
Moon rises: 3:23PM EST
Moon in the Fixed Earth Sign of Taurus
Rhiannon's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The treasures of Winter
Sun in Sagittarius
Sunrise: 7:22AM EST
Sunset: 4:54PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What are the landmarks of your spiritual home?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year
November 30th, 2009

   Earth Meditation:

  As we move into the Winter, we also move into the season of Earth, the realm of the physical. For the land this is a resting time and for us it is a time of reflection and remembering our achievements. The earth is also a medium for repair and rejuvenation.
  If the weather is warm enough this is best done barefoot outside (Brrrr.). If it is too cold and wet then bring some earth indoors in bowls or on trays. Try to ensure that is is relatively dry. Sit in such a way that your comfortable, with the soles of your feet and your hands touching the earth. Close your eyes and breathe deeply to relax. Feel the earth with your hands and feet. Take some time to experience its texture against your skin. Take the forefinger of your strong hand and draw a circle over your third eye, then replace your hand on the soil. Continue breathing deeply and evenly until you can smell the earth. Now visualize the energy of Earth, the pulse of the land. Allow your breathing to slow to this rhythm. Visualize the energy of the land as a deep green pulsing light, rising up through your hands and feet, regenerating and revitalizing you. See it pushing out all weariness and stress. When you truly feel in tune with the land, allow your breathing to resume its normal pace, open your eyes and rub your arms and legs to ground yourself. Tidy up after yourself but keep a little of the soil in a small pot on your windowsill throughout the Winter months.
[From: Kate West's "The Real Witches' Year"]

So you want to be a witch ....  continuing

   Before you begin to leany any more about Witchcraft, before you rush out to the occult shop, I encourage you to start compiling a Book of Shadows in a simple loose-leaf notebook. Witchcraft has no single holy book as many other religions do. Each coven or group of Witches who work together will have its own Book of Shadows, and each individual Witch within the coven and each solitary Witch will have her own book.
   As you start reading about Witchcraft and studying, you should start recording in your own Book of Shadows your impressions, your dreams, what you like and don't like, and what you want and don't want to practice and achieve. You can change your mind later about any aspect of the Craft, and you will - probably more than once - but for now this is your starting point.
   After you're done with this book, your Book of Shadows will be your most useful and personal magick and ritual tool during your first years as a Witch. In it, you will record your thoughts, your spells, your potion recipes, festival receipes, ritual texts, dreams, divination results, and just about anything else you can think of as your integrate Witchcraft into every aspect of your life. If you later join a coven or have one or more teachers, they may give you parts of their books to copy into yours. Or you may end up0 with two books, one for your personal use and another for use within your coven.
   Your book doesn't have to be fancy, but if fancy appeals to you, there are beautiful journals and other attractive blank books available. Many of us start using something like that but later you'll probably find a loose-leaf notebook holds more information, and it allows you to reorganize the pages as needed.
   No one knows for sure how old this practice of keeping a Book of Shadows is, but it could be that it was borrowed from ceremonial magick or other forms of wizardry that was practiced by the literate and educated upper classes during the Middle Ages. They called their spell books grimoires, a word of uncertain etymology, but which is possibly an Old French term to describe the changing of one substance to another. Another theory is that it comes from an Old Norman English word that may have been the origin of the modern English words 'grammer' and 'glamour.'
   The name "Book of Shadows" comes from the concept that rituals and spells dwell in thoughtforms only, hiding in the shadows of our minds, rituals not fully formed until enacted by the Witch. Another theory states that, during the Witch hunting hysteria, Witches met in the dark, skulking through shadows of the moon to their meeting places. The thoughtforms origin makes more sense because, again, we're dealing with the lives and folk beliefs of poor and illiterate people.

And let us not forget .. this is the last day of the month, and so is sacred to the great Triple Goddess, Hecate. On this day, and especially in this deepest dark time of the year, we honor the Her as Queen of the Night and the Goddess of Witches. Hecate is a protector of women, mighty advocate for the disenfranchised, and She who guards the Crossroads. It is She who teaches us the ancient Mysteries. May Hecate bless and guide us as we now journey in Her holy darkness.

Gibbous Moon enters Taurus - we getting grounded

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

14th Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Gaia
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ruis/Elder
Moon Phase: Gibbous
Moon sets: 4:23AM EST
Moon rises: 2:45PM EST
Moon in Aries v/c 1:58AM EST
Moon enters the Fixed Earth Sign of Taurus
Rhiannon's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The unconquerable nature of the soul.
Sun in Sagittarius
Sunrise: 7:21AM EST
Sunset: 4:54PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "Which fear is keeping you in prison?"
Samhain  (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year
November 29th, 2009

   There are Major magickal energies today for New Business and Investments rites/spells. The correspondences are: the element of Earth; the color Green; tarot card - Ace of Pentacles; and the rune Fehu.  Also there is Major magickal energy for Planning rites/Spells and the correspondences are: Element of Air; color Dark Blue; Tarot card - The Hermit and the rune Mannaz. 

   The bulging Gibbous moon enters the Fixed Earth Sign of Taurus...  This lunar transit concerns money, work, property, the body, home and family, sensuality, building cautiously and slowly, being conscientious, growth, sensitivity, planting and emotional patterns based on security. The energy flow is even.   The forward, driving movement of Aries now becomes solid, calm and patient during Taurus. There are strong desires to protect material goods and a strong need for financial security. With the impulsive surges of Aries gone, the retailers of merchandise in the holiday shopping sector may find an abrupt drop in customers.  As we approach the middle of Taurus - like this evening and tomorrow - energies become even more calm. This will be a good time to continue or to finish projects. Emotionally there will be stubborness, but yet still great sensitivity to others.

If you want to be a Witch --- continued from yesterday's blog- What next?

   Traditionally it takes a year and a day of study before you undergo initiation and be called a Witch or Wiccan rather than dedicant, apprentice, or student. At that you time, you may do a self-initiation or be initiated by a coven or another Witch. If you display the proper knowledge one expects of someone who's put in a serious year and a day of work, no one will question your right to call yourself a Witch. However, if you come across followers of a specific tradition (such as Gardnerian, Alexandrian, British Traditional, Seax-Wicca, Stegheria, Dianic, Faerie, etc.) and you wish to be a part of that tradition, you will have to learn its unique practices and be initiated into that sect. This extended study time is common in traditions ruled under a strict hierarchy (dedicant, first degree, initiate, second degree, priest/ess, high priest or priestess, third degree, elder, etc.). You will need to study with someone from that traditions, learn its special rituals and tradition secrets, and then be initiated if you wish to be called a Witch of that tradition.
   Many Witches, especially those who do not have or want times to a coven or other group, tend to shun traditional labels. Instead, they will take their cultural heritage or their family's seasonal customes, and create their own private ways of ritual and worship. This is called solitary practice.
   Eclectic Wicca, the most common type of Witchcraft practiced in North America, deaws from the practices of many cultures and remains open to anyone who is interested in learning and working within generous parameters. Many eclectic Craft study circles are operating around the major cities of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Look in alternative newspapers, on bulletin boards at health food stores, and always ask in an occult shop. Many times the shop will act as a go-between to help people link up with others who share a similar vision.

  The path of the Craft is as much a journey of self-exploration as it is a journey into other worlds, if not more so. To understand what lies around us you have to develop and refine your own self-knowledge and awareness. You need to put aside limitations you learned through your formative years so that you can appreciate the skills and talents you truly have. It is only through a process of self-development that you can become who you're really capable of being, and thereby truly able to realize the magic we know we're capable of working to help ourselves and the world around us.
   There are many things which cannot just be read about; they have to be practiced, over and over again in order to develop your skills, even by experienced Witches.  You need to develop the ability to fully use the sense of sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell, to enable the development of the sixth, or psychic, sense. The knowledge this brings makes it possible to make magickal change without unwanted side effects. The ability to develop and maintain focus and control in order to minimize the effort required. The ability to visualize, for it is true seeing of the magickal intent which makes the magick happen. The ability to use one or more methods of devination which not only give the opportunity to see what might otherwise be hidden, but which also helps to determine the potential consequences of your magickal actions, and indeed whether they are necessary.
    Some of your first 'practices' can be 'grounding and centering'.  You should begin your studies with setting aside a time for a daily practice of skills.  Some Witches perform grounding and centering at the four sacred hours (dawn, noon, dusk, and midnight).  Grounding and centering can be done while standing or sitting, and doesn't take very long to do.  The more you practice, the faster you will be able to ground and prepare for magick by centering yourself - sort of like a diver preparing to make the jump of his or her career into the magickal waters below. It is easier to learn grounding and centering by going outside thge first few times but not totally necessary.

To Ground:  Take three deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. Close your eyes. Imagine that you are a tree and that your feet (your roots) grow deep into Mother Earth. Feel the stable, secure energy of the planet.

To Center: Imagine that your energy is merging with that of the Universe. Allow the sounds and smells of the world around you to passthrough you, like you are floating in a magickal pool. Let your concentration center on your solar plexus area. Imagine there is beautiful sun burning there (some prefer to visualize a ball of light). Slowly, allow yourself to become one with the Universe. This is the still point. Now you are ready for magick and ritual, or just to move ahead with your day. Relax and Enjoy!!

Book Recomendations to get started:  The Inner Temple of Witchcraft by Christopher Penczak and get the companion CD with it.  This will be your beginning studies of visualization.

The Real Witches' Craft by Kate West - wonderful begining or refresher book for a study of the Craft.

Solitary Witch by Silver Ravenwolf - a great big heavy tome but it has so much in it.  This will make a great reference book for witch students.

To be continued tomorrow....... 

Gibbous Moon in Aries Why Do You Want to be a Witch?

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

13th Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Gaia
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ruis/Elder
Moon Phase: Gibbous - 2:38PM EST
Moon sets: 3:16AM EST
Moon rises: 2:15PM EST
Moon in the Cardinal Fire Sign of Aries
Rhiannon's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: Your kinship with the stars.
Sun in Sagittarius
Sunrise; 7:20AM EST
Sunset: 4:55PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What threshold of attainment waits for you to cross over?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year
November 28th, 2009

  Gibbous Moon - Keywords for the Gibbous moon phase are: analyze, prepare, trust. It is the time in a cycle to process the results of the actions taken during the First Quarter. During this phase you are gathering information. Give up making judgments, it will only lead to worry. Your knowledge is incomplete. Laugh. Analyze and filter. LOOK WITHIN.

Similar to the waxing moon phase, you can perform all actions compatible with increase during this Gibbous period. However, magick that requires more lunar energy than the waxing crescent can provide should if possible be delayed until this time period because of it's closer proximity to the full moon. Of course minor magickal workings can also be performed during this time as well, but the added energy here may not be absolutely necessary.


So Why do you Want to Be a Witch?


Why a Witch?



[From: http://www.magickalmoon.com/index.php?page=Why ]


So you have seen "The Craft", watched "Charmed" and now you would like to become a Witch. You would love to cast some spells just like Sabrina does? You would love to be able to clean your house with the twitch of your nose just like Samantha. Well if you think it is like that, then please read on, you have been sadly misinformed.

We all know that Sabrina is fantasy, wouldn't it be nice to just conjure up anything you like? Imagine the pile of money you would have beside you if that were possible. You could turn your ex-boyfriend into a toad, anything you dream of actually. If only...........

* begin dream sequence *

*imagining myself running along the beach, supermodel perfect body, with gorgeous men all around, and all the things that money can/can't buy! * Beautiful sunset, etc, etc *

* end dream sequence*

OK, so you have now figured out that it's not really like you see on TV, so why do you still want to be a Witch? Maybe it's in your heritage, your genes. Your Grandmother/Mother was a Witch and it is a path that you have been drawn to all your life. Maybe you are just curious, well it has to start somewhere doesn't it. Maybe your friends are doing it and you want to be like them? (note: not a good reason to do anything)

Might I just take this time to point out that there are no Demons involved, we don't have to go out demon fighting every day like they do in Charmed! We also don't bring people back from the dead and make them grow magnificent rose gardens like they did in Practical Magic!

So I guess it is up to you. Are you doing this for the right reasons? You don't have to be a sheep and follow the pack. You are free to do as you please. Whatever feels right to you is always the answer. Believe in your "self" and it will guide the way for you.

******************************************

"If You Want to be a Witch" 
(excerpts from Edain McCoy's book of same title)

   In the beginning.......

  What do you already know about Witchcraft.... or perhaps I should ask, what do you think you alread know? Why are you interested? There are easier ways to live your life than to be a part of any minority.
What do you expect to get out of Witchcraft that makes the quest worth the struggle, and what do you expect to give back to it?  Will you be an in-your-militant, a sort of Witchy fundamentalist? Will you quietly walk your spiritual path alone with your deities or seek contacts for friendship, exchange of information, and perhaps group or coven worship?

  First, utmost, and beyond all other concerns, Witchcraft is a religion, probably one of the oldest on Earth, and one that gets new adherents daily all around the world. They may worship pantheons you're not familiar with, but they are trying to follow a positive path to the creators. Undertanding this is  not
only your lesson number one, but a sentence you should emblazon upon your brain in flashing neon so it will never be forgotten.

  What all Witches have in common is that we follow a nature- or earth-based religion. However, we each tread a slightly different path in our search for our creator, and each of our lives is filled with varying needs and desires, but with faith and effort, we all hope to end up in the same place.
   Before you begin, I want to prepare you for the flood of names and terms that accompanies the Craft. Witchcraft somestimes referred to as Wicca or Electic Wicca, comprises the indigenous religions of western Europe, making it collectively one of the oldest religions on the planet. A Witch and a Wiccan may or may not be the same thing. Wicca began as a specific Anglo-Welsh tradition in England around the turn of the twentieth century, but today it is a tag often attached to other traditions. (Celtic Wicca, Russian Wicca, etc.) There are two possible origins of the word 'Witch', one being the Old English wyk
meaning 'to shape' or 'to bend' and the other being the Anglo-Saxon  wit meaning 'to possess knowledge or wisdom.'  From 'wyk' come the Craft words 'wita' and 'witta.' Like Wicca, the terms "Wicce'" and "Witta" have ceased to be spiritual descriptions in their own right, and it's not uncommon to see 'Wicce' and 'Witta' combined with other cultural labels to create an entirely new Pagan tradition.
   It may surprise you to know that both men and women are called Witches. The term 'warlock' is thought to be an old Scottish term mean 'oath breaker' or 'sorcerer.' The word 'warlock' is rarely, if ever, used to as a label for a Pagan man. In fact, many men find it insulting.
 
  So What is Next?  ..... 

Freya's Day - 12th Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

12th Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Hera
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ruis/Elder
Moon Phase: waxing Half
Moon sets: 1:49AM EST
Moon rises: 1:49PM EST
Moon in the Cardinal Fire Sign of Aries
Rhiannon's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The ancestral memories of your body.
Sun in Sagittarius
Sunrise: 7:19AM EST
Sunset: 4:55PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What new idea is seeding itself within you this Winter?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year
November 27th, 2009

    Well for this big shopping day after Thanksgiving we have a waxing moon in the Fiery sign of Aries bringing with those energies intense activity, reaching out with emotional surges and impulsivness.. should a busy day for dedicated shoppers.  Since I come from the Buy Nothing Day side of the street I won't be participating in this Aries buying frenzy day.  But Aries also brings the energy of new beginnings.  It may seem like a little late in this lunar cycle to be contemplating 'new beginnings' but there could thoughts going towards a new kind of Full Moon ritual and making plans for that. Let's see the Full Moon this cycle will be on December 2nd, Woden's Day in the Mutable Air Sign of Gemini..
Or maybe I need to make new beginnings in practices that I do like my meditations.

  Today - Freya's Day brings us Major magickal energies for rites/spells to develop our Talents.  Sometimes it is difficult to consider what your talents are. Frequently we find criticizing ourselves easier than acknowledging our talents.  If you ask a close friend you might be surprised at the list they have to give you of your 'gifts'.  I have been at times. 

   Instead of occupying your time with gift buying and the hustle and bustle of holiday frenzy - you may want to make a new beginning this time around with thinking ahead to the Winter Solstice - Yule - and what it means to those who connecting the Divine and the seasons... How will you observe Yule this year.  Make it more of a priority for yourself rather than the celebration of Christmas.  Remember, Yule, Winter Solstice is the turning of the Earth back towards the Sun.  Think of the miracle of that instead - this has been occurring for how many millions of years and yet most people take it for granted.

11th Day of the lunar cycle - The Feast of Fortuna

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

11th Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Hera
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ruis/Elder
Moon Phase: waxing Half
Moon sets: 1:10AM EST
Moon rises: 1:25PM EST
Moon in Pisces v/c 6:42PM EST
Moon enters the Cardinal Fire
Sign of Aries at 10:09PM EST
Rhiannon's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The unfolding vision of your life
Sun in Sagittarius
Sunrise: 7:18AM EST
Sunset: 4:56PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What would give your loved ones most pleasure?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year
November 26th, 2009

    Today there are Major energies to work spells/rituals for Good Fortune and the correspondences are the Element of the Sun, the color Green, and the tarot 3 of Wands and the rune Fehu.  This minor Power Day for good fortune was upgraded to a Major Power Day by virtue of coninciding with the Feast of Fortuna. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you can honor Fortuna in your heart. 

Fortuna

Fortuna is the Roman Goddess of Luck, Fate, and Fortune, as Her name implies. She was a very popular Goddess, and was worshipped under many epithets depending on the type of luck one wished to invoke or the circumstances in play. She had many temples in Rome itself, as well as having important cult-centers in Antium (the modern Anzio), a city on the west coast of Italy about 30 miles south of Rome, and Praeneste (modern Palestrina), about 20 miles south-east of Rome, both of which were cities of Latium, the land of the Latini tribes. Her many temples in Rome, and the various aspects of Her worship are a reflection of the manners in which She was honored: from personal Goddess, overseeing the fate of the individual mother, young man, or soldier, to a Goddess of the State, ensuring the fortune of the populace, the luck of the Emperor, or the glorious fate of the entire Roman Empire.


Fortuna was usually depicted holding in one hand a cornucopia, or a horn of plenty, from which all good things flowed in abundance, representing Her ability to bestow prosperity; in the other She generally has a ship's rudder, to indicate that She is the one who controls how lives and fates are steered. She could also be shown enthroned, with the same attributes of rudder and cornucopia, but with a small wheel built into the chair, representing the cycles of fate and the ups and downs of fortune. Sometimes She is blind, as an acknowledgment that good luck does not always come to those who seem to most deserve it; at other times She is described as having wings, much like many Etruscan Goddesses—and indeed She was equated with the old Etruscan Fate Goddess Nortia, who was often shown winged.

The name Fortuna finds its root in the Latin fero, meaning "to bring, win, receive, or get". She may have originally been a Goddess of Fertility, Who brought prosperity and success in the form of abundant harvests and offspring. Her worship in Rome traditionally goes back to the time of Ancus Martius, the 4th King of Rome, who is said to have reigned from 640-616 BCE. According to the propaganda of the time (and the Romans invented an awful lot of it to make it seem that their city had always been destined for greatness, and wasn't just some upstart town founded by a bunch of sheep herders on some hills surrounded by malaria-infested swampland, which it was), when Fortuna first came to Rome, She immediately threw off Her shoes and discarded Her wings, announcing that She'd found Her true home and intended to never leave it.

Alternatively, Fortuna's name may derive from that of the Etruscan Goddess Veltha or Voltumna, whose name encompasses ideas of turning and the alternating seasons. Voltumna in turn may be related to the Roman Goddess Volumna, Who watched over and protected children; and both of these themes are found with Fortuna, who was often depicted with a wheel, and who was said to predict the fates of children at their births. As a Goddess of Fate Fortuna naturally had the power to foretell the future; and under Her aspect of Fortuna Primigenia in Praeneste She had an oracle, in which tablets inscribed with messages were chosen from a jar. She also had an oracular shrine at Her cult-center in Antium.

Fortuna had a very old temple in Rome on a hill between the Forum Romanum (the Roman Forum) and the Forum Boarium (supposedly the old cattle-market), near to the temple of Mater Matuta. Both temples had the same dedication day, the 10th of June, and each had a horseshoe-shaped altar before it of the earliest type. Fortuna's temple had a very old statue of gilded wood inside, also of an archaic type; and the altar and statue indicate that Her worship dates at least to the earliest days of Rome, if She is not an earlier Goddess of the Latins.

The Emperor Trajan (97-117 CE) dedicated a temple to Fortuna, at which offerings were made to the Goddess on the 1st day of January, at the start of the New Year, probably to ensure good luck and success for the coming year. This temple was dedicated to Fortuna in all of Her aspects.

With Greek influence, Fortuna was equated to Tykhe, their Goddess of Luck and Fortune. Under the title Dame Fortune, Fortuna never lost Her power as an allegorical figure—She makes an appearance on card 10 of the Tarot Major Arcana, the Wheel of Fortune, and She is still to some extent honored today, for She features in gamblers' prayers to "Lady Luck".

She is associated with the Goddess Felicitas, the personification of happiness, and Spes, the Goddess of Hope.

As mentioned above, Fortuna had quite a few aspects, many of which had their own holidays and centers of worship; I treat them here separately:

Fors Fortuna, Fortuna Antiat, Fortuna of Antium, Fortuna Aucupium, Fortuna Augusta, Fortuna Balnearis, Fortuna Barbata, Fortuna Bona, Fortuna Brevis, Fortuna Conservatrix, Fortuna Dubia, Fortuna Equestris, Fortuna Felix, Fortuna Gubernans, Fortuna Huiusce Diei, Fortuna Liberum, Fortuna Mala, Fortuna Mammosa, Fortuna Manens, Fortuna Mobilis, Fortuna Muliebris, Fortuna Navirilis, Fortuna Obsequens, Fortuna Patricia, Fortuna Plebis, Fortuna of Praeneste, Fortuna Primagenia, Fortuna Privata, Fortuna Publica, Fortuna Redux, Fortuna Respiciens, Fortuna Restitutrix, Fortuna Romana, Fortuna Salutaris, Fortuna Tranquilla, Fortuna Virginalis, Fortuna Virgo, Fortuna Virilis, Fortuna Viscata, Sorores Antii.

[From:
http://www.thaliatook.com/OGOD/fortuna.html ]

And From - http://hecatedemetersdatter.blogspot.com/   remember these suggestions and thoughts during the next few days...

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Gratitude    from her blog entry entitled this:

"May you find quiet time in the midst of frenzy, may you remember who you are in the midst of commercialism designed to make you forget, may you feel the deep peace of the ever-more-deeply-slumbering Earth in the midst of this culture's fear of that sleep."   And ground and center....

And this blog entry Thursday, November 26, 2009  Home For The Holidays


Breathe.


Center.

Remember who you truly are.

Can you find 10 minutes to go outside and feed the birds? Some seeds, some bread crumbs, a bit of apple spread with peanut butter.

Fill your lungs with the cold Air. Notice your feet upon the chilly Earth. Connect with the Fire deep inside the planet. Watch the Water of your breath turn into mist when you breathe.   ....

  Thank you Hecate for reminding me of this - I will now go outside and feed my feathered friends - forgot to earlier this morning....

Waxing Half Moon - 10th Day of this Lunar Cycle

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

10th Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Hera
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ruis/Elder
Moon Phase: waxing Half
Moon sets: 12:10AM EST
Moon rises: 1:03PM EST
Moon in the Mutable Water Sign of Pisces
Rhiannon's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The blessings of age.
Sun in Sagittarius
Sunrise: 7:17AM EST
Sunset: 4:56PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "To whom do you need to show more sensitivity?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter for the Year
November 25th, 2009

     There are Major magickal energies today for Divination and the correspondences are the element of Water; the color Violet; and the rune Ansuz. 

Divination

The term Divination covers a number of ways of

finding out things which are otherwise hidden from

us.

  There are many different forms of Divination. Some are fairly limited, answering only questions

with yes/no responses like for instance the

Pendulum.  Others only deal with certain specifics

like Divining Rods. Some will only answer specific

questions, others are better for general readings, like

the Tarot. Some forms are more useful than others for in-depth examination of a person's character and

potentialities, like Astrology or Palmistry. Probably

the earliest forms of Divination used water, as in

the Dark Mirror, and fire, as in scrying in the flames. No one method is any better, or more accurate, than any other, it is simply a question of

finding the method which you feel most in tune with.

In all cases the cards, ball, runes or whatever, are

only the means by which the reader can access their

inner mind.  It is this which actually produces the insights which make the reading meaningful.

  One common misconception about Divination is that pictures are actually see, or voices are heard. This is rare, as for almost every reader it is more a question of just finding that the knowledge is already there in the mind. For most people, the 'secret' to learning to read is simply a question of learning to trust these feelings. A second misconception is that our fates are fixed and the reader will tell us exactly what will happen. But any form of Divination can only give the potentials that are available. Your future is still subject to your own free will.

Celtic Tree Month of Elder/Ruis

The Elder is used in rituals for dying, death and protection - particularly protection against evil and black Magick. 

"Nine woods into the cauldron go,

Burn them fast and burn them slow.

Elder be your Lady's tree,

Burn it not or cursed ye'll be."

 

The Elder is a very useful tree. Its flowers can be eaten and made into wine. The berries, which are high in Vitamin C, can be eatern in a variety of ways and also make a fine wine. The berries and leaves, also high in vitamin C, can be made into jam. The leaves can boiled and cooled and used as a dressing to relieve earache. Elderflower water is excellent for the skin, cleansing , soothing and, for those with pale skins, whitening it. It also helps to reduce acne and prevent it from scarring. The bark was boiled to make a laxative tea. Its wood can easily be hollowed out to make whistles and, for children pop-guns.

    The Elder is a tree of wisdom and knowledge associated with the Crone. It used to be thought of as a tree of death and of sorrow. It is said that to cut the tree, or to burn its wood, is to invite ill luck. In Northern Europe it is said that the Elder-tree Mother inhabits the tree and if any wood is cut she would follow the wood and haunt the owner. Even fallen wood should be taken with permission. Elder loeaves were thought to keep off Witches and were hung on doors to protect al within. The pith of the branches was supposed to make a wick which, when lit, would reveal all the Witches in the neighborhood. Mediate under a fruiting Elder if you seek answers from those who have gone before.

First Quarter Moon - Moon enters Pisces

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

9th Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Kore
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Moon Phase: First Quarter - 4:38PM EST
Moon rises: 12:40PM
Moon sets: 11:45PM EST
Moon enters the Mutable Water of Pisces at 11:07AM EST
Blodeuwedd's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The work of your hands.
Sun in Sagittarius
Sunrise: 7:16AM EST
Sunset: 4:57PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "Which of your family do you most appreciate?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year
November 24th, 2009


   First Quarter Moon:  Keywords for the First Quarter phase are: action, expression, growth, breaking away. It is the ti8me in a lunar cycle to take the initial action necessary to achieve your goal by expressing your needs and desires. FEEL & MOVE. Make phone calls. Write letters. Dance. Act now.

   Water Meditation:  The moon is a watery sign, so this can be a good time to meditate upon water.
When the Moon is in Pisces emotional life is more introverted and intuition is at its height and psychic
energy is powerful. Remember that there are no such thing as 'wrong emotions'.  Your feelings whatever they are, are yours, and are not easy to control. However, what we can control is how we express our feelings and whether we let them get in the way of our lives. To help us it is often a good idea to take a little time to explore our feelings, to 'wallow' in them as our mothers may have said.

  Reserve the bathroom for a quiet time when you will not be disturbed. Decorate it attractively, with blue candles, incease or burning oils, and perhaps even flowers. Run a warm bath and add a few sprigs of Lavender, Thyme, Chamomile and Jasmine; tie them into a clean flannel bag if you don't want bits. Also add about 1/2 teaspoonful of blue food coloring to the water. Take with you 2 palm-size stones, one dark and one light in color. Completely immerse yourself 3 times. Then take the stones, one in each hand. Close your eyes and think through the things you feel strongly about in your life. As you hold the stones, place the negative parts in the dark stone and the positive in the lighter colored stone. After you have filed your emotions in this way immerse yourself 3 more times. Later, place the light stone in a prominent place, and bury the dark one deep in the ground to take away the negativity.

Making Incenses

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

8th Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Kore
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Moon Phase: waxing Crescent
Moon rises: 12:15PM EST
Moon sets: 11:10PM EST
Moon in Aquarius v/c 10:35PM EST
Bloeduwedd's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The potency of dreams enacted.
Sun in Sagittarius
Sunrise: 7:14AM EST
Sunset: 4:57PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What is the source of your deepest refreshment?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year
November 23rd., 2009

    Making Incenses: 

  While incenses can be brought, it can be more meaningful to make your own. Not only can you be completely sure that all the ingredients are the ones you need for your magick, but the actual work of making it becomes a part of your spell. Loose incense is the easiest to create at home. Of course many plants and herbs can be burned on their own, but blended incenses are often far more effective. The main components of incense are resins, such as Copal or Frankincense; woods such as Sandalwood and Pine: and plant materials, such as flowers and leaves. Try to ensure that no more ne third of your mix is resin, otherwise you could find that it generates far too much smoke for comfort. Also ensure the other ingredients are completely dry, for the same reason. When making incense your equipment should be scrupulously clean and dry, to avoid incorporating traces of things which may not be helpful for your magick. Plant ingredients should be relatively fresh, or freshly dried, as they lose their properties over time. A quick guide to this is smell: if it smells musty it is unlikely to be useful. All the indredients should finely ground or chopped, but not reduced to powder, before blending. Incenses should always be kept in a cool, dry and dark place, and for no longer than a few months.

  To burn your incense you will need a fire-proof container and some self-ingniting charcoal. This should always be kept dry, ideally in a container together with a small sachet of silica.
[From: Kate West's "A Real Witches' Year"]

Here are several links to website to give very good instruction in the making of incense along with recipes:

http://www.scents-of-earth.com/makyourownna.html

http://www.making-incense.com/

Crescent Moon in Aquarius - Sun in Sagittarius

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

7th Day in the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Kore
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Moon Phase: waxing Crescent
Moon rises: 11:50AM EST
Moon sets: 10:11PM EST
Moon in the Fixed Air Sign
of Aquarius
Blodeuwedd's Quarter of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The courage to
fail and try again.
Sun in Sagittarius
Sunrise: 7:13AM EST
Sunset: 4:58PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What do you need to learn in order to be more confident?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year
November 22nd, 2009

    Sun in Sagittarius: Sagittarius is a Fire sign bringing energy and inspiration. It represents enthusiasm spontaneity, intuition, and idealism. It is a Mutable sign bringing flexibility, resolution and problem solving.

  Sagittarians are generally self-expressive, energetic, spontaneous, assertive and extrovert. The typical Sagittarian seeks freedom and space, physically and mentally. They are ambitious and optimistic and will frequently take on large and complex tasks with enthusiasm and energy. Sagittarians make good mediators, having a good insight into the feelings of others. Intellectually strong, they enjoy challenges and learning. While not innovators, they are good at examining and interpreting the thoughts of others. They can be idealistic and are inclined to hold strong beliefs. They are also disposed towards outdoor activities and sports. They are ardent lovers but do not like feeling tied down. On the negative side they can be know-it-all, outspoken, tactless, boastful, and inconsiderate. They can also alinate others by moralizing when they hold the same traits themselves. It can be easy for Sagittarians to be unfocused or to flit from one thing to another.

  During this period Sagittarians should focus on undertaking problem-solving, intellectual and physical pursuits. But they should be wary of allowing their love of freedom to cut off those close to them. Non-Sagittarians will find this a good time for honest examination of personality traits and addressing outstanding problems in that area.
[From: Kate West's "The Real Witches' Year"]

Reed Month:  Currently we are in the lunar tree cycle of the Reed. The Reed of the Celts has counterparts in other cultures: for the Romans it was flax and for the Egyptians, Papyrus.  In all cases it is very much a plant with many uses making anything from thatch to weaving, from paper to musical instruments. It was also used in making arrows and to heal wounds caused by them. It is a plant strongly linked to water, being sometimes called the Water-Elder. It is also associated with the pathway between the worlds. Indeed it is thought that growing the plant in, or very close to the house was to open the door to death. The Greeks considered the Reed sacred to Pan; Pan Pipes being made from a series of Reed tubes tied together, which could be played to invoke him. However, this is not something which should be done lightly as Pan is a deity who can bring mischief and the uncertain. They also considered it to be strongly linked to Hecate, and placed Reeds at her shrines.
    The Reed is associated with willpower, creativity, imagination, insight and love. Weave a circle from Reeds and keep it by you when you need help with new projects or new ideas. Wearing a ring or bracelet of Reed will help to strengthen your willpower. Whenever you gather Reeds you should ensure that you make an offering lest you offend the spirits which dwell within the Reed beds. It is also a good idea to ensure that you do not gather Reeds at times when waterfowl and other species are using the beds to raise their young.
[From Kate West's "The Real Witches' Year"]

Crescent Moon Phase

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

5th Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Artemis
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Moon Phase: Crescent - 12:56PM EST
Moon rises: 10:44AM EST
Moon sets: 8:10PM EST
Moon in the Cardinal Earth
Sign of Capricorn
Blodeuwedd's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: Thresholds of
light in your life.
Sun in Scorpio
Sunrise: 7:11AM EST
Sunset: 4:59PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What is the source of your spiritual guidance?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year
November 20th, 2009

   The Crescent Moon - I can only wish that I would view the crescent moon this evening this clearly... but with all the cloud cover out there today it will be quite doubtful...   Keywords for the Crescent phase are: expansion, growth, struggle, opportunity. It is the time in a cycle that you gather the wisdom learned in the new phase and communicate your intention to move forward. Light a candle. Write or read an affirmation. LISTEN & ABSORB. Commit to your goal.   This is time when you begin to commit to the goals list you were making for this lunar cycle. You shift from visualizing to actually acting on the goals. 

   So clarify your aspirations; set concrete goals; gather support for your projects, acquire information and resources you'll need to work further down this road towards your goals. Allow yourself to dream big- cultivate the optimistic innocence of a child who hasn't learned disappointment yet.  This is what you should be thinking as you view your first glimpse of the crescent moon sliver in the western skies.
You are committing to your vision for the future.

The Crescent Moon appears approximately three and a half days after the New Moon, when the Moon goes forty-five degrees ahead of the Sun. Visible in the western sky after sunset, this slender shimmering Crescent has an exquisite luminescence, as though inked with the radiance of angel wings. Its image universally inspires optimism and hope. Even the word 'Crescent" seems to draw us forward, deriving from the Latin 'crescere', meaning to increase or grow. At this phase we can lasso a dream so bold, we'll pattern a great leap in succeeding phases.

  The most eager New Moon devotee often falls away from the lunation cycle here.What we need is a good witch Glenda to throw snow on the poppy field and pinch our cheeks awake. After all, fertility is promised; we need only discover what to cultivate. Setting the right goal for the cycle can keep us moving along the path. If we've fixed our objective prematurely at the New Moon, we may have propped up an old goal with little power to carry us forward. But at the Crescent it's not only right to focus ourselves, it's important.

  Our good witch Glenda offers some advice: "Remember, not all dreams are energetically supported at all times."  She wants us to stay awake to the world, to retain some of that New Moon openness. This means our goal should respect the messages in our environment as well as the desires in our heart. We need to both direct effort and listen. This is especially true when the world is telling us something we don't expect to hear, something that makes you yawn or drive us nuts.

Thor's Day - Expansion Day

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

4th Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Artemis
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Moon Phase: waxing New Moon
Moon rises: 10:01AM EST
Moon sets: 7:10PM EST
Moon enters the Cardinal Earth
Sign of Capricorn at 10:01AM EST
Blodeuwedd's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The wonder of life.
Sun in Scorpio
Sunrise: 7:10AM EST
Sunset: 5:00PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What prejudices are you holding on to?"

Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year

November 19th, 2009

    There are Major magickal energies for Money, Status and Material Needs today - Thursday is Jupiter's Day and is the Day of Vision, Spiritual Insight and Expansion....  The moon is expanding and is entering the Cardinal Earth Sign of Capricorn.  After experiencing Sagittarius' adventurous energy the past couple of days, now we need to accept that it is time to pay attention to our needs for security, duties, obligations, drives and ambtions. This is a good time for setting and achieving goals, 'going for it' materially.  But even while we are feeling persistent and ambitious, this is a bad time to ask or obtain anything from patriarchal and established authorities as they are experiencing a slowed down desire regarding energy.   Also take this moon transit as a time to non-traditional healing - Capricorn is the sign of the medicine woman. This moon transit will last until 10:04PM on Saturday....

  An Herbal Candle Spell for Abundance and Health

From Ellen Dugan's "Book of Witchery"

Thursday's herbs are: Honeysuckle, Cinquefoil, Mint, Maple Tree, Oak Tree

The Colorsd assosiated with Thursday are green and royal blue. Royal Blue

is the traditional color associated with Jupiter. Green is a popular shade with

magick users, as it represents the earth and nature. Today, (Thursday), green

in its many shades is often utilized in prosperity and healing spells.

So let's combine the herbal information with the color and candle information for

Thursday spell. You will need a few specific supplies for the this spell, but the

plants are common and easy to locate. You may not have to look very far - maybe not

further than your own backyard.

• 2 deep blue votive candles (you can switch to purple) 
• 2 green votive candles 
• 4 votive cups 
• A lighter or mnatches 

• 
  
  A spring of honeysuckle (flower or foliage) 
• A few leaves of fresh mint 
• A small custer of fresh pine needles 
• A 6 x 6-inch square of green or blue fabric 
• A 12-inch piece of ribbo9n (try a Jupiter color) to tie the fabric up into a charm bag
• A safe, flat surface on which to set up the spell

Arrange the candles in their holders in a neat circle. Next, lay the foilage on the inside of the

candle ring. Take your time and make this look as festive as you can; just make sure to keep the

herbal ingredients will away from the flames. Then ground and center yourself, and repeat the

following spell three times:

"Juipter's bright colors are in these candles four

Money and abundance they will bring to my door

Add some mint, pine and honeysuckle to this Witch's spell

I call for health and prosperity and all will be well."

Now I want you to imagine yourself surrounded by a bright blue-green halo of light.

Envision that this light protects you, encourages healing, promotes, abundance, and

invites prosperity into your life. Hold this imagery in place for a few moments.

Close the spell with this line:

"For the good of all, with harm to none.

By color and herb, this spell is done!"

Let the candles burn until they go out on their own. When the candles are finished, the herbs

will be empowered and ready to go.l Tuck the herbal ingredients into the center of the blue-green

cloth, and then gather up the edges. Tie the bundle closed with the ribbon. Ta-da! Instant charm bag!

Keep the prosperity charm bag with you, in your pocket or purse, for one week. If you care to

re-empower the charm bag, repeat the spell on the following Thursday. Just place the bag in

the center of the candle ring, and you're good to go.

{Hmmm, this is interesting, next Thursday (Thor's Day) is Thanksgiving and is the

Feast of Fortuna  - this makes it a Major Power Day.}

Waxing New Moon - Life Balancing

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom"

3rd Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Persephone
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Moon Phase: waxing New
Moon rises: 9:10AM EST
Moon sets: 6:14PM EST
Moon in Sagittarius v/c 9:45PM EST
Blodeuwedd's Cycle of of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: Service to the universe
Sun in Scorpio
Sunrise: 7:09AM EST
Sunset: 5:00PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What obstructions need to be cleared from your life?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year
November 18th, 2009

    The new moon is waxing and you should have a list of goals you would like to see yourself achieve this lunar cycle - ok, so mine is still a bit short.  But I do have a hazel but bush branch that the deer broke off from my bush that I am going to collect and make a wand from - that is one goal for this cycle
and I had better get out there and soon and collect it.

  Life Balance:

The term 'work-life balance' is currently fashionable, reflection the dawning reaization that there may be more to life than the acquisition of wealth and possessions.

  The concept of balance is one of the keys to the Craft. Furthermore the Craft is about living as a part of life rather than apart from it. These two concepts should be applied to the balance we seek in our daily lives, as an emphasis on any one part of ife can be deterimental to the other parts.

  It is useful, occasionally, to step back and assess our lives; to examine whether we are doing the things which benefit us, or expending our energies on things which are no longer relevant or important. There are many ways of doing this, and then reviewing them against another list of things I feel are important in my life. Of course we cannot only do that which we enjoy, as there are some things which have to be done. But unless you are very organized you willo find that there are some things on which you spend time and effort which are neither necessary nor desirable. These are the things on which we expend useful time and energy, but from which we need to consider extricating ourselves. This does not mean you should completely stop being helpful to others, but that perhaps you should bring this into baloance with the rest of your life.

"Learn to say 'no' to those requests and demands which do not enchance you."
[From: Kate West's "The Real Witches' Year"]

   Over at http://mothermoonsmessage.blogspot.com/   she has a good blog entry about this being a time in the seasons to be slowing down life some - perhaps even an age we've reached in our lives where we feel the urge to slow down - you might want to check it out as you consider on achieving Life Balance.  Maybe this could be a goal for this lunar cycle - pay attention to the seasonal energies and learn to live the Wheel of the Year as it is intended to be. Also don't forget to check outMother Moons' November giveaway.   http://hecatedemetersdatter.blogspot.com/
blog has also been having little reminders of 'slowing down.'  Check there too.

Now here is a good example of slowing down for the coming winter

season.  This is from http://www.wethreecats.blogspot.com/

--  nothing like a cat to show us how to truly relax.

2nd Day of a new Lunar Cycle

"I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."


2nd Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Persephone
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Moon Phase: New - waxing
Moon rises: 8:11AM
Moon sets: 5:23PM EST
Moon entered the Mutable
Fire Sign of Sagittarius at 12:21AM EST
Blodeuwedd's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: Memory of childhood
winters.
Sun in Scorpio
Sunrise: 7:08AM EST
Sunset: 5:01PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "Are you fulfilling your spiritual vocation?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year
November 17th, 2009

  The moon entered Sagittarius Mutable Fire sign early this morning - this is a sign with restless and enthusiastic energies that brings out our love of adventure, change and motion.  Sagittarius brings the need to feel free of restrictions and to be spontaneous.  What a great energetic sign to have in these early days of the new lunar cycle.  As you are finishing up your list of what at accomplish this lunar
cycle remember to not get too enthusiastic on what can be achieved.  Yes, that is what these first three
days of the new lunar cycle are for. You feel stimulated to take new actions. so VISUALIZE your goals as you spend time alone in this new beginning.   Also this is Tiu's (Tuesday) Day - the Day of Activity and Physicality, Passion and Dession - Action Day - so you will be experiencing great sweeping feelings of being to do it all.

 Visualization:  This is a way of meditation - this is the ability to create or to recreate a scene, set of
circumstances or even a function in such a way that it becomes 'real', and you can see, hear, taste, smell and feel it as though you were there. This is a component of making Magick happen. 

  Inner visualization is another path into the meditative state, and many people claim it is the most powerful because the talent lends itself to many other magickal practices. Our conscious mind has difficulty processing energy, or even understanding it. That is why we want to connect with the psychic
and divine minds. The psychic mind can process psychic energy, but has difficulty translating the experience so the conscious mind can comprehend. Our psychic self has to use a code that the conscious self can understand. This code is symbolism. Symbols can stand in for concepts and energy. Personal symbols are private messages from your own unconscious, your own psychic self, to your conscious self, as when we have dreams. General or universal symbols, falling into the realm of archetypes, is how the collective unconscious speaks to humanity.  Visualization is the process of using these symbols. The easiest method to get a direction or command to the psychic mind is through the use of a visual symbol. Practitioners of magick have always studied symbols, from petroglyphs and ancient alphabets to dream interpretation and vision quests. The symbols of our collective and personal mythology are the ways to direct power. Those who understand the symbols and can project them, through intention, will, ritual and, yes, visualization, tap into a power we all possess, but few use.
   Visualization is a very effective and quick method of altering your consciousness. The advantage of this method is that your 'psychic muscles' are activated and 'warmed up' from the process, and will function more effectively in deeper meditations.  Maybe a goal for this lunar cycle could be learning to use visualization more effectively and to activate those 'psychic muscles.'

 A basic exercise to get started with:

Counting to a Meditative State

• Get into your meditative position, totally relax yourself. You should always relax and focus before doing psychic exercises.  Of course this countdown can also be used eventually to get into a meditative state quickly.
• Visualize a giant screen before you, like a blackboard or movie screen. This is the screen of your mind, or what is called your mind's eye. Whenever you visualize or recall anything, or remember a person's face or anything else, you project it on this screen. You have always had it, but now you are going to give it some attention. Anything you desire will appear on the screen.
• On the screen of your mind, visualize a series of numbers, counting down from twelve to one. With every number, you get into a deepoer meditative state. The numbers can be any color you desire, drawn as if writing them, or appear whole.   Now visualize 12, see the number 12 on your screen, 12.
• 11, see the number 11 on your screen, 11,
• 10, see the number 10 on your screen, 10,
• 9, see the number 9 on your screen, 9,
• 8, see the number 8 on your screen, 8,
• 7, see the number 7 on your screen, 7,
• 6, see the number 6 on your screen, 6,
• 5, see the number 5 on your screen, 5,
• 4, see the number 4 on your screen, 4,
• 3, see the number 3 on your screen, 3,
• 2 see the number 2 on your screen, 2,
• 1, see the number 1 on your screen, 1,
• You are now at your meditative state. Everything done in your meditative state is for your highest good harming none. You are now counting down to a deeper, more focused meditative state. Count backward from thirteen to one, but do not visualize the numbers this time. Let the numbers gently take you down: 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1.  You are now at your deepest meditative state, your magickal mindset, in complete control of your magickal abilities.
• From this point, you can continue to other exercises you may be exploring or you can meditate at this level for a while and bring yourself up, counting from one to thirteen and then from one to twelve. Gently start to wiggloe your fingers and toes and slowly move to bring your awareness back to the physical.
• Take both hands and raise them over your head, palms facing your crown. Slowly bring them down over your forehead, face, throat, chest, abdomen, and then goin, and 'push out'[ with your palms facing away from yourself.   "I give myself clearance and balance. I am in balance with myself. I am in balance with the universe. I release all that does not serve."
• Ground yourself as needed.

This 'exercise' and suggestions comes from Christopher Penczak's boo9k "The Inner Temple of Witchcraft".  I cannot recommend this book highly enough and in fact along with the second book in this series - "The Outer Temple of Witchcraft" - you will learn the basics of the Craft and Magick in the best manner.  Also, particularly with the Inner Temple one, I also recommend getting the accompanying CDs... they are a blessing when working with the exercises in the book.  (S)

Dark Moon

I'm one with the Goddess
and open to Her Wisdom."

29th Day of the 11th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Hecate
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Gort/Ivy
Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Ngetal/Reed
Moon Phase: Dark Moon
Moon rises: 5:59AM EST
Moon sets: 4:00PM EST
Moon in the Fixed Water
Sign of Scorpio
Ceridwen's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: "The legacy
of wisdom you would bequeath
to your descendants".
Sun in Scorpio
Sunrise: 7:05AM EST
Sunset: 5:03PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "Where
are you most vulnerable?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter
of the Year
November 15th, 2009

   Tmorrow - the New Moon - This is the Moon of my Lady as Crone, Lady of Darkness, of Wisdom, of Mysteries revealed. The Wheel turns through birth, death and rebirth and every end is a new beginning."  - Ann Moura   (From http://www.apagantapestry.blogspot.com/ )

   The Dark Moon and New Moon are about the end and the beginning of a new lunar cycle. Rituals about forgiveness are performed during the New Moon. It is also a good time for scrying, especially if you are looking for long held secrets or you need new information about something in order to move forward in your life.   This moon is now in the Fixed Water sign of Scorpio - so take advantage of its water energies. 

The New Moon can be as powerful as the Full Moon. Rites, rituals and magick that center around new beginnings, new projects, a new phase in your life are powerful now. Welcome a new Goddess or spirit or other entity into your life. Make positive changes now. This is the time for opening yourself to the new.

New Moon water -

New Moon water to be used later for banishing spells can be made now. Put water into a glass jar, add a piece of black onyx, put the cap on and put the water outside during the New Moon. This is actually best done for three days, starting two days before the New Moon and so this is something that you could plan on doing the next time this Dark/New moon cycle comes around.  Make a note on your calendar.

Altar Cleansing - Here is a suggestion for cleansing your altar at the New Moon tomorrow. In an earlier blog entry I posted the supplies to have ready:  the November 11th entry... check back there if you are looking for the list.
   Instructions for cleansing your altar from Silver Ravenwolf's "Solitary Practice"..

  The most important aspect of any magick or ritual is that you take your time, and perform the working without interruption.  As focus is a major part of magick, you need to choose a time when you will not be disturbed, especially for the very serious things, like cleansing and consecrating your altar.

   Place your supplies on a tray or on the floor by your altar. Before you begin, take three deep breaths. As you breath out, release any negativity or unhappiness you may feel. Now close your eyes and rub your hand together lightly. The deep breathing helps you relax and the friction your create with your hands activates the chakra points (energy fields) in your palms. Closing your eyes helps you to ground and center, and prepare for a magickal working. Now say:

"I feel the power of Spirit in and around me,

so mote it be."

Open your eyes. Hold the red candle in your hand, and say:

"May you be cleansed, consecrated, and blessed

in the name of Spirit."

 Light the candle, then hold the candle out in front of you, over the altar saying:

"From the black and formless void, light blossomed

into existence. By igniting this candlewick,

I bring the grace of Spirit into my life and into my altar.

Element of Fire, work your will by my desire."

Pass the flame three times in a counterclockwise (widdershins) direction over the altar, saying:

"I banish all negativity from this altar.

Nothing evil or nasty, real or imagined,

can ever abide here."

Set the burning candle safely to the side - in a holder.  You will be using it again. Hold your hands over the incense, and say:

 Element of Air, may you be cleansed, consecrated,

and blessed in the name of Spirit."

Light the incense from the candle flame. Pass the incense smoke over the surface of the altar three times in a counterclockwise direction saying:

"Element of Air, work your will by my desire.

I banish all negativity from this altar.

Nothing evil or nasty, real or imagined

can ever abide here."

Set the burning incense safely to the side. You will be using it again. Hold your hands over the salt and say:

"Element of Earth, may you be cleansed,

consecrated, and blessed in the name of Spirit."

When your plams begin to tingle or grow warm, sprinkle the salt lightly over the top of your altar surface. Just a little will do. Say:

"I cleanse this altar with the salt of the earth,

Element of earth, work your will by my desire.

I banish all negativity from this altar.

Nothing evil or nasty, real or imagined,

can ever abide here."

Set the bowl aside. Pick up the bowl of water, and say:

"Element of water, may you be cleansed,

consecrated and blessed in

the name of Spirit"

Place the bowl of water in the center of the altar. Add three pinches of salt, stirring clockwise with your finger after each addition to the water. Imagine the water flowing with a soft blue or white light. Pick up the small broom and sprinkle with both salt and water, saying:

"Besom(means 'broom'), may you be cleansed,

consecrated and blessed in the name

  of Spirit.

Work the magick by my desire."

Dip the broom into the consecrated water, and begin sprinkling tiny drops of the liquid onto the altar in counterclockwise (widdershins) circles, saying:

"I banish all negeativity from this altar.

Nothing evil or nasty, real or imagine,

can ever abide here.

So mote it be!

Alter Blessing and Empowerment:

Supplies: In addition to those supplies used above, scented oil or perfume.

Instructions: Pass the four elements (red candle, incense, salt and water) over the altar three times in a clockwise direction.l Imagine that you are stirring positive energies into action. Once this is done, place the incense in the east, the fire in the south, the water in the west, and the salt in the north. Dab the scent oil on each corner of the altar, and then in the middle saying:

 "I bless and consecrate thee, O sacred altar,

in the name of Spirit. May you repel negative energy

and collect positive energy from this day forward

until the end of time.

So mote it be."

Draw an equal-armed cross in the air over the altar surface to seal the positive energies to the altar. Tap the edge of the altar four times, once for each direction. Then say:

"As above, so below. This altar is seald.

So mote it be!"

You are now ready to work any kind of magick.

The New Moon can be as powerful as the Full Moon. Rites, rituals and magick that center around new beginnings, new projects, a new phase in your life are powerful now. Welcome a new Goddess or spirit or other entity into your life. Make positive changes now. This is the time for opening yourself to the new.



Light a yellow candle and thank the Element of Air for a new intellectual pursuit, a red candle and thank the Element of Fire for a new passion, a blue candle and thank the Element of Water for new emotions and a brown patchouli candle for celebrating the season of the earth and giving thanks to the Gods and Goddess and the Element of Earth.