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Transcript of Elemental issue 7
February 2013 Issue #7
Harmony Hearth Brooms And
Faancy Hats
Gensha Publishing
Maxine Byers
Lazy Witch
Ingrid Jeffries
CraftyWitch
Glenn Broughton
Louise Heyden
Lady Ti-Eagle
Alena Orrison
Starhawk
Gertrude Moon
Joanne E. Brannan
Crafty Witch
Maxine Byers
Janie Bass
http://elementalmagick.wetpaint.com/
3
CONTENTS
SPRING CLEANING
HOME PROTECTION
FOODS, INCENSE & OILS
MAKE AN ICE CANDLE
4
IMBOLIC
IMBOLIC CANDLE RITUAL
MAKE A CORN DOLLY
VALENTINE’S DAY
GIFTS FIT FOR A WITCH
THE WELL AND THE FLAME
From the Editor
February Calendar of
Events
CraftyWitch Book
Review;
Gem of the Month
February Moon Calendar
Aquarius ~ Your Sign
STUCK in Yaxchilan,
Chiapas, Mexico
God/dess of the Month
Plant / Herb of the Month
Dear Gertrude
Family Imbolc
February Astrology
5
5
6
A lot of my practice and spirituality is
inspired by older times instead of modern, so
I tend to be lenient in when I celebrate the
Sabbats (that don’t fall on season-start days).
Because of this, I plan to celebrate Imbolc
tomorrow, Friday, with a ritual a bit different
from what I had planned: spring cleaning.
Yes, I know it’s not spring yet. But where I
am in Seattle, it might as well be. Our winter
has been so mild; I’ve only worn my winter
jacket for a total of two weeks since
November. Yesterday, as I sat on the couch
with my foot propped up, I longed to crack
open my windows and let the glorious almost-
fifty degree weather filter in. Alas, I could
not. And even though tomorrow is only
supposed to be about 35 degrees, I will still
crack those windows open and break out the
cleaning supplies.
Flashback: When I was a little girl, my
mother and I used to clean the house every
Sunday morning. We would put on some
music and systematically go through each
room, taking everything off the surfaces,
cleaning and polishing, and replacing before
moving on. I used to hate it when I was
young, but now for some reason, I look back
on those memories fondly. Particularly
sensory to me are the weekends when the
warmer weather would hit and my mom
would declare it time to start “spring
cleaning”. Many people like to sort and
organize, but not my mom. While we were
usually pretty thorough on our weekly passes,
spring cleaning would be the Mother of all
Cleanings. Blinds would be taken down to
soak in the tub. Floors would be scrubbed and
bleached. Surfaces would be polished
especially well. And, of course, windows
would be thrown open to let the warm spring
air in. I can still see my mother, in her
cleaning clothes of PJ pants and old tee-shirts
of my dad’s, bouncing around the house to the
music of the 60s, cleaning every surface
(including walls!) until the entire house
shined. I’ll admit, cleaning was not my
favorite thing to do as a child (still isn’t), but
secretly, I always looked forward to spring
cleaning.
So for Imbolc this year, as the earth is getting
ready for its rebirth, so too will I make my
life, both material and spiritual, ready for
rebirth as well. Since I tend to focus more in a
clean, uncluttered environment (which you
would NEVER be able to tell if you could see
where I live), I’m going to start with the
material. However, I want to focus on the
intent of my cleaning, so I suppose the whole
experience will be a spiritual one as well.
Cleaning house with a magickal intent is
second nature for any seasoned witch, and
even easy for more fresh-faced initiates to
integrate. Hell, even those of a mindset other
than magickal can clean their house with intent.
It’s all about the will, the energy, and the
affirmations.
My plan for tomorrow is less free-form than I
usually take it, in homage to my mom and our
cleaning days of old. I’ll start with each room
and clean the hell out of it – yes, even the bilge.
If you’re cleaning-with-intent, you want each
scrub to be more than working at the dirt; wash
away the negativity that has settled in your
house over the past year. Holidays, health
issues, money problems, fighting, and more all
leave a negative energetic presence in your
home, and over time it accumulates and can
actually affect your health and energy levels.
You need to banish this out of your life! It’s not
doing anyone any favors by hanging around.
After a room is to my liking, then I get to the
overly-spiritual part. I purify and consecrate.
Personally, I love to do this, and have done it on
some level to every new space I enter for any
extended amount of time. (Apartments, work
spaces, vehicles…) There are so many ways to
do this to a room; I could publish an entire book
on the subject. My favorite way, however, is
very simple and very traditional: crush up some
pure sea salt and mix it in a bowl of water. Light
some sage so you get that awesome smoky
smell. Sprinkle the salt water (I like the Dip-
and-Flick fingers method personally) around the
perimeter of the room, and let the smoke waft
towards each of the four cardinal directions.
That’s it. Simple, right? Sometimes I anoint the
doorway at the top with a firm fingerprint
dipped in the water, depending on how long it’s
been since I last anointed. I usually do all this in
silence, but if I’m in a festive mood, I like to
sing. You’d think I would suggest a traditional
ballad or chant, but no. I sing whatever is in my
heart, whatever makes me feel good. Maybe it’s
traditional, or maybe it’s Bare naked Ladies.
Remember, it’s all about intent.
So this is my plan for tomorrow. Once I get to
my ‘office’ area of the living/kitchen room, I’ll
throw in some sorting and organizing, but for
the most part, my plan is to clean and
consecrate. (Hey, two words that start with C!)
It shouldn’t take all day, after all the boat is only
so big! After the house is cleaned and pre-
springtime fresh, with windows open and
candles lit (each one with a prayer to Brigid, of
course), I’ll get to what I had originally planned
for Imbolc: baking. I love to bake. I have all the
fixings for homemade honey wheat bread in the
cabinet. I may prepare a mini-feast as well, but
usually by this time in the winter, there isn’t
much stocked food left. We’ll see what I feel
like for cooking. And of course, an offering will
go on my altar for Brigid, which I’ll put outside
my door once night falls. (Of course Brigid will
take the form of Otters and Seagulls. LOL)
FEB 2nd - IMBOLC FEB 9th - Dark of the Moon FEB 10th - New Moon FEB 12th - Mardi gras (Fat Tuesday) FEB 13th - Daytime Gathering in Rathdrum, Id. We'll be discussing creative work and design content for our own personal Tarot Cards. You may wish to bring samples of cards you admire or any design work or ideas you've been working on. Also any updates on the May Pagan Bazaar and Fair. Please bring something to share for lunch. 11:30am to approx. 2:30pm. For directions, contact Janie Bass at [email protected]. FEB 13th - Ash Wednesday FEB 14th - Valentine's Day FEB 25th - Full Moon FEB 27th - Evening Gathering in Spirit Lake, Id. We'll be making Wire Trees of Life (originally planned for January). Wire and beads will be provided but if you have your own, please bring them along. I'll do my best to have understandable written direction for this project along with ones of the Beaded Pentacles we did in January. Please bring something to share for dinner. Contact Janie Bass at the above email address for directions. ANNOUNCEMENTS GOOD NEWS!! We have been offered a space for a Once-A-Month Saturday Daytime Gathering!! Here's the opportunity for all of those who are busy on Wednesdays to get together for a regularly scheduled Gathering for ritual, celebrations, learning sessions, crafting, pretty much whatever you would like. If you are interested, please contact Janie Bass. We would also be very interested to locate someone from within the group that would like to lead/coordinate these Gatherings. BETTER NEWS!! The date for the Spring Pagan Bazaar and Fair has been set (pretty much). We are focusing in on the Second Saturday in May, that's May 11th, in Rathdrum, Id. We're looking at a couple of different sites, one outdoors and the other is a combination indoor-outdoor situation. Booth cost for an approx. 10ft by 10ft area will be $10 (non-refundable) which will be required at least 2 weeks ahead of time (April 27th). Vendors must provide their own tables and chairs and awning set-up if they desire one. The park setting does have tall shade pines but no buildings for protection against the rain. Pagan and Wiccan items or those that can be used as such can be sold. We'd love hand-crafted items but anything that can be used by Pagans and Wiccans should be good. NO SATANIC ITEMS PLEASE. For more information, contact Janie Bass at the above email address.
7
Imbolc The Celtic year was divided into eight segments of equal length. The winter solstice (shortest day of the year) and summer solstice (longest day) divided the year into two halves. The spring and autumnal equinoxes (days of equal length day and night) then divided it into four quarters. These quarters were then bisected by the major Sabbats or festival days of Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain.
We are now approaching the fire festival of Imbolc traditionally celebrated on February 2nd or the full moon nearest to it. Imbolc in Gaelic means 'in the belly' and some have said this is because we are approaching lambing time, whilst others take a more spiritual perspective and say it means 'in the belly of the goddess' or the Earth Mother and refers to the growing new year that was conceived last November at Samhain or the growing light that started to make a return from midwinter day.
It is also known as Brigid or Bride's day in honor of the Irish goddess of poetry, healing and smith craft. The Christian name is Candlemas, not surprising when we realize that Brigid was also a goddess of fire and a perpetual flame was kept burning at her shrine in Kildare. Hilltop fires were lit and candles placed in windows of every house.
Corn Maidens or Dollies were fashioned
from corn or wheat and were then
dressed up and placed in a cradle or
'Bride's Bed'. These were then kept all
year as a symbol of abundance and
fertility. The home fire was extinguished
Born in England, Glenn Broughton discovered his spiritual path via a circuitous route which included school-teaching, founding and running an inner city community arts center, house renovations and wholesale organic food distribution. Glenn discovered his latent ability to dowse for energies when he entered his first crop circle (where he first met Steve Alexander). He soon realized that Avebury was of major importance so spent a winter there in order to better explore the earth energy currents and has had an ongoing love affair with the area ever since. Glenn trained with the National Federation of Spiritual Healers and the International College of Crystal Healing. Through his fascination, personal experience and research with sacred sites over the past 20 years, he continues to explore the unseen energetic aspects of these places of power and interprets how they affect us in the present times of change. Glenn lecturers internationally on sacred sites, earth mysteries and crop circles, has been the keynote speaker at both the American and Canadian Society of Dowsers Annual Conventions and is the co-founder of Earth Spirit Conferences in the USA
for the first time all winter and the ashes
raked smooth before going to bed. In the
morning the ashes were examined for
marks of Bride's passing through the
house as a blessing and then the fire was
rekindled as a sign of a new start or
rebirth.
In northern New England, from where I
write this, it seems inconceivable that
new growth or even the beginnings of
spring could be marked by this festival as
we still huddle up against sub-zero
temperatures and the skiing season still
has a long way to run.
However, in Celtic Britain where I was
raised and have spent most of my life,
February is an exciting month for
gardeners as this is when the first seeds
of broad beans and garlic cloves can be
planted out into the earth. It is also
when snowdrops and crocuses thrust up
through the earth and come into flower,
the first signs of new growth in the new
year.
So it is appropriate to celebrate by
lighting a fire or a candle and having a
celebratory meal to give thanks for the
blessings of the dark winter now passing
and to welcome the return of the light
and new life. We can also do the same
for our inner life giving thanks for the
time of reflection and self-nurturing
during the hibernation period and
starting to sow the seeds of our wishes
and dreams that we will nurture in the
coming months and welcome into our
lives later in the year.
Blessed be.
8
How to Hold an Imbolc Candle Ritual
Hundreds of years ago, when our ancestors relied upon the sun
as their only source of light, the end of winter was met with
much celebration. Although it is still cold in February, often the
sun shines brightly above us, and the skies are often crisp and
clear. As a festival of light, Imbolc came to be called
Candlemas. On this evening, when the sun has set once more,
call it back by lighting the seven candles of this ritual.
** Note: although this ceremony is written for one, it can easily
be adapted for a small group.
6. First, set up your altar in a way that makes you happy, and
brings to mind the themes of Imbolc. You'll also want to
have on hand the following:
Seven candles, in red and white (tea lights are perfect
for this)
Something to light your candles with
A large bowl or cauldron big enough to hold the
candles
Sand or salt to fill the bottom of the bowl/cauldron
Prior to beginning your ritual, take a warm, cleansing bath.
While soaking, meditate on the concept of purification.
Once you're done, dress in your ritual attire, and begin the
rite.
7. If your tradition requires you to cast a circle, do so now.
Pour the sand or salt into the bowl or cauldron. Place the
seven candles into the sand so they won't slide around.
Light the first candle. As you do so, say:
Although it is now dark, I come seeking light.
In the chill of winter, I come seeking life.
Light the second candle, saying:
I call upon fire that melts the snow and warms the
hearth.
I call upon fire that brings the light and makes new life.
I call upon fire to purify me with your flames.
1. Light the third candle. Say:
This light is a boundary, between positive and negative.
That which is outside, shall stay without.
That which is inside, shall stay within.
Light the fourth candle. Say:
I call upon fire that melts the snow and warms the
hearth.
I call upon fire that brings the light and makes new life.
I call upon fire to purify me with your flames.
2. Light the fifth candle, saying:
Like fire, light and love will always grow.
Like fire, wisdom and inspiration will always grow.
3. Light the sixth candle, and say:
I call upon fire that melts the snow and warms the
hearth.
I call upon fire that brings the light and makes new life.
I call upon fire to purify me with your flames.
4. Finally, light the last candle. As you do so, visualize the
seven flames coming together as one. As the light builds,
see the energy growing in a purifying glow.
Fire of the hearth, blaze of the sun,
cover me in your shining light.
I am awash in your glow, and tonight I am
made pure.
5. Take a few moments and meditate on the light of your
candles. Think about this Sabbat, a time of healing and
inspiration and purification. Do you have something
damaged that needs to be healed? Are you feeling
stagnant, for lack of inspiration? Is there some part of your
life that feels toxic or tainted? Visualize the light as a
warm, enveloping energy that wraps itself around you,
healing your ailments, igniting the spark of creativity, and
purifying that which is damaged.
When you are ready, end the ritual.
~ By Patti Wigington, About.com Guide
9
Protection
Spell
Directions:
Sage
Censer
Bell
Perform this spell during a Waxing Moon.
Put some sage in your incense burner (censer).
Walk around your home with the censer.
Circle your home three times (always
clockwise), then in each room of the house.
Pay special attention to doors and windows and
let the smoke filter into the crevices and
openings.
As you walk, recite a prayer you improvise, or
write one ahead of time. Say or write what you
feel. This has to come from deep inside you. It
does not have to rhyme, nor be a great piece of
literature.
An example would be
Three times around, three times about The world within, the world without.
In home and possessions, may good spirits abound Evil and problems will not stay around.
Ring the bell each time a circle, and prayer is
completed. When you are finished inside and
out, place the incense in the doorway. Open all
doors for a few minutes and let the smoke drift
through your home, washing it clean.
Out with the Bad and in with
the Good..
Keeping your Home
Safe and Secure
11
The Green Wiccan Book of Shadows
12
13
Celebrate the Sabbat
with Seasonal Foods
Incense & Oils
Brighid's Fire Meal Blessing
Returning Sun Spice Bread
1 1/4 cup flour
1/8 cup poppy seeds
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 cup raisins, plain or golden
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup butter/margarine
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
3/4 cup Karo golden corn syrup
1/2 cup light brown sugar
4 tbs. milk
1 large egg, beaten
1 tsp. mixed spices**
**Equal parts of cinnamon, nutmeg,
and allspice.
Sift the flour, soda, and baking
powder into a non-metal bowl. Add
the mixed spice and ginger. Next add
the brown sugar and raisins. Mix.
Make a well in the center of the flour
mixture. In a small sauce pan, melt
the butter and the syrup over a low
heat, then pour liquid into the well in
the middle of the flour mixture. Add
the beaten egg and the milk, and mix
very well. Pour into a well-greased 2-
lb loaf pan and bake in a preheated
oven at 325 degrees for 40-50
minutes. This bread can be made the
night before as it improves with age.
Winter's Light Creamed
Cabbage
1 lb. pre-cooked ham, 1" cubed or
shredded
1 heaping tsp. flour
1 firm white cabbage
1/2 tsp. each salt & pepper
1 cup cream
grated nutmeg
Cut cabbage in half, then into four
(small head) or six (large head) pieces.
Plunge into a pot of boiling water and
cook for 5 minutes. Drain and run under
cold tap water. Drain again. Slice across
the grain in 1/4 inch strips. Melt a little
butter/margarine in a sauce pan and add
shredded cabbage. Toss well, and keep
stirring all the time. Add salt, pepper,
and a dash of grated nutmeg. Next add
the heaping teaspoon of flour, mix well.
Add cream, still stirring, and let it come
to a boil. Add the cubed or shredded
ham, and lower the heat. Cover the
sauce pan and let the mixture simmer
for about 30 minutes. Serve hot. Makes
6-8 servings.
Imbolc Ritual Cake
13/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tbs. poppy seeds
1 tbs. grated lemon peel
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tbs. lemon juice
1/2 tsp. salt
powdered sugar
This is all done in one pan, so clean
up is a breeze! Preheat oven to 350
degrees. Mix flour, sugar, poppy
seeds, baking soda, and salt with a
fork in an ungreased 9"x9"x2" baking
pan. Stir in the remaining ingredients,
except the powdered sugar. Bake 35-
40 minutes or until toothpick inserted
in center of cake comes out clean, and
the top is golden brown. Remove
from oven and cool. Sprinkle with
powdered sugar. Makes 8 servings.
14
Imbolc Incense 1
• 3 parts Frankincense • 2 parts Dragon's blood • ½ part Red Sandalwood • 1 part Cinnamon • a few drops Red Wine To this mixture add a pinch of the first flower (dry it first) that is available in your area at the time of Imbolc (February 1st). Burn during Wiccan ceremonies on Imbolc, or simply to attune with the symbolic rebirth of the Sun - the fading of winter and the
promise of Spring.
Imbolc Incense 2
1 part Basil 1 part Bay 1 part Frankincense 1 part Myrrh 2 parts Rosemary 3 parts Cinnamon
Imbolc Oil
5 drops Sandalwood 5 drops Vanilla extract 6 drops Jasmine 2 drops Balsam Mix with 2 Tbsp. Grape Seed Oil
Imbolc Soap
1 cup grated unscented soap ¼ cup hot water 1 Tbsp. Apricot oil 1 Tbsp. Angelica ½ Tbsp. crushed Bay ½ Tbsp. crushed Basil 6 drops Myrrh oil
Place grated soap in a heat-proof non-metallic
container and add the hot water and apricot oil.
Leave until it is cool enough to handle, and then
mix together with your hands. If the soap is
floating on the water, add more soap. Leave to
sit for 10 minutes, mixing occasionally, until the
soap is soft and mushy. Once the soap, water,
and oil are blended completely, add the dry
ingredients. Once the mixture is cool, then add
the essential oils (essential oils evaporate quickly
in heat). Enough essential oils should be added
to overcome the original scent of the soap. Blend
thoroughly and then divide the soap mixture into
four to six pieces. Squeeze the soaps, removing
as much excess water as possible into the shape
you desire, and tie in a cheesecloth. Hang in a
warm, dry place until the soap is completely hard
and dry.
15
Friendly and humanitarian Honest and loyal
Original and inventive Independent and intellectual
On the dark side.... Intractable and contrary
Perverse and unpredictable Unemotional and detached
16
Aquarius About Your Sign...
When some cause or work of this
nature inspires them, they are capable
of such devotion to it that they may
drive themselves to the point of
exhaustion and even risk injuring their
health.
Both types need to retire from the
world at times and to become
temporary loners. They appreciate
opportunities for meditation or, if they
are religious, of retreats. Even in
company they are fiercely
independent, refusing to follow the
crowd. They dislike interference by
others, however helpfully intended,
and will accept it only on their own
terms. Normally they have good taste
in drama, music and art, and are also
gifted in the arts, especially drama.
In spite of the often intensely
magnetic, forthcoming and open
personality of the more extrovert kind
of Aquarian, and of their desire to help
humanity, neither type makes friends
easily. They sometimes appear to
condescend to others and take too
little trouble to cultivate the
acquaintance of people who do not
particularly appeal to them.
They do not give themselves easily -
perhaps their judgment of human
nature is too good for that - and are
sometimes accounted cold. But once
they decide that someone is worthy of
their friendship or love, they can exert
an almost hypnotic and irresistible
mental attraction on them and will
themselves become tenacious friends
or lovers, ready to sacrifice everything
for their partners and be faithful to
them for life. However, they are
sometimes disappointed emotionally
because their own high personal ideals
cause them to demand more of others
than is reasonable. And if they are
deceived their anger is terrible. If
disillusioned, they do not forgive. Aquarians work best in group projects,
provided that they are recognized as
having a leading part in them. They
have a feeling of unity with nature and
a desire for knowledge and truth that
makes them admirable scientists,
especially astronomers and natural
historians. They may excel in
photography, radiography, electronics
- anything connected with the electrical and radio industries -
Aquarians basically possess strong and
attractive personalities. They fall into
two principle types: one shy, sensitive,
gentle and patient; the other
exuberant, lively and exhibitionist,
sometimes hiding the considerable
depths of their character under a cloak
of frivolity. Both types are strong
willed and forceful in their different
ways and have strong convictions,
though as they seek truth above all
things, they are usually honest enough
to change their opinions, however
firmly held, if evidence comes to light
which persuades them that they have
been mistaken. They have a breadth
of vision that brings diverse factors
into a whole, and can see both sides of
an argument without shillyshallying as
to which side to take. Consequently
they are unprejudiced and tolerant of
other points of view. This is because
they can see the validity of the
argument, even if they do not accept it
themselves. They obey the Quaker
exhortation to "Be open to truth, from
whatever source it comes," and are
prepared to learn from everyone. Both types are humane, frank, serious
minded, genial, refined, sometimes
ethereal, and idealistic, though this
last quality is tempered with a sensible
practicality. They are quick, active and
persevering without being self-
assertive, and express themselves
with reason, moderation and
sometimes, a dry humor. They are nearly always intelligent,
concise, clear and logical. Many are
strongly imaginative and psychically
intuitive, so that the Age of Aquarius,
which is about to begin, is much
anticipated by psychic circles as an
age in which mankind will experience a
great spiritual awakening. The
Aquarian philosophical and spiritual
bent may be dangerous in that it can
drive the subjects into an ivory-tower
existence where they meditate on
abstractions that bear little relevance
to life. On the other hand it can help
the many who have scientific leanings
to combine these with the Aquarian
yearning for the universal recognition
of the brotherhood of man, and to
embark on scientific research to fulfill
their philanthropic ideals of benefiting mankind.
aviation and everything
technical. On the arts and
humanities side their
progressive tendencies can be
expressed in writing, especially
poetry, and broadcasting, or as
welfare workers and teachers.
Some have gifts as entertainers
and make good character actors
(having an ability to mimic) and
musicians. The more psychic
among them possess healing
gifts, especially in curing the
mentally sick. Among the faults to which they
are liable are fanatical
eccentricity, wayward egotism,
excessive detachment and an
inclination to retreat from life
and society, and a tendency to
be extremely dogmatic in their
opinions. Aquarians can be a
threat to all they survey or a
great boon for humanity in
general. Circumstances - for
example, continuous opposition
to a cause they hold dear - may
cause the atrophy of the
openness of mind that is one of
the Aquarian's most attractive
traits. They may express a lack
of integrity in broken promises,
secretiveness or cunning.
Simmering anger and
resentment, rudeness or, worse,
a tense, threatening silence
which may suddenly burst out in
eruptions of extreme temper,
these are all part of the negative
side of the Aquarian. This can
also reveal itself in a sustained
hatred for enemies that is
capable of enlarging itself into a
misanthropy toward the whole
of mankind.
Instructions for How to Make Corn Dollies
In one of her many aspects, Brighid is known as the bride. She is a symbol of
fertility and good fortune, and is seen as yet one more step in the cycle of life,
death, and rebirth. Traditionally, the Brighid doll is made of woven grain such as
oats or wheat. This version, however, uses corn husks.
To make this simple doll, you'll need some corn husks -- and clearly, in January or
February, you probably won't be able to find a lot of those growing outside. Check
your grocery store's produce section to get husks. If you're using dried-out husks,
soak them for a couple of hours to soften them up (fresh husks need no special
preparation). You'll also need some yarn or ribbon, and a few cotton balls.
Take a strip of the husk, and fold it in half. Place two or
three cotton balls in the middle, and then twist the husk,
tying it with string to make a head (See Figure 1). Leave a
bit of husk in the front and back, below the head, to create
a torso
Make a pair of arms for your doll by folding a couple of husks in
half, and then tying it at the ends to make hands. Slip the arms
between the husks that form the torso, and tie off at the waist. If
you like your dolls plump, slide an extra cotton ball or two in
there to give your Brighid a bit of shape [Figure 2].
Arrange a few more husks, upside down, around the doll's waist.
Overlap them slightly, and then tie them in place with yarn -- it should
look like she has her skirt up over her face. After you've tied the waist,
carefully fold the husks down, so now her skirt comes downwards,
towards where her feet would be (Figure 3). Trim the hem of the skirt
so it's even, and let your doll completely dry.
Once your doll has dried, you can leave her plain or give her a face and some
hair, use soft yarn,(as in Figure 4). Some people go all out decorating their bride
doll -- you can add clothing, an apron, beadwork, whatever your imagination can
create.
Place your Brighid in a place of honor in your home for Imbolc, near your hearth
or in the kitchen if possible. By inviting her into your home, you are welcoming
Brighid and all the fertility and abundance she may bring with her.
18
19
Lupercalia's Love Lottery: February is a great time of year to be in the greeting-
card or chocolate-heart industry. This month has
long been associated with love and romance, going
back to the days of early Rome. Back then,
February was the month in which people celebrated
Lupercalia, a festival honoring the birth of Romulus
and Remus, the twin founders of the city. As
Lupercalia evolved and time went on, it morphed
into a festival honoring fertility and the coming of
spring.
For part of the celebration, young women would
place their names in an urn. Eligible men would
draw a name and the couple would pair of for the
rest of the festival -- sometimes even longer. As
Christianity progressed into Rome, the practice was
decried as Pagan and immoral, and done away with
by Pope Gelasius around 500 C.E. Although
recently there's been some scholarly debate about
the existence of the Lupercalia lottery, it's still a
legend that brings to mind ancient matchmaking
rituals -- perfect for this time of year!
A More Spiritual Celebration: Around the same time that the love lottery was
being eliminated, Gelasius had a brilliant idea. Why
not replace the lottery with something a bit more
spiritual? He changed the love lottery to a lottery of
the Saints -- instead of pulling a pretty girl's name
from the urn, young men pulled the name of a
saint. The challenge for these bachelors was to try
to be more saint-like in the coming year, studying
and learning about the messages of their individual
saint.
Who Was Valentine, Anyway?: While he was trying to convince Rome's young nobleman to be
more saintly, Pope Gelasius also declared St. Valentine (more on
him in just a bit) the patron saint of lovers, and his day was to be
held every year on February 14. There is some question about
who St. Valentine actually was -- he may have been a priest during
the reign of the Emperor Claudius.
The legend is that the young priest, Valentine, disobeyed Claudius
by performing wedding ceremonies for young men, when the
Emperor preferred to see them roped into military service rather
than marriage. While imprisoned, Valentine fell in love with a
young girl who visited him, perhaps the daughter of the jailer.
Before he was executed, he allegedly sent her a letter, signed,
From your Valentine. No one knows if this story is true, but it
certainly makes St. Valentine a romantic and tragic hero.
The Christian church had a hard time maintaining some of these
traditions, and for a while St. Valentine's Day disappeared off the
radar. In fact, during medieval times the lover's lottery regained
popularity -- chivalrous young men paired off with ladies, and
wore the names of their lover on their sleeves for a year.
Modern Valentine's Day Around the end of the 18th century, Valentine's Day cards began
to appear. Small pamphlets were published, with sentimental
poems that young men could copy and send to the object of their
affections. Eventually, printing houses learned there was a profit to
be made in pre-made cards, complete with romantic pictures and
love-themed verse. The first American Valentine cards were
created by Esther Howland in the 1870s, according to Victorian
Treasury. Other than Christmas, more cards are exchanged at
Valentine's Day than any other time of the year.
20
21
Early Spring Wiccan Gifts inspired by Imbolc;
Valentine’s Day: a Gift of loVe with a Wiccan Touch
Happy Valentine’s Day
STUCK in
Yaxchilan, Chiapas, Mexico
By ~ Lady Ti-Eagle
I was working in Guatemala as a tour guide and wanted to
visit one of my favorite archaeological sites in Mexico. I
wasn't working that week and wanted to visit friends that
worked and lived there. I hitch-hiked in with another tour
guide with his group of French tourists. They had only
planned to stay at the site a few hours, so I stayed, with
the intent of hitching out with one of the working boats
that frequently passed by (maybe one or two a day). All
the workers on the site knew I was looking for a ride out,
so as not to miss my transport. The only way in and out of
Yaxchilan is by boat or small airplane, as there are no
roads and walking out would be way too dangerous.
A bit of information about visiting the site, no visitors are
allowed into the area of the ruins without an archaeologist
or guard. This rule is STRICTLY enforced. So, more than
a day on the site can be a bit boring, as it's not allowed to
just hang out with the energies. Bummer!
My first day there was great, visiting with friends and
talking to the archaeologists. Day two was different. All
the workers were busy so I couldn't go into the ruins. No
sign of any boat motoring by, but I thought I had lucked
out, though, A small airplane was coming in to drop off
more archaeologists and would be leaving empty. Bad
news came when the plane landed and plans had changed.
It was leaving with passengers and no room for me. Ok,
no biggie, books to read, and it was such a calm incredible
place.
Day three, again, no boat, and no plane, either. I was
starting to feel sequestered and a bit claustrophobic. Late
in the afternoon, a guard approached me and said that he
was taking a boat the next morning to a town about 1 hr.
away where I could catch a bus. He was only going to
make the trip IF IT WASN'T RAINING. Hey, this is the
jungle, rain forest. It rains over 120 inches a year! But, I
can HOPE, right?
I woke frequently during the night, listening to the
silence! Yea!, I get to escape! Then at 4am, the deluge
started. The rain immediately washed away any hopes of
my leaving.
At that point, it dawned on me, ASK FOR HELP! So, I
asked my guides (Is anyone there? Is anyone listening? I
want OUTA HERE!) "What am I doing wrong? what am I
not doing right? what do I need to do to get out of here?"
The answer came IMMEDIATELY! "Go into the
labyrinth, alone, and you'll know what to do." I replied, "I
can't go in alone, it's not allowed". So, "they" repeated,
"Go into the labyrinth, alone, and you'll know what to
do." I replied AGAIN, "I can't go in alone, it's not
allowed". Well, don't argue with your guides when you're
asking for help, they can get a bit snarky. They replied,
but with a lot LESS patience, "Go into the labyrinth
alone, and you'll know what to do!"
Ok, I thought, "I'll show you!" I started down the trail,
headed toward the ruins. First person I saw an
archaeologist. "Good Morning" he said, with no objection
to me being there. Next person I saw was a guard, again
with a friendly greeting and no objection. My helpful
guide just chuckled.
So, in the labyrinth, I was guided to the first room and
told to sit in the middle of the room. I stayed there for
maybe five minutes, when I was guided to go to the next
room. There, I needed to face a particular section of wall,
holding my palms against the wall. Again, I was told a
few minutes later that I could go to the next room. This
continued for maybe thirty minutes, always being guided
where to go and what to do. Finally, I was told that I was
finished. Not being terribly confident that this had done
any good, I left the labyrinth. As I left the jungle trail and
approached the living area, I could see a bird flying
toward me, but it was flying strange for a bird. As it got a
bit closer, I realized it was a small airplane. The large
space between the two rows of workers' houses was an
airstrip. I stepped aside, watched the approaching plane,
and the pilot (whom I had never seen before) extended his
arm and gave me a "thumbs-up". I went into the hut where
I'd been staying, quickly packed my backpack and entered
the plane and made my escape out of Yaxchilan.
Lesson learned. Ask for help, then LISTEN!
Light, Love and Blessings
22
Gods and Goddesses of LOVE & LUST
Bless their hearts, what would we do without them, those Gods and Goddesses of Love. Some of them push us together; while others make us loose our hearts and minds to someone we just can't live without!! They are found around the world in nearly every religion and path. Their stories are sometimes funny, other times sad and occasionally really disgusting but they've done their jobs very well as we have multiplied and populated the world, still loving and still lusting!! In researching this article it was totally impossible for me to select just one or two deities to write about. I'd like to suggest that my readers select a few that catch their interest and check them out. Their stories are wonderful, heartening and, sometimes funny. You'll come away with the understanding of the phrase, "To each his own!" So here now are some of the more well-known Gods and Goddesses of Love and Lust: Albanian folklore Prende - goddess of love Armenian mythology Astghik - goddess of fertility and love Axtec mythology Xochiquetzal - goddess of fertility, beauty, female sexual power, protection of young mothers, pregnancy, childbirth, and women's crafts Xochipilli - god of love, art, games, beauty, dance, flowers, maize, fertility, and song Tlazolteotl - goddess of lust, carnality, sexual misdeeds Ixcuiname - goddess of the carnality Tiacapan - goddess of sexual passion Teicu - goddess of sexual appetite Tlaco - goddess of sexual longing Xocotzin - goddess of sexual desire Buddhism Aizen Myo-o/Ragaraja - deity who transforms worldly lust into spiritual awakening; his red-skinned appearance represents suppressed lust and passion Canaanite mythology Astarte - goddess of sexual love, fertility and warfare Qetesh - goddess of love, beauty and sex
Moroccan mythology Qandisa - goddess of lust who first seduces men then drives them insane Norse and Germanic mythology Frigg - goddess of romance, marriage, sex and reproduction, married women, household duty and divination Freyja - goddess associated with magic, shamanism, sacrifice, war, death and sexuality Freyr - worshipped as a phallic fertility god, said to bestow peace and pleasure on mortals Sjofn - goddess associated with love Roman mythology Cupid - Roman equivalent of the Greek god Eros Venus - Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Aphrodite Slavic mythology Dogoda - Polish spirit of the west wind, associated with love and gentleness Dzydzilelya - Polish goddess of love and marriage and of sexuality and fertility Lada - folklore goddess of harmony, merriment, youth, love and beauty Siebog - god of love and marriage Ziva - goddess of love and fertility Voodoo Baron La Croix - loa of the dead and sexuality Baron Samedi - loa of the dead, sex and resurrection Erzulie Freda Dahomey - loa of love, beauty, jewelry, luxury and flowers Yoruba mythology Mami Wata - a pantheon of water deities sometimes associated with love and lust Oshun - goddess of love, intimacy, beauty, wealth and diplomacy
Reference: Wikipedia, "Gods and Goddesses of Love and Lust"
Celtic mythology Aine - Irish goddess of love, summer, wealth and sovereignty Cliodhna - Irish goddess, sometimes identified as a goddess of love and beauty Chinese mythology Yue-Lao - Chinese god of love who binds two people together with an invisible red string Tu Er Shen - Chinese deity who manages the love and sex between homosexual men White Peony (Bai Mudan) - Chinese goddess who tempts men, specifically the ascetic Egyptian mythology Bes - god of music, dance and sexual pleasure Hathor - goddess of the sky, love, beauty and music Bastet/Bast/Baast - goddess of felines, love, sexuality, protection, beauty and dance Etruscan mythology Albina - goddess of the dawn and protector of ill-fated lovers Turan - goddess of love and vitality Greek mythology Aphrodite - goddess of love, lust and beauty Hera - goddess of marriage, which is a lifetime of love and compromise The Erotes Anteros - god of requited love Eros - god of love and sexual passion Himeros - god of sexual desire Hedylogos - god of sweet talk and flattery Hymen - god of marriage and marriage feasts Pothos - god of sexual longing, yearning and desire Peitho - goddess and personification of persuasion and seduction Guarani mythology Kurupi - god of sexuality and fertility Hindu mythology Kamadeva/Manmadhan/Kama - god of love Rati - goddess of passion and lust Lithuanian mythology Milda - goddess of love and freedom Mesopotamian mythology Inanna/Ishtar - goddess of sexual love, fertility and warfare
23
23
The Well and the Flame by Starhawk
24
25
Dear Gertrude
you please send out good energy to help her and/or do a spell so the Pig drops dead? Signed, "A Very Worried Loving Mother" Dear "Loving Mother", Thank you for your letter. I know it was a difficult one to write. It's very hard on the whole family when one of its members seems to be in a totally loveless relationship. It's impossible to be totally objective, to look at both sides of a situation and, because of the love we have for our children, most mother can't! First, acknowledge that there is more than one side to any given situation. Your child has her story and her husband has his (which probably has already been expressed to his family). Right now, everyone is in a lose-lose situation and it will only get worse. Perspective is everything here. I know it's hard but it's time for you to change hats. It's time to become an "objective social worker" for your child. Here is where the Magick begins: 1) Make absolutely sure that your daughter truly wants out of this relationship! Is she WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to get out of this relationship which will probably include losing everything she has, taking just the children and getting out of her home? She must be ready to do this because it will probably come down to this in the end. 2) Make absolutely sure (or at least as sure as you can possibly be, which means you'll need to talk to your son-in-law to find out his side of the story) what is going on within the family (enough money for food and bills, any drug or alcohol usage, physical/emotional abuse, etc.) . Ask easy questions, don't press an argument. Find out all you can from him so you can compare his story to your daughter's. Normally, the truth will fall somewhere in the middle of the two stories. TAKE NOTES ON ALL CONVERSATIONS with your daughter and her husband. Only what they say and if, to your actual knowledge,
"DEAR READER, The following letter is a composite of many such letters, Facebook, emails, and phone calls I have received over the years. As February is the "Month of Love" and all of these correspondences are sent to me out of love, I thought this is a good time to respond to them. If the answer to your question isn't in this letter, by all means contact me by email sent to [email protected]. Janie will forward your email to me and I will be happy to respond. Thank You. Many Blessings Gertrude Moon, CC Dear Gertrude Moon, I really need help!! I'm writing because my daughter has married a pig!!! They've been together for about 4 years. She has two small babies and is pregnant with her third. There is precious little money for all the necessities and what is left over, he drinks and loses at poker. My daughter is left alone all day long to take care of the children and he never helps her. She's a prisoner in her own home. He won't let her call me or even talk to the neighbors. The Pig moved her back east closer to his family but they won't help her either. He expects her to do all the housework by herself even though she's pregnant and has one baby in diapers and the other is being potty trained. I want to get her out of this loveless marriage but I don't have the money to do it. I know he hits her when he's drunk but is all sorry when he's sober. I worry about her all the time and I don't get any sleep which is putting a lot of stress on my relationship with my husband (her step-father). He won't let me send her any money at all and says it all her own fault but it really isn't!!! What can I do? Can you help me? Can you do a spell that will get this monster out of her life and enable me to get her back here where I can take care of her? Will
he or she has been drinking or taking drugs. It is VERY IMPORTANT TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A GUN OR GUNS IN THE HOME! 3) You will want to get phone numbers and locations to any and all help agencies in your daughter's area: police/sheriff's office; battered spouse agencies; drug and alcohol out-reach programs, etc. You will need to contact these agencies to make sure what they can, by law, do in a "domestic drug/alcohol situation where there are children" involved. Write all this information down as you talk to them. The information you gather in step 1 will help guide you in what questions you need to ask of the agencies. THINGS TO REMEMBER: 1) Your daughter not having money is not a reason for complaint as long as the bills are being paid and there is food and shelter for the children; 2) Your daughter not having a vehicle to drive is not considered imprisonment, nor is living out in the country without a vehicle. EXCEPTION: If she or one of the children must have immediate access to transportation for medical reasons; 2) Not having a phone is not considered imprisonment UNLESS there is a medical necessity for one. 4) Give the information from the agencies to your daughter. The next steps belong to her. When she can no longer take the abuse and fear in this relationship, she will begin 26
contacting the numbers you've given her. She needs to call them and call them until she finds someone who will help her. If there is a gun in the home, even if he has not threatened her with it yet, she needs to let the police and other agencies know it's there!! If she gets to the end of the list and no one will help, she will need to begin over again, asking for help, begging if she must, but SHE must do this! If she must press charges against him then to get him out of the house so she can get away, she needs to do this and STAND BY THE CHARGES. You have done all the physical actions you can do, short of driving across country and pulling her out of the home with the kids. 5) This is where you MUST focus your MAGICK and LOVE, sending her all the energy you can spare. This is energy for wisdom, knowledge, financial assistance, and protection, just to name a few. Light candles (there are different colors of candles for each of these actions. If in doubt, use white candles and inscribe on the candles what action you want and for whom). Write your prayers or chants (chants are usually short rhyming prayers that are repeated over and over (at least three times) before moving on to the next candle and request. Focus on the flame and see your Daughter's/grandchildren's faces in the flame). Above all else, BE POSITIVE IN YOUR INTENTION OF THE WORDS IN YOUR PRAYER/CHANT!! Be prepared to do this EVERY DAY until the situation is resolved. 6) If you can get other close members of your family to do prayers or chants or even just light candles for your daughter, do so. Even if this individuals are of an organized faith, most family members will say a prayer or light a candle if they think it may in some way help someone in the family. You need all the energy you can get at this point. Thoughts are energy, prayers are energy, and candle flames are energy. Get that energy/Magick moving!!!
There you have it. That's what you and your daughter will need to do to make the Magick move to resolve a rather bad situation. I will be very happy to add my love, candles, chants and prayers to help. This is an uneasy situation for all involved. Right now I know it seems that this nightmare will never be over. Just remember, only those directly involved can begin the action. The courage comes from deep within one's soul. The chances are it won't happen all at once and it's very possible your daughter will got through this more than once before finally ending this relationship. I hope this has been of some help. My prayers are with you and your family. Many Blessings, Gertrude Moon, CC P.S. Dear READERS, These steps work the same for either a son or daughter, man or woman, gay or straight! Guys can get caught up in really bad relationships and are very often charged as the "Aggressor" when in fact they are not. Be sure you really get both sides of the story to the best of your ability and that's what the information you use to get direction from the agencies. Also, if your child is part of a religious cult or a cult marriage and you are concerned about his or her welfare, contact your local police department, religious cult breakers, or, in a pinch, TV station. Give them ALL the information you have and see what they can do. If there is nothing, ask them for suggestions as to where you can go. DON'T STOP UNTIL YOU GET INFORMATION ON YOUR CHILD!! Blessings to All Gertrude "
DeaR GeRtRUDe continUeD…….
27
FAMILY IMBOLIC
By ~ Alena Orrison
Greetings, fellow pagan parents! Do you still have your family
altars going that we talked about before Samhain? I hope so!
Imbolc is just around the corner and there are several fun
activities we can do with our children, the results of which would
look amazing on our family altars.
Imbolc marks the sun’s growing strength and honors Brigit, the
Irish Goddess of the holy well and sacred flame. This holiday is
typically symbolized by many candles on our altars. Since the
altar we’re talking about is a family one, and small hands have
access to it, I’ve found that the battery operated flameless
candles are perfect. Children can “light” the candles themselves
each day and won’t get burned. You can find these candles at
any craft store, and most big name stores will have some too.
Some even give off scent. Look for ones that you can replace the
batteries in so they will last you for years. If you have older
children, now is a perfect time to teach them about fire safety
and allowing real candles on the family altar.
Brigit’s Fire In Circle Round, the authors mention Brigit’s Fire. They describe
using Epsom salts and rubbing alcohol to make a cooler fire that
is safer around children - but still use caution! Here is their
recipe and directions:
A cast iron pot of any size, preferably one designated for
cauldron fires as there is residue
A lid that fits snugly on the pot, for putting out the fire
bricks, hot plate or other heat-resistant material to set
the cauldron on
Epsom salts
Rubbing alcohol
Place the pot securely on the heat-resistant surface. Pour Epsom
salts in the pot until the bottom is covered and approximately one
inch deep. Pour rubbing alcohol over the salts until it is about an
inch higher than the salts. Hold a lighted match just above the
alcohol. The liquid will light and produce a strong orange flame.
The flame burns cool, unlike a wood fire, and is difficult to burn
things in. When the flame get slow, snuff with the lid to put it
out completely.
To keep a blaze going for 45 minutes in a 5-quart cauldron, you
need 1/2 gallon of Epsom salts and approximately 4 to 6 pints of
rubbing alcohol.
Speaking of fire, Imbolc is the perfect time to teach older
children how to kindle a fire. Small children can help gather
wood, older children can learn how to lay the fire in different
ways and proper safety techniques. Explain the risks of fire, and
always have a way to extinguish a fire safely. For free
information on fire safety, take a field trip to the local fire station
and forest service office.
Brighid Doll
Another tradition of Imbolc is to make a Brighid Doll.
There are several variations on this, and some are easier for
younger children. Circle Round describes how to make one
using branches of rosemary or evergreen. About.com shows
you how to make one using corn husks. Smaller children
might find making a paper Brighid Doll to be an easier and
less frustrating task. There is a paper doll template at the
end of this article. Print on cardstock, help your child cut it
out, then allow them to decorate it as they want. You can
add yarn or embroidery floss for hair, buttons or beads as
decorations, glitter - the only limit is your craft cabinet.
Brighid’s Cross
Cathie over at Celticai Studio has posted simple and easy to
follow directions for making Brighid’s Cross out of pipe
cleaners, a common, inexpensive, and forgiving material to
work with. Even smaller children can make one - with your
help, of course.
The season of Imbolc has many wonderful traditions
associated with it. One of my favorites is calling on the
Goddess Brighid (Brigit, Bride or Brede) to bless home and
hearth. Traditionally, a Cross was made with wheat or grass
however; I prefer to make them with pipe cleaners. Here,
I’ve included photographs and instructions on how YOU
can make your own too!
1. Collect 15 pipe cleaners. For
this article, I collected three
each of five different colours.
Keep one straight and bend the
other 14 in half. I’ve found that
this makes the crafting part of
the cross much easier! 28
Other Activities
Other symbols of Brigit (or Brighid, Bride, Bridgid, Brigade)
include the cow and the serpent or snake. You can use a
simple salt-dough recipe to make snakes for your altar. Let
them dry overnight then they are ready to paint. Take a trip to
a local farm or dairy if you can and teach your children
where milk comes from and why the cow is important to the
Goddess Brigit.
You can make candles using old crayons and wicks
(remember doing this in elementary school with milk cartons
as the form?), coiled snake candleholders from salt dough,
and Braided Brigit Bread. If you’re not a baker, or lack time,
you can use pre-made refrigerated breadsticks, braid them
together, sprinkle herbs over the top and then bake by the
package directions.
Get outside and look for signs of spring! While most of us in
the north are still staring at snowdrifts, there are places where
flowers are starting to poke their heads out of the ground and
grass is that soft pale green. Maybe there are buds on the
trees or birds returning from their southern migration. Take a
walk with your children and see if you can spot anything
spring. Even if spring is still weeks away, the time spent as a
family will be precious and as fleeting as the apple blossoms.
Works Cited
Baker, Diane. "Brigit." Circle round: raising children in goddess
traditions. Bantam trade
paperback ed. New York: Bantam Books, 20001998. 124-147. Print.
Cameron, Caithe. "Creating a St Brighid's Cross » Celticai Studios
Celticai Studios." Home »
Celticai Studios Celticai Studios. N.p., 30 June 2012. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.
<http://
www.celticai.com.au/2012/07/creating-a-st-brighids-cross/>.
"EARTHSONGS: The Journal of the Society of Celtic Shamans, Volume 6,
Issue 1, Imbolc
2002, Copyright (c) 2002." Celtic Shaman and Society of Celtic Shamans.
N.p., n.d.
Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://www.faeryshaman.org/es61/es61arc3.htm>.
Wigington, Patti. "Make a Brighid Corn Doll." Paganism & Wicca -
Pagan and Wiccan
Religion. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Jan. 2013. <http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/
imbolccrafts/ss/Brighid_Dolly.htm>.
MLA formatting by BibMe.org.
2. Choose one folded pipe cleaner
and slide it over the straight one – to
approximately half way. Hold the
join with your fingers and turn the
whole cross 90 degrees to the left (a
quarter turn).
3. Choose another folded pipe
cleaner and slide it over the two
‘arms’ of the pipe cleaner pointing
up. Hold the join with your fingers
and turn the whole cross 90
degrees to the left (a quarter turn).
4. Choose another folded pipe
cleaner and slide it over the three
arms of the pipe cleaner pointing
up. Hold the join with your
fingers and turn the whole cross
90 degrees to the left (a quarter
turn).
5. Keep adding folded pipe cleaners
by sliding them over all the arms of
the cross that are pointing up.
Holding onto the join and rotating
the cross a quarter turn will help
you keep track of where you are at.
6. After placing all 14 folded pipe
cleaners on your creation, select
the longest pipe cleaner in each
arm. Bend it around the ‘arms’ so
that it twists and secures all
together. Do this for each arm.
You may also like to bend one of
the pipe cleaners and use it as a
hook. Alternatively, you can
thread some ribbon through one
arm so that it may hang freely.
7. Place the
cross on your
altar or hang it
in its traditional
place – near the
heart of the
home, the
hearth or
fireplace. In
today’s modern
age, I usually
place mine near the stove. Enjoy crafting your St Brighid’s
Cross!
Namaste Posted by Caithe on Monday, July 30th, 2012
29
Ingrid Jeffries is an internationally known counseling astrologer with over 25 years’ experience.
She is available for private consultations in office or by phone.
She can be reached at 303 697-8309. To find out more about her classes and sessions go to
www.NorthStarAstrology.net
February’s Astrological Sky North Star Astrology
By: Ingrid Jeffries AAFA
February opens with the Sun, Mercury, and Mars traveling through the friendly sign of Aquarius. Venus also enters this sign on the 2/2. With Jupiter in Gemini we have five planets in the gregarious air signs, emphasizing social activities, travel, community relations and pioneering endeavors especially the first two weeks. Aquarius is a sign associated with teamwork and collective power. It is through alignment with others that we can manifest the greatest achievements. The Aquarius New Moon is on 2/10. New Moons are the time to plant the seeds of intention. This New Moon is the Chinese New Year. In the sign of Aquarius innovation is more essential to us. We become more aware of what is outdated in our lives, and strive to find new perspectives and ways to do things. Individual freedom is more important to us. We strive to free ourselves from some of the restrictions, inhibitions, and limitations that now feel constraining rather than safe. This lunar cycle encourages us to take risks exploring the extraordinary, to move into the future, and to focus on the positive. Unresolved relationship matters may need to be dealt with, but again focus on the positive, and deal with the negative. The square from the Sun and Moon to the nodal axis may at times challenge social harmony due to differences in values, yet with a willingness to support compromise and create a win /win dynamic creativity is stimulated and success likely. On February 18th the Sun enters the gentle water sign of Pisces. People born into this sign are often very sensitive and intuitive. They are compassionate and romantic with an artistic flair. Many gifted musicians have Pisces or the planet Neptune, Pisces planetary ruler, strong in their birth charts. Saturn moves in retrograde motion from February 19th to July 7th. This can promote a re-evaluation of a key business matter or commitment. Saturn requires us to be realistic about limitations and what needs to be restructured or released in order for something more vital flourish.
On February 23 Mercury goes retrograde until March 17th. During this time, from our earthly perspective the winged messenger appears to move counter clockwise in the sky. Traditionally, this is not a good time for communications or travel. Misunderstandings and delays are more likely. It is also considered an unfavorable time to buy appliances, computers, cars, or sign contracts. It is good for re-negotiating, researching, reconnecting with those we have not seen for a while, and catching up on projects that were put aside earlier. Communications and information can be puzzling and /or incomplete. It is best to make major decisions after the retrograde period. The Full Moon occurs on 2/25. The Sun in Pisces is conjunct Neptune opposing the Moon in Virgo and both square Jupiter in Gemini. This is a very inspired and restless planetary combination depending on how these planets align with your natal horoscope. It can be wonderful for a romantic getaway, artist projects, or long philosophical conversations. Full Moons are the time to focus on relationships. Notice who are the people you find yourself with during this moon phase. What is the consciousness they support and mirror within you? Are you being present to who you are with or does your heart long for someone or something different. This is the time have the courage to pursue and/ or heal heart connections. Relationships will suffer if we take things too personally now, expecting others to follow a certain script that we have unconsciously written for them. The Pisces Full Moon cycle is the time to focus on love, compassion, and harmony.
Remember, “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” Rumi
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Aaahh, the Rose. Beautiful, regal, fragrant, ancient. The rose has been a part of human culture for centuries! Roses were introduced to Europe during the Roman occupation and were predominantly used for decoration. They were first cultivated over 5,000 years ago in Asian gardens. Confucius declared that the Emperor of China had more than 600 books on the cultivation of Roses. Its name is thought to be of Germanic origins. The Rose was used by the Great Ruling Houses of England as identification symbols. As far as exactly when Roses began being used in spells and magick is any ones guess but their effect in romance was well noticed in Roman. The fragrance seemed to lead to love and what early Witch wouldn't cook up some magickal love potion with something that was so perfectly represented love and sexual allure! Roman writings have been located the reference Roses being used in Love Salves, recipes for making Rose Water for Love and other such wonderful uses. The real love of Roses in Europe began during the Golden Age, roughly beginning in the 16th Century, when the Royal households developed and nurtured lavish gardens for the courtship of their lady-folk as well as having someplace sweet smelling to talk, walk and listen to music during a time when most of those at court took a bath maybe once a year!!! Rose petals were harvested from the gardens when they were nearly spent and strun in beds, on tables and floors in an attempt to keep the foul body odor at bay. Over hundreds of years, the Rose has been hand bred and developed for its fragrance, color and overall beauty. By the Victorian years, the Ornamental Rose and Flower Gardens became so popular that flowers in general and Roses in particular were given their own language - the language of love and friendship. Somewhere in my religious studies I remember the history of the Catholic Rosary. Though rosaries themselves date back to way, way back. Early Christian were unable to afford the beautiful stone beaded chains used by the clergy. Again, Rome probably played a part in the development of beads made of rose petals and other very fragrant flowers along with fragrant tree resins, all crushed and mushed together into a paste then formed into round beads, threaded onto cords and dried.
When used in prayer, running the beads through their fingers released a pleasant fragrance, aiding in their meditative state and keeping the smell of the person next to them reasonably contained. Don't forget Roses can be added as garnishes to salads, soups and even ice cubes to add a delicate flavor and beauty to your meal. REMEMBER, USE ONLY ORGANICALLY grown roses so you aren't putting any poisons into your food!! While the overall meaning of Roses is Love and Romance, here is a short list of the color meanings of roses. There will be a much longer list on our website at http://elementalmagick.wetpaint.com/. Search for "Language and Magick of Roses". Red Rose - Romantic Love, Beauty, Courage and Passion White Rose - Purity, Reverence, Heavenly, Humility, Youthfulness and Innocence Pink Rose - Appreciation, Grace, Admiration, Thankfulness Yellow Rose - Joy, Friendship, Delight, Happiness Orange Rose - Enthusiasm and Energy, Desire Rose petals can be used by color using their language meaning. Be sure to focus on your intent (i.e., for your daughter to preform gracefully in her dance recital you would use Pink Roses in your spell.). When I went looking for the Magickal properties of Roses on line, I found lots and lots BUT upon closer examination I found that almost everyone had copied their information from one of my all-time favorite Wiccan writers, Scott Cunningham from his book, "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs". Surprise, surprise. So here's Scott's information: ROSE rosa species PARTS USED flowers, petals, leaves (Note: I've found that old rose wood canes make wonderfully powerful wands) GENDER: Feminine ELEMENTS: Fire and Water PLANETS: Mars and Venus
POWERS Love Love Divination Ultimate Love Healing Luck Protection Psychic Powers DEITIES Adonis Aurora Cupid Demeter Eros Harpocrates Hathor Hulda Isis The ultimate in love wishes, Roses will aid in bringing a true lasting love and help to mend any spats between you in an already committed relationship. The petals can be used in bathing while thinking a new love will come to you. Dried flowers are burned when making love wishes. Sleeping with the flower petals will protect your dreams. Carry a sachet or amulet of petals for protection against bodily injury or when working healing wishes. Roses have long been used in love mixtures; owing to the flowers' association with the emotions. A chaplet of roses worn when performing love spells (remove the thorns first), or a single rose in a vase on the alter, are powerful love magic aids.
Rose water distilled from the petals should be added to love baths. Rose Hips (the fruit of the rose) are strung and worn as love-attraction beads. A tea of rosebuds drunk before sleep induces prophetic dreams. To discover their romantic future, women used to take three green rose leaves and name each for one of their lovers. The one that stayed green the longest answered the question of "Which One?". Rose petals and hips are used in healing spells ad mixtures, and rosewater saturated cloth laid to the temples and across the forehead will relieve headache pain. Roses are added to fast luck mixtures and, when carried, act as personal protectants. Rose petals sprinkled around the house calm personal stress and household upheavals. Roses planted in the garden attract fairies and are said to grow best when stolen. REFERENCES: "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs" by Scott Cunningham Landscaping at http://about.com Witches Lore at http://witcheslore.com
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