and open to Her Wisdom."
8th Day of the 10th Lunar Cycle
Ruled by Kore
Lunar Tree Cycle of Muin/Vine
3rd Day of the Celtic Tree
Month of Muin/Vine
8th Day of the Cycle of Beiz -
Days of Fire
Moon Phase: First Quarter - 1:39PM EDST
Moon rises: 2:35PM EDST
Moon sets: 11:40PM EDST
Moon in the Mutable Fire Sign
of Sagittarius
Blodeuwedd's Cycle of the Moon
Lunar Meditation: The courage to change
Sun in Virgo
Sunrise: 6:49AM EDST
Sunset: 7:49PM EDST
Solar Question for the Day: "Are you
abusing or respecting other's boundaries?"
Lughnasadh (Gwyl Awst) Quarter
of the Year
September 4th, 2011
First Quarter Moon - or waxing half moon rises around early afternoon and sets around midnight. Astrologically the Moon is square to the Sun. She is visible from the time she rises until she sets. The first quarter moon is the GROWTH phase of the lunar plant. Roots go deeper, stems shoot up and leaves form as she creates a new strong body. Those who were born during the First Quarter live a full active life - old structures are cleared away providing room for new development.
Sun Day - is the Day of Intent, Creation and Renewal...... There is Major Magickal energies for spells and rites for Self-Improvement....and minor magickal energies for motivation and personal finances.
Although associated with warm climes the Vine will grow quite successfully in cooler places, although you may have to shelter them in a greenhouse if you actually want grapes you can eat. Properly cared for, Vines live a very long time, some in France being said to be 400 years old.
To the ancient Celts the Vine was a tree of strength, growth and unity. It was called the 'highest of beauty' and 'strongest of effort' for its ability to grow higher than any plant which supported it, and to grow from one tree to another. While the fruit is used to make wine, the vine has many other uses. The roots were plaited and twisted to make fine string and strong rope. The leaves can be eaten in salads and are strong in vitamins and minerals, ensuring a clear skin. They are also good for the blood and calm the nerves. Boiled, they can be used as a lotion for sore mouths or as a poultice on wounds and swellings. Grapes were recommended in speeding the healing process. The tradition of giving grapes to someone recovering from illness goes back a very long time indeed.
The fermented fruit of the Vine was considered to bring divine inspiration, although only in moderate quantities. In addition it was thought to be a tree of teaching and knowledge. Meditation under or by Vine gives access to the inner mind and is especially useful when seeking answers about the self. Place grapes on the Altar in Rituals to Bacchus, Dionysus and Hathor.
(From Kate West's The Real Witches's Year]
There are many similarities in the symbolism of the vine and bramble and both have been used in wine making. In Celtic times sprite flails were made by binding nine bramble branches with willow bark and using it to banish mischievous nature spirits. The five-petalled flowers of the bramble are strongly linked to the Goddess, and its fruit, like the dark grape, has three stages of color: green, then red and finally black, which is symbolic of the three aspects of the Goddess-maiden, mother and crone. The bramble is also known as a fairy plant and it is said to be bad luck to pick its fruit after Samhain as the fruit then belongs to the birds and fairy folk.
Both bramble and vine are linked to the Goddess of Joy, Exhilaration and Wrath - the temptress of the poet and Goddess of intoxication. Her gift is a two-edged sword that can lead to either inspiration or madness. Her teaching is profound but can also be painful and one must be prepared for a scratch or two in payment for tasting her sweet fruits of wisdom. Poets and shamans have drunk sacred bramble or grape wine in search of inspiration but it takes great will power to know when to stop before intoxication takes over and clouds the mind.
Bramble/Vine
Letter: M
Tree: Muin/Bramble/Vine
Bird: Mintan/Titmouse
Color: Mbracht/Variegated
Original Meaning: Gathering, assimilation, learning
Keyword: Many lessons
[From Ogham - The Celtic Oracle]
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