Berkano
Berkano is the Rune of birth and rebirth. This may symbolize a time when you are capable of great personal growth. Love may be in the air as well.
The Swan
The elegant Swan is an ideal symbol of beauty and grace. Its flowing curves and fluid movement give an ethereal air of perfection realized. The Swan’s beauty embodies the feminine (Yin) qualities of intuition and sensitivity. But The Swan does not begin life as a creature who appears to be the creation of divine inspiration. Indeed at birth The Swan is an ungainly creature that lacks any indications of the magnificent being it is destined to become. The Swan’s transformation from ordinary to extraordinary have made it an emblem of discovering the beauty and power of your true self.
As a daily card, The Swan is a reminder of the beauty, creativity and power your true self embodies. In this period it is best to let the real you rule and be known to all–to remember who you really are and what you are really about. The Swan also marks a time when your creative powers may be at their zenith.

This Tarot Deck: Ukiyoe
General Meaning: Traditionally known as the Hierophant, this card refers to a Master and the learning of practical lessons from the study of Natural Law. This energy of this card points to some agent or resource that can reveal the secrets of life, the cycles of the moon and tides, the links between human beings and the heavens.
Because monasteries were the only places a person could learn to read and write in the middle ages, a Hierophant was one to whom a student would petition for entry. He was the one to set the curriculum for the neophyte’s course of study.
Often pictured with the right hand raised in blessing, the Hierophant is linked with the ancient lineage of Melchezidek, initiator of the Hebrew priestly tradition, the one who passes on the teachings. All shamans of any tradition draw upon this archetype.

Partnerships grow more demanding when the Sun enters your 7th House of Relationships today. Although you can be very generous, there are times when you simply forget about other people’s needs. Stopping long enough to consciously consider what someone else wants helps to make things run much smoother throughout the rest of the year.

You may not realize how much others look up to you now, yet every little thing you do impacts them strongly. However, you could be less concerned with someone else’s perceptions today than you are with completing your chores. It’s tempting to narrow your vision and only concentrate on maintaining your regular routine. But don’t let your need to focus on details get in the way of being fully present for your friends and family.

You may not feel very practical today, so it’s wise to enjoy your fantasies without trying to turn them into reality. Thankfully, there’s nothing wrong with losing yourself in your daydreams for a little while; this harmless escape can even be rejuvenating and inspiring. Just make sure you know the difference between the idle wanderings of your imagination and what’s actually expected of you in the real world.

Your activities are likely to become more home-based as the Libra Sun moves through your 4th House of Roots. The next few weeks are ideal for nurturing yourself and your loved ones. You might even consider traveling — physically or metaphysically — all the way back to the place of your origins. Remember, going deep now strengthens your foundation for the months ahead. Learning something about your past enables you to be more successful in the future.

Your schedule is filling up fast and life is getting busier now that the Sun is illuminating your 3rd House of Immediate Environment. But complexities arise if you cannot manage your time effectively because your tight schedule can be quite unforgiving. Don’t get discouraged if you fall behind; just be honest with everyone affected and continue to do the best you can. Your heroic efforts are appreciated more than you know.

Your uncertainty over a fundamental issue might have made a recent decision rather difficult. Now, a new wave of confusion can sour your actions with doubt as the Sun enters your 2nd House of Values. However, there’s no need to change your mind or alter your plans today, even if you aren’t sure of yourself. Hang tight; your confidence will return in a few days. In the meantime, sorting through your options gives you one more chance to make the right choice.

Your clarity is acutely sharp now as the Sun enters your sign, enabling you to make intelligent decisions that are based upon your special ability to objectively see both sides of an issue. Fortunately, sentimentality won’t lead you off course today. Just accept subjective artistic leanings as lovely muses; incorporate what you can, and leave the rest for another day.

The Sun’s shift into your 12th House of Endings is a reminder to complete current projects and tie up as many loose ends as possible. There’s no reason to waste your limited energy by starting anything new now. Lying low and avoiding the spotlight allows you to focus on the more personal aspects of your life. It’s wiser to wait until the Sun enters Scorpio next month to make your next big move.

Your friends and family may be hard to read today, leaving you uncertain about their place in your current plans. Unfortunately, your ideas might not be as crystal clear as you thought, creating problems you haven’t yet considered. Don’t blame your lack of confidence on anyone else or you will just drift farther away from your real goals. Accepting responsibility for your attitude now inspires you to do something about it.

Your career is on your mind now as you wonder about your future. Fortunately, your professional objectives may be clearly illuminated during the weeks ahead as the Sun moves through your 10th House of Public Responsibility. However, this emphasis on your work can strain your personal life as obligations distract you from your emotional connections with those closest to you. Just remember that establishing greater balance in your life might be more important than job success alone.

You are pulled in two directions today as the Sun’s shift into fellow Air sign Libra brightens your life with an easygoing feeling about your future. However, the Moon’s stressful square to the Sun reminds you of all the things you wanted to do but haven’t yet accomplished. Your best strategy is to remain optimistic without losing touch with reality. Staying in close communication with someone you trust can help you keep your dreams alive.

You may feel uncomfortable today if someone shares too much information with you. No matter how pressing the situation is, there’s a part of you that doesn’t want to deal with what’s really happening. Although you might actually believe that whatever you don’t know can’t hurt you, it’s just not true. Even unexpressed thoughts have their impact, so it’s smarter to show your concern, ask questions, and listen to the rest of the story.

Sun in Libra
Saturday, September 22, 7:49 am PDT, 10:49 am EDT
Cosmic wires are crossed on this equinoctial day when the Sun enters peace-loving Libra. The harmony we seek in this egalitarian air sign is countered by the intellectual agitation of highly stressed Mercury. The messenger planet’s hard aspects with volatile Uranus and penetrating Pluto rub nervous systems raw and provoke intense conversations. But these planetary connections can also spark brilliant ideas that could transform the world. The diplomacy skills of the Libra Sun can be applied to present these radical concepts in ways that are attractive enough to garner the support of previously opposing parties.
The Sun’s entry into a new sign (7:50AM PDT) — Libra — carries an extra dose of concern in 2012. The reason is that a little less than 5 hours from this point a quarter-moon cycle will come into the picture — equating with a rapid rise in tensions across the board. Here’s how this situation comes into being. First, the Sun shifts gears from earthy Virgo to airy Libra at 7:50AM PDT. Nothing really seems amiss and there is now a 30-day focus on improving the quality of primary partnerships as well as picking up the pace in the fine or graphic arts. However, a seemingly innocent Moon-Saturn 60-degree rapport (9:46AM PDT) begins a void lunar uncertainty zone that lasts until 12:22PM PDT (when the Moon enters hardnosed and industrious Capricorn). It is then at 12:42PM PDT that a potentially strong problem manifests when the First Quarter Sun-Moon Phase clocks in — energizing 1 degree of Libra and Capricorn. Therefore, we now have not only a solar-lunar 90-degree square pattern that can signify stormy emotions affecting millions of people, but the places in the zodiac where they are doing the square (at 1 degree of Libra and Capricorn) carry archetypal significance, referring to the state of the society as a whole and the corporate-business-professional climate as a whole. Hopefully, due to the relatively quick motion of the Moon, multiple crises will be averted as cool heads prevail over temperamental individuals who are on ego trips. Relax in a hot tub or enjoy a whirlpool treatment later on as the Moon makes a supportive, 60-degree link to the healing celestial body Chiron (11:04PM PDT).
Grapevine Month
Colors: Blue and Purple
Element: Water
Altar: Upon cloth of blue and purple set a great pitcher of wine with many cups, four purple candles, and many wreaths of grapevine and baskets of grapes.
Offerings:
Daily Meal: Vegetarian, with wine or grape juice to drink, and of course grapes.
Muin Invocation
Call: Hail the Month of the Grapevine!
Response: Hail the Month of the Vine-Gods!
Call: Hail the month when sour turns to sweet!
Response: Hail the month when labor comes ripe!
Call: Hail the month when our hands come together,
Response: Hail the month when the cup is passed!
Call: This is the time of bonding,
Response: When the fruits of the harvest lay within our grasp.
Call: This is the call of Joy and Merriment,
Response: This is the time of coming together.
Call: For though we may have forgotten laughter beneath our burdens,
Response: Laughter comes for us at last.
Call: And yet we begin to see the year passing to its end,
Response: And our laughter is the light passing into the dark.
Call: May we go to into the dark like the Children of Dionysos,
Response: Embracing the cycle with open arms!
Call: Like the grapevine, we are givers of ecstasy.
Response: Like the grapevine, we are givers of dream.
Call: Like vines, we yield up our fruit.
Response: Like vines, we yield up for the good of all.
Call: Like vines, we twine towards the Light.
Response: Like vines, we twine towards the Spirit.
Call: We hold the line, we keep the Mysteries true,
Response: We hold the line, we keep the Mysteries true,
Call: I am the vine; the branches, you and you.
Response: I am the vine; the branches, you and you.
Chant:
Taste Joy in the Day
Take Joy in the Night
Touch Joy in your face turned
To the fading light
Ay ay ay ay-yi-hey.
22 Halegmonath
MABON
Colors: Brown and orange
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon cloth of brown and orange, set the fruits of the harvest in many baskets, surrounding the altar if need be. Lay on it also a sickle, a pitchfork, a winnowing basket, and a flail. Have also pots of the four sacred preservation foods: salt, vinegar, wine, and honey.
Offerings: Give food to the hungry.
Daily Meal: Made from the fruits of the harvest.
Ritual Note: Like all the eight high holidays, this day should ideally be spent not enclosed and isolated, but in common with the larger pagan community. This can be done a number of ways, including spending the day elsewhere, at the Mabon ritual of another group or tradition, or by inviting in those pagans who would otherwise not be able to attend a ritual. Either way, the eight holidays should be a time of remembering the place of the house in the greater community. If the choice is made to go elsewhere, then no liturgy is needed for the day. If the choice is made to bring the greater community into the lesser one, the following ritual can be used:
(First four who have been chosen to do the work of the ritual cast the quarters with sickle, pitchfork, winnowing basket, and flail.)
East Caller: Spirits of the East, Powers of Air!
You who are the cold steel of the scythe,
You who are the blade that separates
One from another,
Life from death,
You who are smoke on the wind
And the bringer of the new dawn,
Be with us today!
South Caller: Spirits of the South, Powers of Fire!
You who are the Sun who moves towards the west,
You who are the gentle rays feeding the harvest
As summer moves into autumn,
Pulling the crops toward the sky
And drying them to golden as your rays,
Be with us today!
West Caller: Spirits of the West, Powers of Water!
You who are the sweat we have given to this land,
The blood that this land will feed,
The tears of joy that we shed to see
All your bounty brought to harvest
And know that our bellies shall be full of your bounty,
Be with us today!
North Caller: Spirits of the North, Power of Earth!
You who are the ground beneath our feet,
You who sustains and nourishes us,
You who brought us forth,
You to whom we shall all one day return,
We honor you especially today.
Be with us now!
Mabon Invocation
Today the Night and Day stand in balance!
Today the work of the year measures itself
Against the coming of the winter.
The Virgin with her sickle gives way
To the Scales that weigh our harvest,
Our hearts, our deeds, our worth.
On this day, our ancestors could look at their work
And look forward, and know whether they would be
Fat or thin, sharing or lending or borrowing,
Worrying or content. This is the Reckoning Day.
And what have we to reckon?
Bring forth the four sacred foods of Mabon,
Each sacred because they preserve the harvest
And allow what is done now to feed us later.
(The salt is passed around.)
Salt of the earth is wealth.
What wealth have you made or lost?
Have you shared it with others, or kept it to yourself?
(All speak of this in turn, then the vinegar is passed around.)
Vinegar, sour as a bad year,
Yet it is the symbol of hard work.
What work have you done that was a struggle
But that you are proud of?
(All speak of this in turn, then the wine is passed around.)
Wine, joy of Dionysos,
The symbol of gaiety, of bonding,
Of happiness and song. What happiness
Has come to you this year, like a gift unlooked for?
(All speak of this in turn, then the honey is passed around.)
Honey, blood of Aphrodite,
You are love in all its many forms.
What love have you brought to this table?
What has Love given you, and what have you given in turn?
(All speak of this, then a basket of harvest fruit is passed around.)
These are the fruits of our reckoning,
These are the embodiments of our toil,
These are the manifestation of our springtime hopes.
May all partake, in hope for the next year.
But save the seeds, for these too will be our hopes.
Hail to our ancestors, who stood where we stand!
Hail to those who will come after us,
And whose mouths our labors will feed!
Hail!
(A cup is passed around for the seeds, which should be dried and saved. Dismiss the quarters. After the song, all will spend the day in preserving the sacred harvest.)
Song: Reckoning Day
Emotions begin to stir coupled with recognizing that the new beginnings you are making must also increase personal security to be worthwhile over the long haul. This is a time when it’s appropriate to get in touch with your gut instincts and begin to guide your life more deliberately, with an awareness of using your “sixth sense” as well as your enthusiasm. Obstacles may emerge that require you to reevaluate how to better integrate yourself into your immediate environment.

Known as the Witch’s Thanksgiving, Mabon occurs at the Autumnal Equinox. As the year shifts from light to dark, the focus shifts from the masculine to the feminine, from the God to the Goddess, and from external work to internal reflection. On this day Lugh, honored at Lughnasadh, sacrifices himself in battle with his dark twin. In Wiccan mythology, the Goddess, full and radiant in her own abundance, waits to give birth to the new Sun God at Yule. Also known as Harvest Home, the Feast of Avalon, Wine Harvest, and the Festival of Dionysus, Mabon can also be seen as a celebration of the God of the Vine. In either form, it marks the second harvest and is a time to relax, enjoy, and give thanks for the bounty of the Earth. Create an altar with the colors, fruits, and flowers of Fall. Decorations could include leaves, grain, acorns, apples, grapes, a cornucopia, the Empress card from your favorite tarot deck, and a picture or statute of Demeter, Persephone, Lugh, or Dionysus. Light an orange or rust candle, and reflect on all that you have harvested in the past year. Light another candle in thanks for each item or event, saying: “Thank you, Lady for your great gift of abundance.” End by raising a chalice containing a small amount of juice, wine or mead, saying: “Thank you, Lord, for your gift of sacrifice and bounty.” Take one sip, and then go outside and offer the rest in libation to the Earth. Let the candles burn down and leave the altar, adding fresh items as needed until Samhain.
Reference:
“Giving Thanks Spell”
by Lady MoonDance
Llewellyn’s Witches’ Spell-A-Day Almanac
~Magickal Graphics~

*Saturday (Saturn): Longevity, exorcism, endings, homes and houses.
Moon Sign: *Sagittarius
*Sagittarius: Encourages flights of imagination and confidence. This is an adventurous, philosophical and athletic Moon sign. Favors expansion and growth.
*Waxing Moon
*The Waxing Moon (from the New Moon to the Full): is the ideal time for magick to draw things toward you.
Moon enters *Capricorn 3:20 pm
*Capricorn: Develops strong structure. Focus on traditions, responsibilities, and obligations. A good time to set boundaries and rules.
Moon Phase: Second Quarter 3:41 pm
Incense Patchouli
Color: Indigo
Sun enters *Libra 10:49 am
*Libra: Favors cooperation, social activities, beautification of surroundings, balance, and partnership.

On the Autumnal Equinox, which generally occurs on September 22 – give or take a day – Wiccans celebrate the (lesser) Sabbat that they may call Mabon. With the fruits of the earth safely gathered in, there is at last time for a harvest festival, and for thanksgiving. Yet while day and night may be of equal length, the balance will imminently shift in favor of darkness, and everything associated with it, including death. And it is now that the Horned God, having conquered the demons of the underworld, returns to Earth to claim the Goddess, so that together they descend to their dark realm.
Mabon heralds a time of turning inward. This is a good occasion on which to give thanks to the Goddess and Horned God for their fruitfulness and for all that you have metaphorically reaped this year. You may also want to plan your spiritual development for the coming months.
~Magickal Graphics~
Farewell, O Sun, ever returning light. The hidden
God, who ever yet remains. He departs to the land
of youth, through the gates of Death, to dwell
enthroned, the judge of Gods and man. The horned
leader of the hosts of Air. Yet, even as stand unseen
about the circle the forms of the Mighty Lords of
the Outer Spaces, So dwelleth he, ‘the lord within
ourselves.’ So dwelleth he within the secret seed, the
seed of new reaped grain, the seed of flesh, hidden
in the earth, the marvelous seed of the stars.
‘In him is life, and life is the light of men,’
that which was never born and never dies.
Therefore the Wicca weep not, but rejoice.”
– The Book of Shadows (1957)
Gerald Gardner

I give thanks to you, my Lord and Lady,
eternal God and Goddess, for all my
worldly blessings.
I give thanks for a beautiful year and a
glorious harvest. Your bounty is never
ending!
You give much more than needed, and in
your name I will share my good fortune
with my family and neighbors.
Praise be my eternal parents, the Lord
and Lady!
Blessed Be.
Items You Need:
White candle
Incense
Lucky Rabbit’s Foot
White piece of cotton
The Spell:
If you feel that a sorcerer or sorceress has placed a magickal curse upon you, your home or your family, perform this curse-breaking spell just before midnight on the last night of the Full Moon
Light a new white candle and burn any of the following incense in a fireproof container: Cloves, frankincense, hyacinth, lilac, pine or sage.
Hold a lucky rabbit’s foot charm over your heart and repeat the following incantation thirteen times:
“With rabbit’s foot and magick verse
I turn around this wicked curse.
As these words of mine are spoken
Let this evil spell be broken.”
Repeat this spell nightly (using a brand-new candle each time) until the phase of the New Moon. Wrap the leftover wax from the candles in a white piece of cotton and then bury it in the ground in a secret spot where it will remain undisturbed.
Items You Need:
Old cooking pot
Black candle
Water
The Spell:
Get yourself an old cooking pot, place a black candle in the center, fill the pot with water until it is 2” below the wick of the candle. Light the candle and say:
“If truly hexed or cursed I am, let it break with quench of flame.”
Then stare into the flame and see all the negative energy being drawn into it. When the candle burns down to the water level, and the flame sputters out, say:
“So Mote It Be!”
Dig a hole and empty the water into it. Now bury the candle. It is done.
Items You Need:
3 Cloves of Garlic
Water
The Spell:
With water, grind the garlic into a paste. Rub the paste on the souls of the afflicted person’s shoes, and on the front step of his/her home. Create a blessing with the Sun retribution Symbol invoking enlightment and clarity. This will negate Earth Spells.
Items You Need:
Blood Root
The Spell:
On a night when the Moon is in a Waning phase, take a blood root (a favorite Voodoo root used for breaking all evil spells and hexes) and throw it onto the doorstop of the person who has placed the curse upon you. You will then be released from his or her magickal power and the imprecation will immediately be turned back to the sender of the curse.
Items You Need:
White Candle
Black Candle
The Spell:
Choose the first Saturday, after a Full Moon or the Full Moon itself. Use one white candle and one black candle for balance. Say:
“On the eve of ________________
I cast a spell
The effects I created
I must now quell
Specifically___________________
May this spell be lifted
And I now be gifted
Specifically with_______________.”
Items You Will Need:
Black Candle
Cauldron
Beeswax
Fresh Water
The Spell:
If you believe that a spell has been cast against you, place a large black candle in the cauldron (or a large black bowl). The candles must be tall enough to extend a few inches above the cauldron’s rim. Affix the candle to the bottom of the cauldron with warmed beeswax or the drippings of another black candle so that it will not tip over.
Fill the cauldron to the rim with fresh water, without wetting the candle’s wick. An inch or two should remain above the water. Deeply breathe, meditate, clear your mind and light the candle. Visualize the suspected spell’s power as residing within the candle’s flame. Sit in quiet contemplation of the candle and visualize the power flowing and growing within the candle’s flame. (Yes, the power against you) As the candle burns down, it’s flame will eventually sputter and go out as it contacts the water. As soon as the flame has been extinguished by the water, the spell will be dispersed.
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