Gibbous Moon Phase

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


11th Day of the 5th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Hera
Lunar Tree Cycles ~ Saille/Willow
10th Day of the Celtic Tree Month ~ Saille/Willow
Moon Phase: Gibbous - 11:24PM EDST
Moon sets: 4:00AM EDST
Moon rises: 4>04PM EDST
Moon in the Mutable Earth
Sign of Virgo
Rhiannon's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The itinerary of
your spiritual quest.
Sun in Taurus
Sunrise: 6:28AM EDST
Sunset: 8:09PM EDST
Solar Question for the Day: "What
mutual burdens can you lift from other's backs?"
Imbolc (Gwyl Mair) Quarter of the Year
April 24th, 2010


Gibbous Moon - Late tonight the moon on the East Coast of the US reaches its Gibbous phase - and the keywords are: analyze, prepare and trust. It is the time in the lunar cycle to process the results of the actions taken during the first QAuarter. 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.  Remember that the moon sign of Virgo is also a time of analyzing.... There are Major magickal energies for working spells or doing rites of Protection.  Saturn's Day is a day of Manifestation and Structure, Assessment and Responsibility.   Do you need protection from something?

Witch Bottles

   The term Witch Bottle is often used to describe a counterspell which is intended to hit back at the perpetrator of a harmful spell.  The 'victim' would place some of their hair, nail clippings and urine into a sphericalo glass bottle together with some pins or nails. The bottle would be sealed with a cork and wax and hidden in the house. This would result in the originator being plagued with sharp pains (hence the pins) and thus being persuaded to remove their spell. Sometimes the bottle was heated and it was said that this would induce the Witch to appear at the door. Many Witch Bottles have been found secreted in the rafters or under the floorboards of houses, as well as outbuildings. A similar bottle with the additions of iron filings placed under the doorstep was thought to prevent a Witch from entering the house. Later, people used Bellermine stone jars for the same purposes. Imported from Germany these are distinguishable by the beaded face, usually found on the neck.

    However, the use of hidden bottles is not confined to counter-magick. Written spells are sometimes placed within a sealed bottle to preserve them, especially those for protection of family or livestock. A more recent spell to create harmony in the house is to take powdered dragon's blood, mixed with sugar, salt and sweet wine, seal it in a Witch Bottle and place it where it cannot be found. Another version designed to keep the family together uses hair and nail clippings from all family members in sweet wine.
[From: "The Real Witches' Year" by Kate West]

Witch Bottle Links:

http://www.kaaos.org/faerie/witchbottles.html



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31107319

http://dianic-wicca.com/witch-bottle-spells.html

http://www.apotropaios.co.uk/witch_bottles.htm

http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/samhaincrafts/ss/WitchBottle.htm

http://www.examiner.com/x-29932-San-Diego-Paganism-Examiner~y2009m11d15-The-Witch-Bottle

http://www.unicorngarden.com/grimoire04.htm