Waxing Gibbous Moon moves into Taurus

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

14th Day of the 12th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Gaia
Lunar Tree Cycle of Ngetal/Reed
23rd Day of the Celtic Tree
Month of Ngetal/Reed
15th Day of the Cycle of Shamas
- Days of the Witch Gods
Moon Phase: waxing Gibbous
Moon sets: 5:06AM EST
Moon rises: 3:30PM EST
Moon in Aries v/c at 12:32AM EST
Moon enters the Fixed Earth Sign
of Taurus at 5:04AM EST
Rhiannon's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The unconquerable
nature of the soul
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, 2010

Moon in Taurus - this Moon asks us to discover what nurtures us and how to grow deeper roots.  The Moon in Taurus grounds us; it slows us down and wakes our sensual nature and stubbornness, helps us to dig down to the deeper roots. We can almost feel the mud oozing between our roes, awakening our senses and sensuality and growing our stubbornness. This is a time to cultivate our material resources, our homes and our body.
   The forceful movement of Aries becomes solid, calm and patient during Taurus. We have a strong need for financial security. This transit is a good time to continue or finish projects or to stay at home with family. Taurus gives attention to order and detail. While emotionally there is stubbornness, there is also great sensitivity to others. This sensual transit is a good time appreciate the wonders of the beautiful earth.  Those who are born with a Taurus moon sign search for stability and sensuality and roots deeply and changes slowly; they collect, touch, support and sees the sacred in the world of matter. Steady, they can loan their strength to others, but may need to learn the beauty in change. They may need to learn mobility but they offer us comfort, beauty and solid presence. Moon in Taurus is the best time to work magick for love, real estate, material acquisitions, and money. Healing rituals for ailments of the throat, neck, and ears are also done during this period of time.

Here it is - Freya's Day - Venus Day -  the Day of Sharing and Relationship - Relation Day. 

The Witch and Food

     With the Thanksgiving holiday which is centered around food consumption, perhaps we need to sit back and consider how we consume food in our lifestyles.  Our relationship with food is not simple. It ought to be a case of picking out what is nourishing and delicious, eating it and feeling great as a result (assuming, that is, that we live in a country in which food is readily available) - but no. For a start, there are the pitfalls of chemically enhanced and sprayed foods, things that ought to be vegetarian but have bits of animal lurking in them (pork gelatin in some desserts, for example), plus the temptations of a thousand attractively packaged junk foods.
    Labels should be read, yes, in order to avoid the pitfalls of gelatin or monosodium glutamate if these upset you, but in my own view is that it is best to be reasonably relaxed with one's food intake. I suspect that it would cause as much harm through the stress of seeking out pure foods as it might consuming them. By this, I don't mean trying to survive on potato chips and chocolate alone, but a bit of what you like goes a long way.
    Vegetarianism is big in witchcraft and Wicca - indeed, in spiritual disciplines in general. The Theosophists adopted the habit of not eating karmically polluting flesh from the Hindus. Many witches now are either vegetarian or vegan.

     The subject of vegetarianism is a big bugbear amongst the spiritually inclined. As far as Craft history goes, Traditional (Hereditary) witches would no doubt have eaten animals hunted by themselves and respectfully treated (possibly thanking the animal for giving up its body as food), whereas many of the Theosophists who influenced modern witchcraft/Wicca were vegetarian. This came from the Hindu and Buddhist beliefs that so infiltrated Theosophy. The concept of karma came with them, and the thought that perhaps it is unwise to perpetuate the suffering of other species by raising them for slaughter, especially when it is not necessary to eat meat in order to live.
    Witches and magickians have always held differing opinions on this one. Crowley, who was renowed for his hunting activities and 'Do What Thou Wilt' attitude, came up with the brilliantly imaginative excuse that, by eating meat, we are doing the animals concerned a favor, as we are assimilating their flesh into the organism of a higher order, thereby elevating their matter. Most of the magickally inclined, however, agree that it comes down to the individual to decide.
    Food is the world passing through us. Therefore it is sensible to concentrate on pure, clean foods like fresh vegetables and pulses, and to eat when the body requires it rather than for its own sake (except occasionally, of course!).  But even this commonsense statement causes a big problem for many people.
[From: "The Witch's Guide to Life" by Kala Trobe]

OK, and now some visual information and advice on our food choices and how they affect us and the rest of the world....   I know, I know, back on the soap box again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqQVll-MP3I&feature=related

Food Inc movie trailer.... do yourself a favor and buy the book by the same name for yourself
and those you care about for Yule.

This video link was embedded in Hecate's blog:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH-Qv3f73x4&feature=player_embedded

Why Eat Local?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhaG_Zi6izU&feature=channel

No Free Lunch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U097wiZGk4&feature=channel

This one could make an influence on your food choices.

Michael Pollen tells us in this one that in 1960 we spent 18% of our income on food and 5% on health care and now today we spend 10% on junk food and 16% on health care.