Remember The Ancient Ways and Keep Them Holy!

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Goddess Month of Hera begins 5/16 – 6/12
Celtic Tree Calendar: Uath (Hawthorn) – May 13 to June 9

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June Moon Phases
Last Quarter falls on Tuesday, 09 June, 2015 at 11:43 AM
New Moon falls on Tuesday, 16 June, 2015 at 10:07 AM
First Quarter falls on Wednesday, 24 June, 2015 at 7:04 AM

July Moon Phases
Full “Buck” Moon falls on Wednesday, 01 July, 2015 at 10:22 PM
Last Quarter falls on Wednesday, 08 July, 2015 at 4:26 PM
New Moon falls on Wednesday, 15 July, 2015 at 9:26 PM
First Quarter falls on Friday, 24 July, 2015 at 12:05 AM
Full “Blue” Moon falls on Friday, 31 July, 2015 at 6:45 AM

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The Year Is Divided Into Four Seasons:
The first season is of a frigid complexion, and this is “Winter”;
The second is of the complexion of Air, and this is “Spring”;
Then follows the third, which is “Summer”, and is of the complexion of Fire;
Lastly, there is the fourth, wherein fruits are matured, which is “Autumn”.
~The Turba Philosophorum, ca. 12 century

Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

Seasons of the Witch – Legends and Lore, Ancient Holidays And Some Not So Ancient!

Today Is …

Fornax – The Romans celebrated the festival of Fornax, Goddess of Ovens, by hanging garlands of flowers on ovens and wreaths on the necks of the mules who turned the mills. Field, Carol, The Italian Baker

Vestalia – In ancient Rome, this was the day set aside for a public festival for the hearth goddess Vesta. Women walked barefoot around her round temple with offerings. The Vestal Virgins prepared the ritual food: mola salsa, a cake of salt and the first grain. The water came from vessels that could not be set down without spilling and the salt was pounded in a mortar, baked and sawn. It became a holiday for millers and bakers. Blackburn, Bonnie and Leofranc, Holford-Strevens, The Oxford Book of Days, Oxford University Press, 2000 Monaghan, Patricia, The Book of Goddesses and Heroines, Llewellyn 1981

St Columba*
Day of Colum Cille the beloved
Day to put the loom to use
Day to put sheep to pasture
Day to put coracle on the seas
Day to bear, day to die
Day to make prayer efficacious
Day of my beloved, the Thursday.

This is the luckiest day of the year when it falls on Thursday (alas! This year it falls on Monday). St Columba was one of the most beloved of Celtic saints. The magical herb, St John’s Wort, which flowers around summer solstice, was said to be his favorite herb. He wore it underneath his armpit to ward off all kinds of evil. If find some accidentally and you say this charm when you pick it, you can use it the same way:

Arm-pit package of Columba the kindly
Unsought by me, unlooked for
I shall not be carried away in my sleep
Neither shall I be pierced with iron
Better the reward of its virtues
Than a herd of white cattle.

In Norway, this is considered the day the salmon start leaping.
Blackburn, Bonnie and Leofranc, Holford-Strevens, The Oxford Book of Days, Oxford University Press, 2000
Carmichael, Alexander, Carmina Gadelica, Lindisfarne Press, Source: School of the Seasons

Rome: Vestalia, an 8-day festival honoring the Goddess Vesta,
began when Vesta’s sanctuary doors were opened. Vesta, thought
by some to be a triple-goddess and the Roman equivalent of the
Greek Goddess Hestia, was the Goddess of the Hearth, Home, and
all domestic happiness, as well as the protector of virginal
womanhood.

Her six priestesses, the Vestal Virgins, embodied the creative
power of the Goddess prior to the first great rite of passage
from maiden to mother. They were chosen from physically perfect
girls with two living parents, between their sixth and tenth
years. Each was sworn to thirty years of chastity and service to
the Goddess, under threat of the punishment of being buried
alive should they fail to maintain their purity.

Their most sacred duty was tending Her sacred fire, said to have
been brought to Italy by Aeneas, at the Temple of Vesta. For the
great pageantry of the Vestalia, they would draw holy water from
a sacred spring and gather grain to make the holy cakes, the
salty ‘mola salsa’, which were offered with prayers and songs on
behalf of the state and individual households. Libations of wine
would be poured on the ground and altars as well as into goblets
for drinking. Donkeys, the favorite animal of the Goddess, would
be garlanded with wreaths and cakes, blessing the bakers and
millers.

The well being of the entire State depended on the Vestals’
devotion and service to the Goddess. The Vestals guarded state
documents, and the Vestalis Maxima, the chief Vestal Virgin, had
undisputed advisory power in times of national crisis. The
Vestals appearance was required in many public ceremonies and
they were given many privileges. To this day, remains of statues
of the Vestals can be seen at the Roman Atrium.

The Emperor Theodosius abolished the worship of Vesta in 380 AD,
but echoes of the Vestal Virgins and their pontifex maximus, the
man who oversaw the order of their daily lives, can be seen in
the nuns and Pope of Roman Catholicism. Source: earthmoonandsky

“Asatru Day Of Remembrance For Sigurd The Volsung” ~ He is the consumate Germanic hero. His wooing of the valkyrie Brynhild, the winning of the treasure of the Nibelungs, and the constant theme of Odinic initiation that weaves itself throughout his story are priceless parts of our Asatru heritage, that provide endless material For contemplation, and inspiration for action. A day for Sigurd the Volsung is very fitting From Pagandaily Calendar

“Roman: The Vestalia” ~ A festival honoring Vesta, the virgin Goddess of the hearth. Her virgin priestesses (vestals) tended the hearth fire.

From Pagandaily Calendar

Courtesy of GrannyMoonsMorningFeast

The Witches Correspondences for Tuesday, June 9th

Tuesday (Tiw’s-day)

Planet: Mars

Colors: Red and Autumn Shades

Crystals: Bloodstone, Ruby, Garnet, Flint, Rhodonite, Iron and Steel
Aroma: Basil, Ginger, Black Pepper, Mars Oil, Dragon’s blood and patchouli

Herb: Basil
The day of Mars. This day could only ever symbolize the sheer power of the god of war! The ideal spells to be cast on this day are that of force, power war and protection.

Dedicated to the powers of the planet Mars, personified as Ares, Tiwaz, Tiw, and Tyr.

Magical aspects: controlled power, energy, and endurance, passion, sex, courage, aggression, and protection.

This is the proper day of the week to perform spells and rituals involving courage, physical strength, revenge, military honors, surgery, the breaking of negative spells, dynamic energy, matrimony, war, enemies, prison, hunting, politics, contests, protection, victory, and athletics.

The Witches Almanac for Tuesday, June 9th

Tuesday (Mars): Passion, sex, courage, aggression, and protection.

Vestalia (Roman)

Waning Moon
The Waning Moon is a time for study, meditation, and little magickal work (except magick designed to banish harmful energies).

Fourth Quarter 11: 42 am

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

Incense: Ylang-ylang

Color: White

Light

In the darkness there is light
In the silence there is sound
In the pain there is comfort
In fear there is safety
In the distance there is closeness
In the tear there is joy
In the loss we are found
In hate we find love
In the sisterhood we have the Goddess
For all comes from her and all goes to her
Stand strong and all will be well
As it is above so be it below

—-A Witch’s Prayerbook
JoAnne Spiese

Your Daily Charm for Today

Today’s Meaning:
Prosperity is yours for the taking over the next several months. Good spirits are watching over you and will guide you too abundance and prosperity.

General Description:
The Fish is one of the most ancient of all charms, and was probably introduced into Europe from Alexandria. Originally the Fish was the symbol of the Egyptian goddess who controlled the rising of the Nile, which brought prosperity and abundance to Egypt. The Palm branch has been used from earliest times as an emblem of victory. The Crook was the symbol of the Good Shepherd who watches over the welfare of his sheep. The Ring (early Christian) was worn for success, protection, prosperity, riches, and happiness.

Your Daily Domino
June 8, 2015 

Two/Two
Successful new unions and the strengthening of established unions are in your immediate future. These unions may be secular or spiritual or both. Be open to change, but do not abandon your values.

Your Daily Tile
June 8, 2015 

Wan 9
Symbol: Heaven
The Heaven tile suggests completion. This tile denotes a time for you to consider moving on to your next goal.