Thursday, March 11, 2010

Balsamic Moon phase

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

27th Day of the 3rd Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Hecate
Lunar Tree Cycle ~ Nion/Ash
22nd Day of the Celtic Tree Cycle ~ Nion/Ash
Moon Phase: Balsamic - 1:02PM EST
Moon rises: 4:26AM EST
Moon sets: 2:36PM EST
Moon enters the Fixed Air Sign
of Aquarius at 12:42AM EST
Ceridwen's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The silent testimony
of innocence in the face of tyranny.
Sun in Pisces
Sunrise: 6:38AM EST
Sunset: 6:24PM EST
Solar Question for the Day: "Is complacency clogging
up your life?"
Imbolc (Gwyl Mair) Quarter of the Year
March 11th, 2010

Balsamic Moon phase: This is the signal of the ending of one cycle and the beginning of another is looming in the very near future.  The Keywords for the Balsamic phase are: transition, release, transformation, renewal, purity. It is the phase in a cycle when you must let go of everything you have been working on that does not deal with the current cycle issues. During this phase you reflect on the passing cycle and prepare for the new. Trust in renewal. It is important to separate from others now so that you can clear the intellect of negativity. LET GO. Become still and meditate.  

   I just when to look out the window that faces east here and saw the beautiful waning crescent moon in the clear skies I am blessed with again this morning.  It was about 6:15AM EST when I look for the moon.  So beautiful, looking like the one in the picture above in my heading, except it was more yellow colored haning there in the various shades of dark blue to lightening blue as the sun is starting to peek over the eastern horizon.  I can hear some early birds stirring about. All is calm and peaceful before all the hustle and bustle of the day. 

Helping Nature

   Any gardening guide will tell you that this is the time to start work outside if you haven't done so already.  On the practical side you need to be pruning. Roses, hedges and shrubs, removing weeds, turning over soil and digging in compost. It's also the time to sow seeds, plant summer flowering bulbs and give the grass a light trim. House plants too should be looked over at this time; trimmed, cleand, given their first feed and, if necessary, potted on.

   Having said that, this is also the time to do some magical work to help the garden. Collect about a pint of rain water, place 3 green stones into it and stand it for 3 nights in the light of the Moon. It doesn't matter at which phase, so long as it is not the 3 nights just before the New Moon (which is where we are at right now), as your magick is for both growth and defense. Take it into the garden together with your Asperger and one new plant or seed. With you hands on either side of the water vessel, hold it in front of you, close your eyes and visualize the Goddess as Maiden. When you can see her, say, "Gracious Maiden, I call upon you to bless this water. May it bring fertility to all in this space. May it protect against disease and all that might harm the growth here. Blessed Be."  Take your Asperger and lightly sprinkle the whole of the garden. Now plant your seed or plant and say, "Gracious Goddess I plant this in honor of you and in payment for the fertility of the land. Blessed Be." 
"A weed is just a plant in another place."

[From: "The Real Witches' Year" by Kate West]
I don't think my area is quite ready for some of the above suggestions to be doing now, but pruning and trimming would be a good thing and possible getting rid of weeds from last fall.  Also we haven't had rainfall yet - more like snow - but I will keep this suggested ritual in mind and do something ike it in the next month or so.  While often some of the material I post here may not be something I or maybe you could use in just the way it is suggested, it does give us ideas and perhaps a loose format to create some of our own based on the same concept.  That is usually what I do.  So be creative! The time for being turned inward is over - we are now turning outward.




For the next few days as the moon is slowly waning towards the next New Moon, take the time consider if you want to do a special observtion of this time in a lunar cycle with a rite.  Here is a link to a website that gives some ideas of what you could do....

And it says this about the ritual:
"This ritual is meant to be done on the crux between the Dark and New Moons (see any farmers or witches almanac to find out when. I suggest the "Witches Calendar"). Many people would never think to put the two together. They have been combined here because we can both rid ourselves of negatives (the dark moon) and bring in the new (the new moon) all at one time. Some people like to keep them separate, but you may find time where this is very useful.Please remember that this is only a sample ritual, and that each one really needs to be personalized in order to develop your spirituality and further yourself down your own chosen path! It is also a solitary ritual and would have to be altered for coven use."

  Remember these darkening moon days are the days of Hecate, think of Her and honor Her.  Here is another website link that you might of use to read over about this time in a lunar cycle:



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