Month: February 2019

Magickal Activity for February 13, the Day of Parentalia – Dream Magick

Magickal Activity for February 13, the Day of Parentalia – Dream Magick

Dream Magick

Dreams are considered to be the mirror of the soul and a way to divine the future. In some cultures, dreams are considered to be visions of the past or what will come to pass in the future. Many people use dreams as a way to work out personal problems and as an aid in spiritual development.

 

The Dream Pillow

Items needed: One 10″ x 10″ square of soft fabric; one cup of mugwort; one cup of chamomile; one cup of mint.

Fold the cloth in half and stitch three of the four sides together to form a case. Fill the case with the herbs and stitch the open side closed. Place the herbal pillow inside your pillow case. Before you retire, reflect on the day’s events and then ask Faunus (in your own words) to bring you visions of the future.

A Brief Look at Parentalia

A Brief Look at Parentalia

In ancient Rome, the Parentalia (Latin pronunciation: [pa.renˈtaː.li.a]) or dies parentales (Latin pronunciation: [ˈdi.eːs pa.renˈtaː.les], “ancestral days”) was a nine-day festival held in honor of family ancestors, beginning on 13 February.

Although the Parentalia was a holiday on the Roman religious calendar, its observances were mainly domestic and familial. The importance of the family to the Roman state, however, was expressed by public ceremonies on the opening day, the Ides of February, when a Vestal conducted a rite for the collective di parentes of Rome at the tomb of Tarpeia.

Overview
Ovid describes sacred offerings (sacrificia) of flower-garlands, wheat, salt, wine-soaked bread and violets to the “shades of the dead” (Manes or Di manes) at family tombs, which were located outside Rome’s sacred boundary (pomerium). These observances were meant to strengthen the mutual obligations and protective ties between the living and the dead, and were a lawful duty of the paterfamilias (head of the family). Parentalia concluded on 21 February in the midnight rites of Feralia, when the paterfamilias addressed the malevolent, destructive aspects of his Manes.

Feralia was a placation and exorcism: Ovid thought it a more rustic, primitive and ancient affair than the Parentalia itself. It appears to have functioned as a cleansing ritual for Caristia on the following day, when the family held an informal banquet to celebrate the amity between themselves and their benevolent ancestral dead (Lares). The emphasis on collective cult for the Manes and early di parentes implies their afterlife as vague and lacking individuation. In later cult they are vested with personal qualities, and in Imperial cult, they acquire divine numen and become divi, divine entities.

From Parentalia to Caristia all temples were closed, marriages were forbidden, and “magistrates appeared without their insignia,” an indication that no official business was conducted. William Warde Fowler describes the Parentalia as “practically a yearly renewal of the rite of burial”.

Individuals might also commemorated on their birthday (dies natalis). Some would be commemorated throughout the year on marked days of the month, such as the Kalends, Nones or Ides, when lamps might be lit at the tomb. The Lemuria on 9, 11 and 13 May was aimed at appeasing “kinless and hungry” spirits of the dead.

–Wikipedia

The Witches Magick for Wednesday, February 13th – Four Quarters Moon Spell Series

Four Quarters Moon Spell Series

This relatively simple spell is repeated throughout the lunar cycle, with variations appropriate to each phase.

While each of the four spells can certainly stand alone, there is a powerful advantage to working all of them for an entire lunar cycle, to establish an energetic pattern that aligns you with the Moon’s rhythms.

You can tailor each working to your own practice by choosing your own combination of ingredients—feel free to substitute any of the suggested items below with other Moon-associated crystals, herbs, and flowers—and by stating your goals in your own words.

Each working might be focused on one aspect of the same overall goal, or the intentions for each spell may be unrelated to each other—it’s all up to you.

You will need:
3 small pieces of moonstone, smoky quartz, and/or quartz crystal
1 teaspoon dried hibiscus, anise seed, lilac, and/or Irish moss
1 white tea light or spell candle
1 work candle (optional)

Instructions:
Light the work candle, if using.

Arrange the crystals in a triangle shape around the spell candle, and then use the herbs and/or flowers to create a circle encompassing the triangle.

Spend a few moments visualizing the Moon as it looks in its current phase. (You might want to place images of the Moon on your altar or work space for help.)

Now, visualize the outcome of manifesting your goal. When you feel ready, state your goal out loud, as if it has already come to be.

Light the spell candle, and seal the spell by saying the appropriate words below (or words of your own choosing):

1st quarter (New Moon):
“For my intention I plant these seeds,
Knowing the Goddess will meet my needs.”

2nd quarter (Waxing Half):
“Day by day and night by night,
My plans are growing with the light.”

3rd quarter (Full Moon):
“Abundant thanks for abundance blessed,
and I know still more will manifest.”

4th quarter (Waning Half):
“I now release this ________ unwanted
My mind is clear and my heart undaunted.”

Leave the candle to burn out on its own. Spell candles burn between 1 – 3 hours, while tea lights tend to last longer.

 

–Wicca Moon Magic: A Wiccan’s Guide and Grimoire for Working Magic with Lunar Energies
Lisa Chamberlain

Wednesday Is Ruled By Mercury

Wednesday Is Ruled By Mercury

Wednesdays are wild and wacky days. They are for communication, change, cunning, and the arts. This is a Mercury day, and just its patron god this day is full of contradictions, change, and excitement. Some suggestions for Wednesday enchantments would include:

Pulling a little Wednesday color magic into your life by wearing purples or orange

Carrying a multipurpose agate with you and tapping into its various charms

Working with magical plants such as the fern for protection. This plant will also boost the power of any other magical plants with which it is arranged.

Incorporating lavender into charms and spells for transformation

Using the charming scent of lily of the valley to improve your memory, or working with the aspen tree for communication

Calling on Athena, patron of arts and crafts, for inspiration for a new project

Fanning out a Tarot spell to increase you creativity

Calling on Hermes on a Wednesday night to bring movement and good luck into your life

*******

Mercury’s Energy

*Notes: perform on a Wednesday and/or during the waxing Moon with the Full Moon being strongest. An orange or violet candle is associated with any magick cast on this day.

Day: Wednesday

Color: Orange, violet, multicolored, pale yellow

Metal: Quicksilver, alloys.

Stones: Carnelian, fire opal, agate

Plants: Anise, caraway , cassia, club mosss, dittany of Crete, lavender, licorice, parsley, sandalwood, storax

Rules: Gemini, Virgo

Oils: Lavender, lemon, lily of valley, nutmeg, sandalwood, styrax, vervain

Rituals Involving: Intellect, memory, science, creativity, business, magickal conjuration, divination, prediction, eloquence, gift of tongues, speed, speech, writing, poetry, inspiration, improvement of mind power, healing of nervous disorders.

Physical Chant for Mercury:

Magick, the Arts, success on my trade,
Business wisdom and divination,
These gifts I would gain for my physical growth
And to help in my conjurations.

 

—Dancing with Dragons, Invoking Their Ageless Wisdom and Power
D. J. Conway, Author

Wednesday Witchery

Wednesday Witchery

Be bold and daring today! Expand your knowledge of the Craft by working with the planetary energies of Mercury on this multifaceted day of the week. Consider the Greco-Roman gods Mercury and Hermes and all of the many lessons they have for you. Embrace change and movement, and work on your communication techniques. Conjure up a little good luck for yourself with that Mercury dime spell. Call on Athena to inspire you to try magickal arts and crafts and to be more creative in your own spellwork and witchery.

Meditate on Odin and see what you can discover about him. I wonder what sort of fabulous and fascinating magickal wisdom you will uncover? Odin is a shaman, after all; he may appear in many guises and faces. I guarantee that he will make you laugh at yourself before he is through with you, but you will learn. It’s up to you what you do with that knowledge. Will you let it shapeshift into wisdom?

Wednesday is the wild and wily day of the week, so try to go with the flow; don’t fight the quirky energies of the day. Most importantly, follow your heart, and always keep a good sense of humor, because of Wednesdays you will really need it.

–Book of Witchery: Spells, Charms & Correspondences for Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

Wednesday’s Conjuring & Associations

Wednesday’s Conjuring

Wednesday – is associated with Mercury

Candle colors – Purple

Magickal Conjuring for the Day: Mastery, Domination Work, Wisdom, Healing, Dealing with Legal problems.

—Starr Casas, Old Style Conjure Wisdoms, Workings and Remedies

*****

Wednesday’s Associations

Color: Purple

Planet: Mercury

Metal: Mercury (Quicksilver)

Deities: Odin, Hermes, Lugh

Gemstones: Mercury, Athena

Crystals: Adventurine, Agate

Herbs: Aspen trees, lilies, Lavender, Ferns

Associations: Business, Communication, Loss and Debt, Travel.

On Wednesday, February 13, We Celebrate…..

On Wednesday, February 13, We Celebrate…..

Birthday of Humankind (China)
NU KWA

Themes: Luck; Opportunity; Abundance; Order; Divination

Symbols: Clay; Serpent

About Nu Kwa: NU Kwa is an ancient Chinese creatrix who formed people out of yellow clay and invented the flute. Today she plays her music hearing good fortune, opportunity, and the organizational skills with which to make both useful. She also serenades the earth back to fullness after winter.

In legends, this serpent-bodied goddess reestablished order on the earth after a terrible rebellion. Nu Kwa used melted stones to refashion the sky, tortoise toes to mark the four winds, and reeds to hold back overflowing rivers. Once this was done, the earth returned to its former beauty.

To Do Today: The eighth day of the Chinese new year celebrates the birthday of humanity, fashioned by Nu Kwa, and is filled with omens about human fate. For example, any person or animal born on this day is considered doubly blessed and destined for prosperity. So, consider taking out a divination tool today and seeing what fate holds for you.

To generate Nu Kwa’s luck or organizational skills in your life, make and carry a clay Nu Kwa charm. Get some modeling clay from a toy store (if possible, choose a color that suits your goal, like green for money). Shape this into a symbol of your goal, saying,

From Nu Kwa blessings poured, Luck and order be restored.

If you can’t get clay, bubblegum will work, too.

—365 Goddess: A Daily Guide To the Magic and Inspiration of the goddess
Patricia Telesco

~ The Goddess Days of the Moon ~

~ The Goddess Days of the Moon ~

Days 13-15 Demeter, the nurturer, rules these

Days 16-18 Dedicated to Gaia, the Earth Goddess

Days 19-21 Hestia, Goddess of Waning Moon, is the matriarchal grandmother, ruling and protecting her family

Days 22-24 Ruled by Medusa, the crone of death and spiritual release, the necessary destruction that allows a new cycle to begin

Days 25-27 Ruled by Hecate, queen of the underworld and the shades, she is seen as the one who allows departed souls to choose thier paths in the next phase of existence and rebirth

The remaining days of the moon – the dark days – are those of the unknowable Masked Goddess, who is present, but invisible.

The Goddess Book of Days for February 13

The Goddess Book of Days for February 13

Roman Parentalia and Feralia, February 13–18, purification festival of peace and love devoted to ancestors and to God- desses Mania and Vesta (Hestia, Lucia, Lucina, Brigid, Perchta, Oya, Bertha, Befana, Freya).

 

Goddesses Associated with Wednesday

For Woden: Isis, Demeter, Ceres, Spider Woman, Bona Dea, Oya, Devi-Kali, Hella, Rhiannon, Coatlique, Maman Brigette

—The Goddess Book of Days
Diane Stein.

The Wicca Book of Days for Wednesday, February 13

The Wicca Book of Days for Wednesday, February 13

On this date, an annual holiday called the Parentalia was observed in ancient Rome. It lasted until the twenty-first of February and was a day for families to honor and commemorate their deceased loved ones, particularly their parents. During the week of Parentalia, all temples in Rome were closed and all wedding ceremonies forbidden. Ancestral tombs were visited and offerings of wine and flowers were made to family ghosts.

–The Wicca Book of Days
Gerina Dunwich

Pagan Calendar of Days for February 13 thru February 17

Pagan Calendar of Days for February 13 thru February 17

February 13 – International Self Love Day
February 13 – February 21 – Ancient Roman Festival Parentalia – Festival of the Ancestors and placation of the ghosts

February 14 – Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday
February 14 – Valentine’s Day

February 15, 2019 – Nirvana Day – Mahayana Buddhist Festival – Anniversary of the death of Buddha

February 16 – Ancient Roman Festival of the Goddess Victoria – Victory

February 17 – Ancient Roman Festival of Fornicalia – Celebrating the Roman Goddess Fornax, the personification of the oven

—Motherhouse of the Goddess, Sacred Living for Modern Women

Today is Wednesday, January 13

Today is Wednesday, January 13

Wednesday is the day of the Teutonic deity known as Wodin or Odin, an aspect of the Allfather, god of knowledge, wisdom, enlightenment and combat, the parallel of Hermes, the planet Mercury

Deity: Woden

Zodiac Sign: Gemini & Virgo

Planet: Mercury

Tree: Ash

Herb: Cinquefoil

Stone: Emerald & Sardonyx

Animal: Raven & Cat

Element: Air

Color: Red & Blue

Number: 6

Rune: Odal(O)

 

Celtic Tree Month of Luis (Rowan) (January 21 – February 17)

The Runic Half Month of Sigel (February 12 – February 26)

Goddess of the Month Bridhe (January – February 19)

 

—The Pagan Book of Days
Nigel Pennick