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.......