and open to Her Wisdom."
5th Day of the 11th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Artemis
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Gort/Ivy
Moon Phase: waxing Crescent
Moon rises: 12:21PM EDST
Moon sets: 9:25PM EDST
Moon in the Mutable Fire Sign of Sagittarius
Blodeuwedd's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The lessons of illness
Sun in Libra
Sunrise: 7:38AM EDST
Sunset: 6:30PM EDST
Solar Question for the Day: "Are you
appropriating someone else's resources
or time?"
Lughnasadh (Gwyl Awst) Quarter
of the Year
October 22nd, 2009
Apples in Love Divination:
The Apple has long been used as a divination tool, especially in matters of love. Young women who wish toknow who they will marry should peel an Apple in one strip with a knife and cast the peel over their left shoulder at midnight. The shape the peel forms will give the initial of their future husband. It was also said that to eat an Apple, again at midnight, while watching in a mirror will result in seeing your future partner's reflection behind you. In some place this was only thought to work on Samhain eve. To see how someone feels about you, warm an Apple in your hands then give it to them. If they eat it then they love you.
Apple pips are also used in love divination. Place two pips on a shovel in the fire, and if both fly off in the same direction you and the person you are thinking of are destined to be together. To see which of two loves is likely to bring you happiness, name a pip for each and place them on your forehead. The one which stays in place longer will be the one who will bring you happiness. To see which directioni your future love will come from squeeze an apple pip between the forefinger and thumb of your left hand (or right if you are left-handed) until it flies off, and this will tell you where they will come from. To see if your loved one is true place a pip in the fire; if it bursts then they are held to be bursting with love for you.
[From Kate West's "The Real Witches' Year"']
Smudge sticks are usually short, fat bundles of herbs, tightly tied, which can be lit to produce a form of incense. They may be a single herb, a combination, or include other ingredients such as resin. Smudge sticks are primarily used in personal workings to cleanse, purify or bring about an altered state of consciousness. It is thought they originated in the Native American tradition, where they were used to invoke spirits and enable journeys to the spirit world.
The most common ingredients in smudge sticks are Sage, Thyme, Rosemary, Lavender; indeed any woody herb which will burn slowlyt and steadily. There may be resins such as Copal or Frankincense, or a few drops of essential oils such as Jasmine or Sandalwood. To make your own, gather the herb with stems about 6 to 8 inches long. Spread them out in a warm, dry place until they are thoroughly dried, as moist herbs will give off far too much smoke. Bind the stems tightly together in a bundle with threads, around their lower third to half. Your bundle needs to be dense, otherwise it will burn too quickly. You may life to experiement with different herbs and tying tecnhniques before you find one(s) which work(s) for you. When you are ready to use your smudge stick, light the top then blow out the flames, so that it smolders and smokes. Waft the smoke around your body from head to toes to cleanse and then from toes to head to work your spell. Some people like to enhance the movement of the smoke with a feather.
[From Kate West's "The Real Witches' Year"]
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