Just in case you wanted some proof that I am, indeed, writing more articles for you, one has been added to the Maiden section. You will also find a lot of links that go to unwritten articles, or no where at all. This will save me time later, I'm sorry about how annoying links that go no where are right now.
For the record, I do plan to supplement the articles with pictures in the future. So much is in motion in my life right now that taking pictures is in the far future. But, the time will come, and I hope you'll be patient with me about it!
30 December 2007
25 December 2007
Full Cold Moon
The Cold Moon, also sometimes called the Long Nights Moon, is so named because of the long, cold nights of midwinter. Yule isn't actually the first day of winter. Meteorologically, we're about half way through.
Yesterday, the middle day of the three day full moon cycle, was the most opportune moment for me to begin a spell that will be unfinished until the moon waxes again.
This is actually a simple candle spell, I had originally intended for it to be a seven day spell - I tend to have much success with those - but the timing was not quite right. Spell work is really like anything you do; you get out of it what you put into it. A spell that gets completed over the course of several days becomes more effective because it is focused for a longer period of time.
I began by clearing my altar, and setting it to the north (where I normally start in the east). I placed two candles upon it, a green one for monetary prosperity, and an orange one for a successful endeavour. I cleansed and charged each candle with Reiki while thinking about my purpose and what I hope to obtain. I lit the wicks, the green one on the left first, and sat before my candles in meditation. About an hour of this concentration about what I wanted to draw to me was all I could hold, so I snuffed the candles and went to bed.
They will remain on my altar until the new moon, when I will light them again and meditate until they burn out. My goal is to finish at the next full moon and therefore come full circle. During the waning period, I will be physically putting my desire into motion. Even if you trust your spellwork, you should never just perform a spell. If you want money, for example, a great big wad of cash is not going to fall out of the sky and into your lap. You have to take action; mind your spending, work overtime, whatever you need to do to help things along. That money you're looking for will come in a natural way, but it won't come at all if you're not doing anything to encourage it.
Yesterday, the middle day of the three day full moon cycle, was the most opportune moment for me to begin a spell that will be unfinished until the moon waxes again.
This is actually a simple candle spell, I had originally intended for it to be a seven day spell - I tend to have much success with those - but the timing was not quite right. Spell work is really like anything you do; you get out of it what you put into it. A spell that gets completed over the course of several days becomes more effective because it is focused for a longer period of time.
I began by clearing my altar, and setting it to the north (where I normally start in the east). I placed two candles upon it, a green one for monetary prosperity, and an orange one for a successful endeavour. I cleansed and charged each candle with Reiki while thinking about my purpose and what I hope to obtain. I lit the wicks, the green one on the left first, and sat before my candles in meditation. About an hour of this concentration about what I wanted to draw to me was all I could hold, so I snuffed the candles and went to bed.
They will remain on my altar until the new moon, when I will light them again and meditate until they burn out. My goal is to finish at the next full moon and therefore come full circle. During the waning period, I will be physically putting my desire into motion. Even if you trust your spellwork, you should never just perform a spell. If you want money, for example, a great big wad of cash is not going to fall out of the sky and into your lap. You have to take action; mind your spending, work overtime, whatever you need to do to help things along. That money you're looking for will come in a natural way, but it won't come at all if you're not doing anything to encourage it.
22 December 2007
Bright Yule!
The solstices and equinoxes can sometimes be hard to plan. The dates change every year, you see, but as long as your ritual takes place somewhat nearby, it makes little difference what day it happens. It just so happens that the solstice will begin in less than half an hour; the official start is 0108 today.
The Yule ritual celebrates the re-birth of the sun god. To the ancient peoples, it probably did seem like the sun was dying in winter, until it suddenly started growing again. There is a reason why so many light and birth festivals occur during this time of year.
My ritual was simply a celebration. With my Yule log burning in the fireplace, I set my altar before it. In the center, I placed my altar cloth. This was my very first one, that has a pentacle, a special rune, and symbols for the four directions embroidered on it in spring colors. The symbols for the directions did not line up for this purpose, so I folded them out of the way. My Yule log served to represent fire in the south well enough. To the east, I set an incense burner, and lit the stick from the Yule log. It was interesting to watch the smoke from my incense go right up the flue. In the west was a silver chalice with water. This is also where I placed my wand on its stand, as I knew I would be facing south for most of this and I am right handed. In the front was a small glass holder with three pieces of moonstone to represent earth. Those pieces have an ironic significance that I may explain later.
I cast my circle and called the quarters. Then I lit a black candle from the Yule log and placed it in a holder on the pentacle. This candle symbolizes the end of the sun's travels. When it had burnt out, I threw the wax stub on to the Yule log. The log burned with new life, a representation of the new length of daylight to come. I contemplated this dark time, and the things I need to leave behind to move into the light of the coming season as the log burned.
When it had reduced itself to a pile of glowing coals, I dismissed the quarters and opened my circle. The water was offered to the Earth in libation. When the morning comes, I will clear my altar and light a single gold candle to represent the return of the sun. Sometime during the course of the day, I will collect the ashes from my Yule log for later use. (Among other things, they are said to be quite magickal!)
I hope this Yule found everyone warm and ready to rejoice with the soon return of spring.
The Yule ritual celebrates the re-birth of the sun god. To the ancient peoples, it probably did seem like the sun was dying in winter, until it suddenly started growing again. There is a reason why so many light and birth festivals occur during this time of year.
My ritual was simply a celebration. With my Yule log burning in the fireplace, I set my altar before it. In the center, I placed my altar cloth. This was my very first one, that has a pentacle, a special rune, and symbols for the four directions embroidered on it in spring colors. The symbols for the directions did not line up for this purpose, so I folded them out of the way. My Yule log served to represent fire in the south well enough. To the east, I set an incense burner, and lit the stick from the Yule log. It was interesting to watch the smoke from my incense go right up the flue. In the west was a silver chalice with water. This is also where I placed my wand on its stand, as I knew I would be facing south for most of this and I am right handed. In the front was a small glass holder with three pieces of moonstone to represent earth. Those pieces have an ironic significance that I may explain later.
I cast my circle and called the quarters. Then I lit a black candle from the Yule log and placed it in a holder on the pentacle. This candle symbolizes the end of the sun's travels. When it had burnt out, I threw the wax stub on to the Yule log. The log burned with new life, a representation of the new length of daylight to come. I contemplated this dark time, and the things I need to leave behind to move into the light of the coming season as the log burned.
When it had reduced itself to a pile of glowing coals, I dismissed the quarters and opened my circle. The water was offered to the Earth in libation. When the morning comes, I will clear my altar and light a single gold candle to represent the return of the sun. Sometime during the course of the day, I will collect the ashes from my Yule log for later use. (Among other things, they are said to be quite magickal!)
I hope this Yule found everyone warm and ready to rejoice with the soon return of spring.
14 December 2007
When the Time is Right
Many years ago, I lost touch with a very dear friend. I have tried all manner of ways to locate her, including old e-mail addresses, searching known aliases, and having a contact at the Census Bureau look up her last known address. She has a rather uncommon first name and a very common last name, you would think she'd be easy to track down. Alas, there has never been a response to any of my letters or e-mails.
I wrote a spell to attempt to get in touch with her again. In my case, it's simple because my address and phone number have not changed since I knew her.
You need some paper, a writing utensil, and an envelope. You can add whatever other tools you want to this mix; the simple way includes a cauldron and a candle. I used the brick fireplace in the house.
Cast your circle, sit comfortably, and write your friend a letter. Write it like you would if you were going to send it in the mail. Tell her everything you want to tell her; catch up on old times, give me a call, anything. When you are done writing, seal it in the envelope. I embellished mine with a wax seal. Then, light your letter in the candle flame, and place it in the cauldron to burn out (or toss it into the fire in the fire place). As it burns, see your words rise up with the smoke, to be caught by the wind and carried to your absent friend. Know that she will hear your words. Whether she acts upon them is up to her.
While Esbats are reserved for spellworking, you don't have to wait for an Esbat for all spell working. The time just happened to be right for me to do this last night. There was a fire in the hearth and the rest of the house had gone to bed, so I was not disturbing anyone. We had left the fire to die down on its own. The waxing moon was also just fine to carry a message (it may make sense if you think of your message as traveling to your friend, just as the moon is traveling to fullness). The brick fireplace is also on a South wall, the direction of fire, making it very appropriate as this spell taps the energy and determination of fire.
I wrote my letter and placed it on the log. I felt the heat as the paper burned, I could see my message being carried up the flue to the wind outside that would take it to my friend. Whether she contacts me or not, I know she will get my message and know I am thinking about her.
I wrote a spell to attempt to get in touch with her again. In my case, it's simple because my address and phone number have not changed since I knew her.
You need some paper, a writing utensil, and an envelope. You can add whatever other tools you want to this mix; the simple way includes a cauldron and a candle. I used the brick fireplace in the house.
Cast your circle, sit comfortably, and write your friend a letter. Write it like you would if you were going to send it in the mail. Tell her everything you want to tell her; catch up on old times, give me a call, anything. When you are done writing, seal it in the envelope. I embellished mine with a wax seal. Then, light your letter in the candle flame, and place it in the cauldron to burn out (or toss it into the fire in the fire place). As it burns, see your words rise up with the smoke, to be caught by the wind and carried to your absent friend. Know that she will hear your words. Whether she acts upon them is up to her.
While Esbats are reserved for spellworking, you don't have to wait for an Esbat for all spell working. The time just happened to be right for me to do this last night. There was a fire in the hearth and the rest of the house had gone to bed, so I was not disturbing anyone. We had left the fire to die down on its own. The waxing moon was also just fine to carry a message (it may make sense if you think of your message as traveling to your friend, just as the moon is traveling to fullness). The brick fireplace is also on a South wall, the direction of fire, making it very appropriate as this spell taps the energy and determination of fire.
I wrote my letter and placed it on the log. I felt the heat as the paper burned, I could see my message being carried up the flue to the wind outside that would take it to my friend. Whether she contacts me or not, I know she will get my message and know I am thinking about her.
07 December 2007
Page-o-Links
I have added a few choice websites to my links page, for your viewing enjoyment. These include stores that I know and trust, a few popular pagan-related sites, general reference sites, and a couple sites that aren't necessarily pagan oriented, but may have some interest nonetheless.
This list of sites may be expanded as I see fit. There are certainly more sites and stores out there than what I have listed, but I will not link anything unless I am familiar with what I am linking in some way.
Unfortunately, I have come across a few sites (online stores, mostly) that I simply can't support due to their lack of service or less than professional manner. These sites won't be pointed to at all, but I mention the existence of them here so you will know that some things are purposefully excluded. If they are not linked, that does not mean they are not worthy of your business. Please use your own judgement when deciding to trust any Internet store or information site.
There has also been one added FAQ in relation to links.
For those who are keeping up, my cat has improved greatly. I brought her to the regular DVM last Saturday, who altered the medication she was to take. Her limp is almost completely gone as of this evening.
This list of sites may be expanded as I see fit. There are certainly more sites and stores out there than what I have listed, but I will not link anything unless I am familiar with what I am linking in some way.
Unfortunately, I have come across a few sites (online stores, mostly) that I simply can't support due to their lack of service or less than professional manner. These sites won't be pointed to at all, but I mention the existence of them here so you will know that some things are purposefully excluded. If they are not linked, that does not mean they are not worthy of your business. Please use your own judgement when deciding to trust any Internet store or information site.
There has also been one added FAQ in relation to links.
For those who are keeping up, my cat has improved greatly. I brought her to the regular DVM last Saturday, who altered the medication she was to take. Her limp is almost completely gone as of this evening.
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