Autumn equinox: September 21. Once again, day and night, and male and female forces are equally balanced. This is the time for the second harvests, which is associated with corn and other harvested foods. Colors of this season include: brown, orange, gold, and red.
As I look out my windows and drive in the countryside, I can see the leaves starting to change. The weather is cooler now (thankfully) and the farmers are in the fields. My allergies are full-on, and the furnace has a tendency to kick on in the evenings. If you haven’t yet, it’s time to finish your harvest of the herbs in the gardens and start the drying session. Time to plan and implement your survival for the long winter months. Oh and don’t worry if you start packing on a few “extra” pounds, just blame it on the time of year. ;-)
It is also the beginning, the time you assess what worked and what didn’t work this year. It will soon be the time to start making plans for the following year. What has worked and what hasn’t worked in your life? Harvest what has nurtured and will sustain you through the following months, discard what hasn’t. In ancient times, this was the time most important to the survival of our ancestors. Will there be enough food to eat, wood for warmth, shelter strong enough to sustain through the coming harsh months? Though this was a time of joyous celebrations, the clouds of the coming storms were on the horizon.
But this celebration, above all others, is a celebration of the present. The future, the coming winter, is still far off. We celebrate the fruits of our labor, the gifts from the God and Goddess, and thank Them for the bounty of the Earth, and our full bellies and larders. Give thanks unto Them, for all that you have.
Blessings to you and your family, as you harvest the fruits of your labor…….
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Lughnasadh
Sorry guys this is so late. Been kinda upheaval lately and hard to get things accomplished. Ill try to be a bit more timely the next time
Lughnasadh is a festival named in honor of Lugh the Celtic Solar God. It is usually celebrated between July 31st. and August 1st. As with most festivals, Lughnasadh is usually celebrated with fun and games. Handfastings were also common, as were reunions with family and friends.
There isn’t much mention of this festival in truly ancient text and sources. One of the websites I browsed for this stated that: It clearly refers to the god Lugh and a possible interpretation of the last part as nasad or “games.” This is given support by the many games and sporting events held during Lughnasadh in historical times. Which could then suggest the real meaning of this festival is funeral “games” in memory of Lugh’s mother Taitiu.
Lughnasadh (or Lammas) is also the name used for one of the eight “Sabbats” in the Wiccan wheel of the Year. It is the first of the three autumn harvest festivals, the other two being the Autumn Equinox (Mabon) and Samhain. Beltaine and Lammas are considered the best times for handfasting. In some Wiccan traditions a figure of the "corn god" is made out of bread then baked and symbolically sacrificed before eating it.
Lughnasadh is a festival named in honor of Lugh the Celtic Solar God. It is usually celebrated between July 31st. and August 1st. As with most festivals, Lughnasadh is usually celebrated with fun and games. Handfastings were also common, as were reunions with family and friends.
There isn’t much mention of this festival in truly ancient text and sources. One of the websites I browsed for this stated that: It clearly refers to the god Lugh and a possible interpretation of the last part as nasad or “games.” This is given support by the many games and sporting events held during Lughnasadh in historical times. Which could then suggest the real meaning of this festival is funeral “games” in memory of Lugh’s mother Taitiu.
Lughnasadh (or Lammas) is also the name used for one of the eight “Sabbats” in the Wiccan wheel of the Year. It is the first of the three autumn harvest festivals, the other two being the Autumn Equinox (Mabon) and Samhain. Beltaine and Lammas are considered the best times for handfasting. In some Wiccan traditions a figure of the "corn god" is made out of bread then baked and symbolically sacrificed before eating it.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Litha Herb Gathering
Litha is a good time to gather herbs, whether from the wild or from your own magickal herb garden. Herbs gathered at Litha, when the sun is at its peak, are powerful for use in magickal workings. Dried herbs from your garden can also be used to make sachets and dreams pillows. Remember when gathering herbs from the wild to never take them all. Also remember to leave something behind. A gift for a gift.
Herbs nurtured and grown in our own magickal gardens have our own personal power that we put into them. Stock your magickal cabinet with herbs from your own garden. Remember to look around your yard. Many common weeds have magickal properties also. I have decided to try to forge a relationship with Creeping Charlie since he is in so much abundance in my yard. A plant that resilient must have strong magick. I’m hoping he will share those secrets with me.
Use your herbs in your magickal spells. Magic can be performed on all phases of the moon. New moon magick for new beginnings, for example, looking for a job. Waxing moon magic is for bringing stuff to you and the waning moon is for banishing or getting rid of something.
Solstice Blessings to everyone!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Litha, Mid-Summer, or the Summer Solstice, this day marks the mid way point of the solar year. The days will start to get shorter and the nights longer. According to the “Old Folklore Calendars” summer began on Beltaine and ends on Lughnasadh. This makes Litha (Summer Solstice) the “Mid Summer” holiday. Actually this kinda makes more sense than having summer start on the day that the days start to get shorter. But then who am I to disagree with the people in charge. ;-)
On the Wheel of the Year, Litha lies directly across from Yule, the shortest day of the year. The joyous rituals of Litha celebrate Mother Earth in high summer, abundance, fertility, and all the riches of Nature in full bloom. According to some websites and writings, this festival is a madcap time of strong magic and empowerment. It is also the time for handfasting or weddings. As always though, it is a good time for communication with the spirits of Nature. At Litha, the veils between the worlds are thin; the portals between "the fields we know" and the worlds beyond stand open. This is an excellent time for rites of divination. Midsummer Night's Eve is also special for adherents of the Faerie faith. The alternative fixed calendar date of June 25 (Old Litha) is sometimes used by Covens. On a side note: The name Beltane is sometimes incorrectly assigned to this holiday by some modern traditions of Wicca, even though Beltane is the Gaelic word for May. According to folk lore, fairies dance on Mid Summers Eve and if you stay up long enough you may be graced (?) to see them. Just don’t let them see you… unless, of course, you have fairy blood coursing through you veins.
As with Beltaine, fire has a big emphasis at this time. Some will be interested in the fact that Moroccans rubbed a paste of the ashes into their hair to prevent baldness. In Europe a person was to look at the fire through bunches of larkspur or other flowers held in the hand to strengthen the eyes. Ashes of the fire were scattered throughout the fields to help with the harvest. Another custom was to light two candles and walk between them. This was considered as potent as jumping the “Bale Fire” at Beltaine and probably a whole lot easier to drive cattle between two candles than anywhere close to a fire.
Ok some herbs associated with Mid Summer:
Mugwort: Use in a sachet under your pillow for prophetic dreams. Wash crystal balls in a warm Mugwort bath to increase their clarity. Carry a fresh sprig to bring safety in travel and prevent obstacles and delays on the road. I would NOT recommend taken this herb internally in any form.
Vervain: I love this notation: Mix with lard, it helps with swellings and pains in the “secret parts.” Good remedy for coughs and colds, and also may be combined with other herbs such as Colt’s Foot and horehound.
Chamomile: Bathing with a decoction of this herb will take away weariness and ease pains. Take a bath in the flowers to soothe tensions and solve problems of the heart. An infusion is excellent for migraine and headaches.
Rose: What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. (Wm. Shakespeare)
An infusion of dried rose petals is used for headache and dizziness. Add honey and it can be used as a heart and nerve tonic. Cloth soaked with rose vinegar can be used as a compress for headache. Rose honey is an ancient remedy for sore throat. Use rose buds in your laundry to sustain love in a marriage. Add rose petals, or buds in a sachet or dream pillow for pleasant dreams. Use red rose petals, a cup of rosewater, or three drops of rose oil in a bath to help infuse your aura with sexuality. You can use rose petals in all types of love potions, sachets, spells etc. Use your imagination ;-)
Lavender: make a mixture of lavender, rose, and mint to make a very powerful love attraction formula. Use lavender, rose and lemon for love healing. Add this herb to your bathwater to help calm your spirits. Burn dried lavender flowers with rue for protection rituals.
Thyme: Cook with thyme to increase your awareness, sight and memory. Bath in the oil for serious purification after you have come in contact with death. This herb cleanses and renews the spirit. Thyme can be used in love spells to invoke a more gentleness and understanding into your relationship. Place in a sachet or dream pillow with other “love” or relationship type herbs to help promote long lasting emotions. If you plant thyme (in your garden) in honor of someone dear you will always have “thyme” with them. Dry thyme and place in an air tight bottle; place it on a shelf where you can easily see it. Kept this way you will always have thyme (“time”). This is a great all around herb that I love to use.
The Herb Book – The complete and authoritative guide to more than 500 herbs - John lust - © 1974, 2001 Beneficial Publications
The Encyclopedia of Magical Ingredients – Lexa Rosean - © 2005 pocket Books
Garden Witchery – Magick from the ground up – Ellen Dugan - © 2003 Llewellyn Publications
On the Wheel of the Year, Litha lies directly across from Yule, the shortest day of the year. The joyous rituals of Litha celebrate Mother Earth in high summer, abundance, fertility, and all the riches of Nature in full bloom. According to some websites and writings, this festival is a madcap time of strong magic and empowerment. It is also the time for handfasting or weddings. As always though, it is a good time for communication with the spirits of Nature. At Litha, the veils between the worlds are thin; the portals between "the fields we know" and the worlds beyond stand open. This is an excellent time for rites of divination. Midsummer Night's Eve is also special for adherents of the Faerie faith. The alternative fixed calendar date of June 25 (Old Litha) is sometimes used by Covens. On a side note: The name Beltane is sometimes incorrectly assigned to this holiday by some modern traditions of Wicca, even though Beltane is the Gaelic word for May. According to folk lore, fairies dance on Mid Summers Eve and if you stay up long enough you may be graced (?) to see them. Just don’t let them see you… unless, of course, you have fairy blood coursing through you veins.
As with Beltaine, fire has a big emphasis at this time. Some will be interested in the fact that Moroccans rubbed a paste of the ashes into their hair to prevent baldness. In Europe a person was to look at the fire through bunches of larkspur or other flowers held in the hand to strengthen the eyes. Ashes of the fire were scattered throughout the fields to help with the harvest. Another custom was to light two candles and walk between them. This was considered as potent as jumping the “Bale Fire” at Beltaine and probably a whole lot easier to drive cattle between two candles than anywhere close to a fire.
Ok some herbs associated with Mid Summer:
Mugwort: Use in a sachet under your pillow for prophetic dreams. Wash crystal balls in a warm Mugwort bath to increase their clarity. Carry a fresh sprig to bring safety in travel and prevent obstacles and delays on the road. I would NOT recommend taken this herb internally in any form.
Vervain: I love this notation: Mix with lard, it helps with swellings and pains in the “secret parts.” Good remedy for coughs and colds, and also may be combined with other herbs such as Colt’s Foot and horehound.
Chamomile: Bathing with a decoction of this herb will take away weariness and ease pains. Take a bath in the flowers to soothe tensions and solve problems of the heart. An infusion is excellent for migraine and headaches.
Rose: What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. (Wm. Shakespeare)
An infusion of dried rose petals is used for headache and dizziness. Add honey and it can be used as a heart and nerve tonic. Cloth soaked with rose vinegar can be used as a compress for headache. Rose honey is an ancient remedy for sore throat. Use rose buds in your laundry to sustain love in a marriage. Add rose petals, or buds in a sachet or dream pillow for pleasant dreams. Use red rose petals, a cup of rosewater, or three drops of rose oil in a bath to help infuse your aura with sexuality. You can use rose petals in all types of love potions, sachets, spells etc. Use your imagination ;-)
Lavender: make a mixture of lavender, rose, and mint to make a very powerful love attraction formula. Use lavender, rose and lemon for love healing. Add this herb to your bathwater to help calm your spirits. Burn dried lavender flowers with rue for protection rituals.
Thyme: Cook with thyme to increase your awareness, sight and memory. Bath in the oil for serious purification after you have come in contact with death. This herb cleanses and renews the spirit. Thyme can be used in love spells to invoke a more gentleness and understanding into your relationship. Place in a sachet or dream pillow with other “love” or relationship type herbs to help promote long lasting emotions. If you plant thyme (in your garden) in honor of someone dear you will always have “thyme” with them. Dry thyme and place in an air tight bottle; place it on a shelf where you can easily see it. Kept this way you will always have thyme (“time”). This is a great all around herb that I love to use.
The Herb Book – The complete and authoritative guide to more than 500 herbs - John lust - © 1974, 2001 Beneficial Publications
The Encyclopedia of Magical Ingredients – Lexa Rosean - © 2005 pocket Books
Garden Witchery – Magick from the ground up – Ellen Dugan - © 2003 Llewellyn Publications
Monday, June 6, 2011
FYI
Ok sent out the invitations to Carol, Joe, and Laura. Hopefully it's not that much of a pain ;-)
Anyway, once you guys figure everything out let me know and I will update the blog. In between times, you guys can post and see how it goes.
thanks for joining
rog;
Anyway, once you guys figure everything out let me know and I will update the blog. In between times, you guys can post and see how it goes.
thanks for joining
rog;
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Greetings
Thought I would type a test page. I am excited about this and hoping this will be a positive experience for us all.
Still changing
Ok made some more layout changes - starting to like it a bit but I don't know. Hopefully you (Toni) will like it to. Let me know what you think by commenting on this post. I think I have it setup to send us both an email letting us know there is a comment to a post.
rog;
rog;
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