The Goddess Companion
Her face had the black-blue shine of coal.
Her one bony tooth was red like rust.
her hair was think and dense and gray
like brushwood in a dying forest.
In her head was one eye like a pool,
swifter than a star in the winter sky.
That one stone eye in the hag’s head
moved quicker than mackerel after a lure.
~Scottish Song About The Hag Goddess
In North Africa, this day begins the Time of the Old Woman, a period of dangerous weather. In Scotland, too, this was the time old woman of winter was said to chase the new spring across the land. Inevitably, the Spring Goddess won, and the old one was turned into a huge boulder.
Inevitably, too, our lives change. We too have our seasons: youth, midlife, age. And within those seasons, we have weather: good times and bad ones, and times when we just hang on. We have storms and calm periods, tempests and balmy warmth. We have sunny days when nothing seems like it can possibly go wrong, and then a rain of tears when life takes from us what we’ve cherished.
During sunny times, enjoy and be thankful. During bad weather, endure and remember that however chill the winter, spring always follows.
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By Patricia Monaghan
Crone’s Corner – Protection Spell Against Theft
Now that the crocuses begin to carpet lawns with their color, it is a good time for a spell to protect against theft. Ancient magicians burned crocus petals, hoping the smoke would reveal the face of thieves. To protect your home against a thief, in a small dish combine the flowers of three crocus flowers, a teaspoon of dried basil, and a generous dash of black pepper. Sprinkle this mixture outside your home, moving around the building in a clockwise direction. Repeat this charm three times as you go:
Crocus for protection, Basil to purify,
Pepper to sting.
Let no thief penetrate this ring.
Repeat this fair charm again in one year.
~James Kambo
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Pagan Studies – Southern Charm Spell
Southern charm usually brings one thing to mind: polite and genteel behavior. But let us think of Southern charm as a tool for magic. The South is renowned for its many variations of folk magic. This charm is from my own background that includes a bit of Hoodoo and various Celtic beliefs. To win financial luck, take a green gris-gris bag and place inside it three quarters, a magnet, a pair of dice, a cabbage leaf, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Assemble all of the ingredients before a lit green candle, kiss the bag three times, and then whisper: “What you will now do for me is multiply good luck times three.” Do this for thirty days until all of your bills are paid. Carry the bag with you, and kiss it once a day.
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By: Tammy Sullivan
Today’s Goddess: LAKA
Cherry Blossom Festival (Hawaii)
Themes: Tradition; Heritage; Weather; Arts
Symbols: Lei Flowers; Dance; Yellow
About Laka: Laka is the Hawaiian Goddess of Hula, through which the myths, legends, and histories of the Hawaiian people are kept intact. Today she charges us with the sacred duty of collecting the treasures of our personal legacies and recording them for sharing with future generations.
In stories, Laka is the sister of Pele (The Volcano Goddess) and a Nature Goddess who can be invoked for rain. Artistic renditions show her wearing yellow garments, bedecked with flowers, and always dancing.
To Do Today: The cherry blossoms of this festival in Hawaii are spiritual, not real, symbolizing the power of tradition among the predominantly Japanese community. On this day people gather together and honor their heritage by participating in martial arts, Japanese dances, weaving, and arts competitions. So, if there’s any art or craft you learned from an elder in your family, take the time to display that craft or work on it today to commemorate Laka’s attributes.
If possible, get together with members of your family and begin creating a family journal that will record all the important events in your lives. Cover the journal with yellow paper dabbed with fragrant oil to invoke Laka’s tending care on the sacred documents
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GrannyMoon’s Morning Feast Archive
Friday, February 25, 2011
To inspire romance, put two drops of ylang ylang essential oil in a diffuser and light it in the early evening hours.
Today’s I Ching Hexagram for Everyone:
17: Following
Friday, February 25th, 2011
General Meaning: Following brings supreme success. You may not be able to change the direction of the wind, but by frequently adjusting your sails, you can arrive at your destination.
Those who would acquire a following must speak the language of their followers. Those who would be loved must become the envisioned lover of their beloved. Those who would prosper must bend with natural forces and the pressures of society. In matters of principle, stand firm; in matters of style and taste, swim with the current.
In all human affairs, change is constant. In order to stay fresh, old ideas and patterns must continually be discarded in favor of new ones. Only by being adaptable to the demands of the time can the highest good emerge. Only by adjusting to changing circumstances can you prosper. Remain flexible, and you will gain the confidence of those around you. Bend and you shall not break
Today’s Tarot Card for Everyone:
The Star
This Tarot Deck: Celestial
General Meaning: What has traditionally been known as the Star card is about reconnecting one’s Soul with the Divine — the transcending of personality, family, community and reputation. It has to do ultimately with the freedom to be one’s Self. The Soul is responding to celestial influences — forces that can provide the personality with a stronger sense of purpose. The Star card helps us to remember our exalted origins and our attraction to a Higher Union.
This card could also be called the “Celestial Mandate” — that which refers us back to our reason for being, our mission in this lifetime. The Star reminds us that, in a sense, we are agents of Divine Will in our day-to-day lives. If we let go of the idea that we are supposed to be in control, we can more easily notice and appreciate the synchronicities that are nudging us along. In this way, we become more conscious of the invisible Helping Hand, and we better understand our place within — and value to — the larger Cosmos.
Differences of opinion are revealed when bombastic Jupiter squares ruthless Pluto today. The Sun-Mercury conjunction in dreamy Pisces can confuse communication unless we stick with the facts. We may not realize the impact we have on others because the Sun-Mercury sextile to Pluto packs our words with an extra punch now. We would be wise, especially with the cavalier Sagittarius Moon, to moderate our perspective with patience and an open mind.
You are hot to trot today, even if you know that it makes more sense to be patient. Unfortunately, you may not be willing to slow down enough to learn an important lesson because you’re eager for action. Your strong self-confidence is an asset as long as you don’t overplay your hand. Reduce your stress by trying to see things as they are, instead of as you want them to be.
You may be in for some good times today, but you’ll need to moderate your desires or you could ruin a good thing before you know it. Seeking pleasure with reckless abandon will probably lead to trouble because overindulgence is not a smart idea. Setting clear priorities can help you manage your day, so figure out what’s most important and then get busy.
You can finally gain traction on a project that has taken a long time to get going, but you must narrow your vision and focus your energy. Thankfully, you’re motivated because you can see the tangible results from your recent hard work. Your key planet Mercury enables you to speak with power, and the same folks who were once in your way are now trying to help you advance. However, there’s no reason to think that you will get everything you want, but a positive attitude can definitely improve your chances for success.
You are more self-assured today than others may realize. Your friends and associates might misinterpret your quiet approach and believe that you lack the necessary confidence. However, your caution about sharing your feelings is not about being insecure. If you don’t like putting others in an emotionally awkward position, wait until you feel more comfortable before expressing yourself.
You may be called upon to shine in the leading role of your own drama today. In practice, however, you won’t be able to carry the entire performance on your own, so make sure you spend some time garnering the support of others. Sharing the spotlight isn’t difficult now, as long as you are with someone who is willing to play a supporting role in your real life movie.
Although you may be bouncing all over the emotional map today, your people skills are functional enough to get you the help you want. But there’s no need to rush to set major career or relationship goals. Instead of focusing on the distant future, live your life in the here and now. Take a calculated risk and do something that has meaning only in the present moment. This is an excellent opportunity to break out of the boring status quo.
You may be at your most charming and creative now that your key planet Venus is forming a beautiful quintile with anything-goes Uranus. The uplifting Sagittarius Moon allows you to build on your good intentions and to get away with more than usual. However, it’s not a good idea to test these limits. Instead of just sharing your true feelings today, express yourself in a way that emphasizes the positive aspects of the relationship.
Your attitude toward money has probably grown more positive in recent days. You might even start to think that you’re going to get exactly what you want. Nevertheless, you could underestimate the cost of a coveted item or overestimate its potential importance to you. If you spend money today, make certain that it’s for something you truly desire.
The Moon’s visit to your fiery sign encourages you to feel great, even if you are simultaneously processing more complicated issues. Thankfully, your emotions need not stand between you and success now, although there is no reason to be overly sentimental. Your feelings may even act as a catalyst, helping you to discover a path to happiness. Pay close attention to your inner process, but don’t dwell on it to the exclusion of what’s happening around you.
You are driven to share your big ideas today because you know how fragile your overall plan is while it’s in the beginning stages. You probably haven’t had enough time to fill in all the details and you need everyone’s feedback to help you clarify your own thoughts. Don’t rush the creative process; slow down and solidify your strategy. Begin on the ground floor and work your way up.
The storm clouds have temporarily lifted and you are jubilant that you can once again see the horizon. There doesn’t seem to be a lot that could get in your way now, but too much bravado might create its own set of problems. It’s easy to miss a critical piece of data or respond too quickly to an event. Nevertheless, a positive outcome is likely today, so don’t waste a lot of time worrying about what might go wrong.
You may fall so in love with your own dreams today that you wish you could manifest them in the real world. But don’t just leave your thoughts to wander around in your mind. Instead of wondering where an idea will take you, be proactive and consciously guide your imagination where you want it to go. Once you create a mental picture that makes you happy, consider how to make your fantasies come true.
Jupiter square Pluto
Friday, February 25
Giant Jupiter makes its third stressful square with potent Pluto that can incite extreme beliefs and behavior. This aspect occurred on July 25 and August 3, 2010, producing low frequency rumbles of change in philosophies. An exaggerated sense of danger and exposure of corruption are possible, but a more constructive application of this alignment is to purge outmoded expectations to concentrate efforts where they can have the greatest impact.
Just avoid seeking from others, or you will be far estranged from yourself. I now go on alone and I meet life everywhere.
Friday 25 February 2011
Self-realization is not the end
nor the achievement of a spiritual path,
but the disappearance of ego, of struggle,
of search and of creating problems.
This is the beginning of a journey
in simplicity, peace,
infinity and wonder.
Dharma
Thought for the Day
“We cannot change our past.
We can not change the fact that people
act in a certain way.
We can not change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do
is play on the one string we have,
and that is our attitude.”
~ Charles Swindoll
After each deep cleansing breath I release negative thoughts and sadness. With each following upbreath I accept positive thoughts and happiness to fill the totality of my body and spirit. I am filled with optimism and happiness.
Witches Of The Craft® 