Balsamic Moon phase

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

27th Day of the 11th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Hecate
Lunar Tree Cycle of Gort/Ivy
6th Day of the Celtic Tree
Month of Negetal/Reed
27th Day of the Cycle of Phasma
Priscus - Days of Ancient Spirits
Moon Phase: Balsamic - 5:44PM EDST
Moon rises: 3:36AM EDST
Moon sets: 3:54PM EDST
Moon in Virgo v/c 9:51PM EDST
Ceridwen's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The companionship
of animals.
Sun in Scorpio
Sunrise: 7:50AM EDST
Sunset: 6:16PM EDST
Solar Question for the Day: "Do
you appreciate the other side of the
argument?"
Samhain (Calan Gaeaf) Quarter
of the Year
November 2nd, 2010

Balsamic Moon - (of waning crescent moon) rises before dawn and sets midafternoon. She is the last sliver of Moon seen in the eastern sky in the dawn and in the very early morning. The Balsamic Moon is the COMPOST phase, when the nutrients remain in the soil, providing nourishment for the next new seed. Those who are born during the Balsamic Moon phase possess the potential to be wise, insightful, understanding and patient. They are prophetic and unique. This end of one cycle and the beginning of another. Keywords are: transition, release, transformation, renewal, and 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 one. 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.

This is Tiu's Day - Mars Day, the Day of Activity and Physicality, Passion, and Desire. Hmm, these types of energies today could make for some hot times at the voting places.

The Monthly correspondence for November is Empathy.                                                                                              

The Dark Mirror 

     The Dark Mirror is made by coating the back of a curved glass, such as is found on the front of an old-fashioned mantle clock with soot. The resulting black shiny surface is then used for scrying. A similar version can be made by applying black paint to the back of a glass, and many of the Dark Mirrors sold today are made in this way. The more natural way is to fill a bowl with water and add black ink to create a pool of blackness, similar to that created by a deep pond at night. This latter is most probably the form used by our ancestors. One of the most famous Dark Mirrors was owned by Dr. John Dee, court magician to Queen Elizabeth I. This is made from highly polished Obsidian and can be seen in the British Museum. Dee used this only only for scrying, but also to summon spirits which, he claimed, appeared in its surface and spoke to him. Certainly Obsidian is an excellent medium for meditation and divination but Ms. West (who wrote this essay) says that she has not had any spirits appearing in her Obsidian ball.
   Dark Mirrors are used in much the say way as the Crystal Ball. Sitting before it, you have to unfocus your conscious mind and allow the subconscious to take over. Some Witches see images in the surface or, more often, just under it. Others find that images and/or words simply appear in their mind. Often it helps to work by candlelight, or to have candlelight reflected in the surface.

"In some, the difference between the subconscious

and unconscious is indeterminate."

 Wasted Food

     Got leftover pumpkins sitting around?  Well, check out Jonathan Bloom's blog: http://www.wastedfood.com/2010/11/02/jack-o-landfill/ today.  He has suggestions for using up these orange babies.  "pumpkins are the most wasted food in homes (by weight), as detailed in a soon-to-be published study that shall remain nameless. " he writes there.  "We don't have to let our pumpkins go for naught. We can cook with their innards."  So check out his blog entry on Pumpkins.