First Quarter phase

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

9th Day of the Second Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Kore
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Luis/Rowan
3rd Day of the Celtic Tree Cycle of Luis/Rowan
Moon Phase: First Quarter - 5:53AM EST
Moon sets: 12:55AM EST
Moon rises: 11:12AM EST
Moon in the Fixed Earth Sign of Taurus
Blodeuwedd's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The work of your hands.
Sun in Aquarius
Sunrise: 7:37AM EST
Sunset: 5:26PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "What is the source
of your deepest refreshment?"
Samhan (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter of the Year
January 23rd, 2010

     As the lunar crescent waxes the sense of newness and purity are left behind and the slender curve of Artemis's bow broadens night by night. There is a feeling of purpose and motivation that prevails and it seems much easier to get things done. The first quarter is a time balance but it is a fleeting moment as the moon reaches the First Quarter phase.  As the dark half of the moon continues to fill out, the brief moment of pausing and reflecting will pass and the energies will quicken again, picking up tension and
momentum as it approaches the Full Moon. Keywords for the First Quarter phase are: action, expression, growth, breaking away. It is a time in a lunar cycle to take initial action necessary to achieve your goal by expessing your needs and desire. FEEL & MOVE. Make phone calls and write
letters. Dance. Act now.

 Sowing Seeds

"Seeds of morrow I do weave

Casting thrown on future's eve

Seeds will grow, plans manifest

Leaves of Magick, Powers Blest."

___ From Seasons of the Witch 2010

   The weather may be bleak and the land is still resting but you can start to bring new life by sowing seeds indoors. Even if you don't have much of a garden of your own it can be very rewqarding to grow a few things inside.
   If you have plenty of space you may find it worthwhile to invest in commercially-made seed trays and covers, but if space is at a bit of a premium then a few plant pots on saucers with plastic bags over them will provide a good germinating environment. It is worth investing in a good-quality seed compost as this reduces the chances of weeds and diseases. Ensure that the pot will drain well by adding a good amount of gravel to the pot, top up with soil and sow the seeds about 2/3 up the pot. Cover with a little moist soil and place the whole pot under a plastic bag to keep warmth and moisture in. Label carefully and place in a moderately warm, well-lit place, out of direct sunlight, and make sure it does not dry out.
   Broadly speaking you should sow annuals at this time of the year. While the ultimate choice will be personal, some interesting seeds to sow are Calendula, Campanula, Clary Sage, Delphinium, Nasturtium, Poppy, Marigold, Sunflowers, Sweet Pea. Of course the easiest way to choose the plants to sow is a browse around your garden center. You can also sow fruit seeds (pips) such as apple and orange or even some of the more exotic fruits, although you may have to maintain these as indoor plants for a much longer time.

"Plant seeds of friendship if you want love to grow."

[From "The Real Witches' Year" by Kate West]

Earth Walking - Exercise 6 from "The Inner Temple of Witchcraft" by Christopher Penczak

   This exercise expands your experience beyond the realm of personal energy and into the feelings of Earth energy. Our ancestors slept on the Earth and exchanged energy with it every day. Most people barely touch the Earth now, with the ubiquity of shoes and floors. Earth walking, both along with the other exercises in this book, helps us come back into balance with the energy field of the Earth, walking is a simple meditative walk outside. Start in some natural setting, on grass, in a field or park, on the beach or in the woods, rather than on concrete or asphalt. If you feel comfortable enought to do this barefoot, so much the better, but with practice, you will feel this experience through your shoes.

  Walk slowly and meditatively. Be aware of the Earth below your feet. Be aware of your personal energy, the auric field around you, touching the land, where your energy mingles. As you inhale, imagine that you are not only breathing in through your mouth, but breathing in through your feet. Penczak's yoga teacher tells him that a wise person breathes through the soles of his feet. Penczak feels that it would certainly apply to a wise witch, too. Imagine drawing the life force, Earth energy, through your feet as you walk. This energy grounds and centers you. It bolsters your metabolism and energy level,  creating health and joy in the moment. For now, don't worry about doing anything special while exhaling. Breathe normally. The excess energy will be released naturally through your daily acitivity.

We release energy all the time. Focus on the connection you make to the Earth.

    When on these walks, look for a quiet place that could serve as a meditation spot for later exercises.

   When you feel you are done with this experience, walk and breathe normally and resurme your day-to-day activities. If you feel too energized, too charged, get on your hands and knees, placing your palms on the ground. Imagine the excess energy flowing out of your palms and even pouring out of your head. You release only the excess energy to the Earth, grounding yourself. As you release this energy, you can place the intent that such energy be used for healing the planet. This is a basic method of grounding yourself if you are not releasing excess energy. There are other ways to ground yourself if you can't reach down, you can imagine the energy flowing out of your hands and feet into the ground. You can hug a tree. Imagine the tree taking the excess energy for its own healing, and grounding it through the roots. You can even imagine yourself as a tree, and let the energy drain through your own 'roots'.

   When you are comfortable with the Earth energy, you can include breathing through the crown of your head to connect with sky energy. Try the sky energy alone to get a feel for that particular vibration. Then try both Earth and sky energies together. Ground yourself as has been described as you bring yourself back to normal perception. Sky energy can make you more lightheaded, open, and aware than Earth energy, so be sure to take care. Simple walking meditations can be as powerful and enloightening as any other exercise in this book's studies. Do not underestimate them.

   The greatest lesson to learn about working with these energies is that all energies and powers are fundamentally neutral, meaning they are not good or evil. At times we can pick up on the energy of a place or person and feel it as 'bad' energy, but it is only energy being used for a less than good intention. Intention rules everything. Electricity is electricity; it can be used to power a light bulb, a life-support machine, or an electric chair. The energy itself does not judge its use, so people who use the energy must take responsibility. Personal, Earth, sky and divine energies can be used to heal or harm, depending on the intention behind the action.