Day: January 4, 2014

Deity of the Day – Venus

Deity of the Day – Venus

Venus was originally the Roman goddess of love, but by the time of the witchcraze she wasrelegated to demon status. She became synonymous with Diana in terms of being followed at night by a retinue of women. Witches knew her as Fraw Fenus, stating they visited her at night-time.

Venus could grant to these witches the power of astral projection. Witches could fall into “swoons which rendered them insensible to pricks or scaldings.” When the women revived, they said they had been to heaven and “spoke of stolen or hidden objects.”

Venus’  were for the most part the same as Aphrodite’s. They include roses, which were offered in Venus’  rites, and above all, myrtle (Latin murtos), which was cultivated for its white, sweetly scented flowers, aromatic, evergreen leaves and its various medical-magical properties. Venus’ statues, and her worshipers, wore myrtle crowns at her festivals.Before its adoption into Venus’ cults, myrtle was used in the purification rites of , the Etruscan-Roman goddess of Rome’s ; later, Cloacina’s association with Venus’ sacred plant made her . Likewise, Roman folk-etymology transformed the ancient, obscure goddess  into “Venus of the Myrtles, whom we now call Murcia”.

Myrtle was thought a particularly potent . The , particularly the clitoris, was known as murtos (myrtle). As goddess of love and sex, Venus played an essential role at Roman prenuptial rites and wedding nights, so myrtle and roses were used in bridal bouquets. Marriage itself was not a seduction but a lawful condition, under ‘s authority; so myrtle was excluded from the bridal crown. Venus was also a patron of the ordinary, everyday wine drunk by most Roman men and women; the seductive powers of wine were well known. In the rites to , a goddess of female chastity, Venus, myrtle and anything male were not only excluded, but unmentionable. The rites allowed women to drink the strongest, sacrificial wine, otherwise reserved for the Roman gods and Roman men; the women euphemistically referred to it as “honey”. Under these special circumstances, they could get virtuously, religiously drunk on strong wine, safe from Venus’ temptations. Outside of this context, ordinary wine (that is, Venus’ wine) tinctured with myrtle oil was thought particularly suitable for women.

The Witches Magick for January 4th – Umbrella Protection

The Witches Magick for Jan. 4th

The Umbrella Protection Spell

This spell is exactly what it sounds like. You are putting up a protective umbrella to shield and help all those who are underneath it.

The Spell

Find the biggest white candle available.

Carve your name and birth date into the candle, as well as the name and birth date of those needing your help.

Add five drops each of the following oils to a quarter cup of olive oil:

Oil of Spinenard
Oil of Myrrh
Oil of Sandalwood
Oil of Frankincense

Anoint your candle with the oil.

Now place your candle in a dish filled with sea salt.

Write your desire or wish on a piece of paper. It might be a wish for a loved one’s speedy recovery, or safety as they travel overseas, or help with difficult divoroce. Whatever it is, make sure your request is clearly written on the paper.

Place the paper under the candle and light the wick.

Now, summon the four spirit angels. Call to Uriel to the North, Raphael in the East, Michael in the South, and Gabrield angels of miracles, ij the West

When you can feel the Spirit’s presence in the room, speak your request from the heart, and ask for their help on behalf of someone else. Make sure your request is sincere and heartfelt, and it will be heard.

Let’s Talk Witch – Reversal Spells

Let’s Talk Witch – Reversal Spells

Now, I always get on a kick of how to protect yourself, you home and your loved ones from many things. But if you are seriously under magickal attack from someone who is determined to hurt you, you may need to take a more proactive approach.

Someone casting spells for revenge or malice should be considered extremely dangerous. It’s possible that protective spells alone won’t be enough to stop them.

In an extreme case like that, you may want to consider a Reversal Spell. A reversal spell is like holding up a big mirror. Remember the kid’s saying, “I am rubber and you are glue?” Well a reversal spell will rebound any dark spells onto the attacker and hopefully end the attack.

A reversal spell does not violate the Wiccan Rede, because you do not intend to cause harm. You only want to deflect the negative effects from yourself, and let the attacker feel the full force of their own spells. You will basically force them into a trap of their own making. The bad energy already exists, you are not causing it, just directing it back to thes source.

But before you attempt a reversal spell, here’s what you should do first.

You must identify your attacker. Reversing a spell on the wrong person could have disastrous consequences, so it’s always important to make sure you know where the attack is coming from.

To identify you attacker, you may use a form of divination. Here’s how you do it:

Write the names of your suspects on a piece of paper, and add “unknown” to the end of your list, just in case your attacker is not on your list.

Now, take your pendulum. Clear your mind of all unnecessary thoughts and leave it open and receptive to vibrations of energy. Place the pendulum over the first name and ask if this is the person who attacked you. If it is and if you are properly focused and connected, the pendulum will swing wildly.

If it’s not, move on to the next name and repeat the request again.

If you can’t get conclusive results, it’s possible that you are too mentally scattered or emotionally involved to get an objective answer. In that case, it’s best to wait and try again in a few days, or to turn to someone else with a knowledge of magick to perform a divination for you. But please don’t go ahead with a Reversal Spell unless you have positively identified your attacker.

If you have identified your attacker, though, then gather some dirt from the offender’s home and prepare these other ingredients for your Reversal Spell.

Items You Will Need:

Nine Pieces of Devil’s Shoestring Root

A Jar

Some Red and Black Pepper

Poppy Seeds

Don’t forget your magickal broom, circle and altar. Prepeard your magickal space first.

Nest bring to mind the jinx, curse or spell that has been put on you. Try your best to tap into the frequency of the spell, to get a feel for it. You may visualize a dark aura around you, or just sense the negative energy. It will be different for each person.

But once you can sense the curse, take a piece of devil’s shoestring in your right hand. Trace pentagram in the air in front of you, using the root. Feel it gather up the energy of the spell. As you make the vertical arm of the pentagram, say, “Thou art in the power of mine.”

Repeat this motion nine times, one for each piece of devil’s shoestring roots.

Father up all nine roots, which have collected all the bad energy and place them in the jar with the dirt from your attacker house. Add the red and black pepper, and the poppy seeds.

Go back to your attacker’s house and sprinkle the contents of the jar into their yard, saying the incantation:

“What malice you have aimed at me shall be now be returned bo thee. By my word and by my will, so may it be.”

Then walk away without looking back.

This spell has not only bound up the negative attack on you, but you have actually delivered ir right back to the sender’s front door. How about that Karma?

May sure you increase the protective spells on your home, and work on your protective shield, to prevent the attack from happening again.

Celebrating Other Spirituality 365 Days A Year – Sacrifice to the 7 Stars

Celebrating Other Spirituality 365 Days A Year

January 4

Sacrifice to the 7 Stars

The ancient Greeks set this day aside to honor Callisto, the Moon Goddess who was loved by Zeus. Callisto bore Zeus a son, Arcas, and was then changed into a bear either by Zeus, wishing to hide her, or by Hera herself.  As a bear she was shot by Artemis in the forest, who then placed her among the stars as the “She Bear” connected with the Ursa Major constellation.

In Greek Callisto was also called Helice, which means both “that which turns” and “Willow branch”—-a reminder that the willow was the sacred tree favored by Helice and Callisto.

Magickal Adtivity

The Willow Wand
To make the wand:

Cut a small branch from a Willow tree. Clean and sand the branch until it is smooth. Use silver pain to inscribe your name in a spiral pattern around the branch.

Use a smudge stick to concentrate your wand. Light the smudge and pass the wand through its fragrant smoke. This will remove any negative thoughts or vibrations that might have been attached to the branch before you acquired it.

Once the branch has been cleansed you will need to bless it in Callisto’s honor. Place the wand on your altar or a small table. Hold both of your hands over the wand and speak the following prayer:

“Goddess of the Moon grant to me
The Willows power of flexibility.
Through your love  all be warmed,
And from this moment be transformed.”

When you feel the need to be more flexible and accommodating hold your wand and repeat the prayer

January Is The Celtic Month of the Birch Tree

This Is The Month of the Birch Tree

(December 24 – Jan 21)

Latin name: Yellow birch – betula alleghaniensis; black birch – betula lenta; canoe or common birch – betula papyrifea.

Celtic name: Beth (pronounced: beh)

Folk or Common names: Beithe, Bereza, Berke, Beth, Bouleau, Lady of the Woods, Birth, Canoe Tree, Paper Tree, Silver Birch, White Birch. “Birch” is derived from the meaning “Bright” or “Shining” in Indo-European and Sanskrit terminology. Quite possibly it came from the Anglo-Saxon term “Beorgan” meaning “to protect or shelter”

Parts Used: Leaves, bark, wood, sap, branches.

Herbal usage: Birch leaves can be used to make an infusion that is good for breaking up kidney or bladder stones. Birch bark is an astringent and can be used to treat non-hereditary baldness. Birch tea can be made from the inner bark and leaves and this is good for rheumatism or as a sedative to aid sleep. Birch sap can be harvested the same way maple sap is, and then boiled down into birch syrup.

Magical History & Associations: The bird associated with the Month of the Birch is the pheasant. Birch’s color is white, its day is Sunday and its gemstone is red chard. The Celtic symbol of Birch is the White Stag with a rack with seven tines. Birch is associated with the element of water, is a tree of the sun and the planet Venus, and its Herbal Gender is feminine. The Birch tree is sacred to the God Thor and the Goddesses Diana and Cerridwen. Birch is considered to be a Goddess tree, the symbol of summer ever-returning. The Birch is also a special tree to the Celts (“On a switch of birch was written the first Ogham inscription in Ireland, namely seven B’s, as a warning to Lug son of Ethliu, to wit, ‘Thy wife will be seven times carried away from you into fairyland or elsewhere, unless birch be her overseer.” – Robert Graves, The White Goddess) and Birch wood is one of the nine traditional firewoods to be added to the Belfire that is burned at Beltane. It is one of the three pillars of Wisdom (Oak, Yew, Birch) and often symbolizes the first level of Druid working. Birch trees often have Otherkin spirits attached to them and the “Lieschi” or “Genii of the Forest” are said to dwell in their tree tops. The Ghillie Dhu (pronounced “Gillee Doo or Yoo”) are guardian tree spirits who are disguised as foliage and dislike human beings. They prefer birch trees to all others, and jealously guard them from humans. If the spirit of the Birch tree touches a head it leaves a white mark and the person turns insane. If it touches a heart, the person will die.

Magickal usage: The month of Birch is a good time to do magick associated with new beginnings. Magickal work done in this moon adds strength and momentum to any new choices made. The Birch has applications in magick done for protection, creativity, exorcism, fertility, birth, healing, Forest Magic, Inner Authority/Self-Discipline, Lunar workings, love, and purification. Magickal protective uses of Birch include tying a red ribbon around the trunk of a birch to ward off the evil eye. Also, gently whapping someone with a Birch twig drives out negative energy, and Birch branches hung near a cradle will protect the newborn from psychic harm. In fact, cradles can be made from Birch wood to further protect a newborn. Many farmers plant Birch around their houses to protect against lightning. For magical parchment, gather Birch bark from a tree that has been struck by lightning (chosen by Thor) – and the Birch paper will keep the writings safe. Because Birch wood has the qualities of exorcism and protection, its twigs are traditionally used to make witches’ brooms. Brooms made of a mixture of Ash, Birch and Willow are said to be especially powerful in magick. Birch rods are also used in rustic rituals to drive out the spirits of the old year. Birch is also perfect to use to make a ‘Goddess’ wand, since Birch is the tree known as ‘the Lady of the Woods’ and a grove of Birch trees is an excellent place to communicate with the Goddess. Birch wood is also a good choice for making rune sets to use for divination. Be sure to harvest your branch for the rune set during the waxing moon, and make sure you ask Odin or Byarka to inspire your work. Also ask the tree if it will allow you to take a branch and be sure to leave the tree an offering of thanks when you are done. Birch trees especially appreciate gifts such as pretty stones, sea shells, flowers or herbs. (Please note: never take bark off a living Birch tree, since this will kill it.)

Saturday Is Ruled By Saturn

Witchy Comments & Graphics

Saturday Is Ruled By Saturn

 

Archangel: Cassiel

Candle colour: Purple or brown

Incenses: Patchouli or mimosa

Crystals: Jet or banded agate

Use Saturdays for spells to do with property, security and long-term financial matters, for closing doors on the past, for psychic protection and for locating lost objects (as well as animals and people).

Where possible, work in woodland near rocks and stones or on animal or bird reserves

The Witches Magickal Correspondence for Saturday, January 4

Witchy Comments & Graphics
The Witches Magickal Correspondence for Saturday, January 4

Magickal Intentions: Spirit Communications, Meditation, Psychic Attack or Defense, Locating Lost Things and Missing Persons, Building, Life, Doctrine, Protection, Knowledge, Authority, Limitations, Boundries, Time and Death
Incense: Black Poppy Seed and Myrrh
Planet: Saturn
Sign: Capricorn and Aquarius
Angel: Cassiel
Colors: Black, Grey and Indigo
Herbs/Plants: Myrrh, Moss, Hemlock, Wolfsbane, Coltsfoot, Nightshade and Fir
Stones: Jet, Smokey Quartz, Amethyst, Black Onyx, Snowflake Obsidian, Lava, Pumice
Oil: (Saturn) Cypress, Mimosa, Myrrh, Patchouli

Saturn lends its energies to the last day of the week. Because Saturn is the planet of karma, this day is an excellent time for spellwork involving reincarnation, karmic lessons, the Mysteries, wisdom, and long-term projects. It is also a good time to being efforts that deal with the elderly, death, or the eradication of pests and disease.

The Witches Almanac for Saturday, January 4th

Witchy Comments & Graphics
The Witches Almanac for Saturday, January 4th

Saturday (Saturn): Longevity, exorcism, endings, homes, and houses.

Frost Fairs on the Thames

Waxing Moon

The Waxing Moon is the ideal time for magick to draw things toward you.

Moon Sign: Aquarius

Aquarius: Rebellious energy. Time to break habits and make abrupt changes. Personal freedom and individuality is the focus.

Moon Phase: First Quarter

Moon enters Pisces 11:58 am

The focus is on dreaming, nostalgia, intuition, and psychic impressions. A good time for spiritual or philanthropic activities.

Incense: Pine

Color: Blue

GOOD MORNING TO ALL MY WONDERFUL FAMILY & FRIENDS OF THE WOTC!

I Be A Witch

I be a Witch within my heart and soul
I cast spells, chant for healing
and conjure ritual concoctions
within my cauldron bowl
I honor the moon
I honor the Sun
I honor the Earth Goddess
and the Horned one
I honor the four seasons
The Wheel of the Year
From Spring, Summer to Fall
right through to Yuletide cheer
I honor this life I live
and the many that came before
I trust within my dreams at night
the old ways forgotten lore
I pray for healing and respect
for the common good
to be sent and received by all
from city’s to the long lost wood I am on a path of pure love and light
That is very true indeed
I seek enlightenment and knowledge
from thine Wiccan Rede
Everything I do in this life
from today to tomorrow on
I try and live it to the fullest
before my days are gone
I be a Witch within my soul and heart
So take heed my brothers and Sister
To my words I share with you
Merry Ye Meet and Merry Ye Part

 

Source:
“I be a Witch”
Author: WynnJera
Dutchie
Dutchie Network