Category: Daily Posts

August 2015 Astro-Energy Report

August 2015 Astro-Energy Report

Sarah Varcas
a message from Sarah Varcas
To view more of Sarah’s insight, please visit her website, Awakenings, Intuitive Astrology for Heart and Soul

Small Acts of Great Power

‘Gently does it’ is probably the best advice for the coming month, not to be confused with ‘don’t do anything’, which is most definitely not! There’s much to be done throughout August, as we initiate action on some of our recent plans, aided by Mercury, Jupiter and then the Sun entering Virgo, remedying a lack of earth energy since mid May. After a rather intense end to July with a powerful full moon that confronted us with some uncensored truths, August may begin to feel like something of a ‘back down to earth with a bump’ month! If you love to be proactive and focused you’ll be in your element. If, however, your tendency is more to enjoy the dream but stop short of engaging with the mundane world to make it a reality, this month may come as something of a challenge. It won’t however, be an impossible challenge, and we all have cosmic support to take effective action and make progress, the only issue being will we make the effort or find an excuse not to?!

Uranus and Chiron begin an alignment at the start of this month which continues until February of next year, one in the first sign of the zodiac (Uranus in Aries) and the other in the last (Chiron in Pisces). There exists great hope in this alliance, even though many may overlook it in favour of more dramatic cosmic affairs! It whispers of new beginnings born of hard won wisdom. As it works away in the background, gently reminding us that whatever comes to an end in this time clears space for new life, it illuminates the importance of a willingness to let go of our wounds rather than become them, to remove the hooks of past hurts allowing them to gradually dissolve.

Given the length of this alliance it’s only just gaining ground this month, laying the foundations for healing to come. If we feel so inclined, a stated commitment – in ritual or prayer, infront of our mirror or simply to the skies above – that we’re on board with this release of hurt, will help claim our place in the collective healing to come. But remember, as with all things, our will is paramount. An injured limb does not return to full health by doing nothing, but through gradual and graded exercise as it regains strength. We are the same. Healing requires a willingness to try taking the weight of life on the parts where our wounds used to be, strengthening them bit by bit, not hiding them away for fear of their vulnerability.

2nd August sees Saturn station direct in Scorpio, signalling the final few weeks of its passage through the emotional waters of our darkest shadows. It’s been quite a ride for many since it entered Scorpio in October 2012, churning up those things we’d sooner avoid and confronting us with the consequences of having done so for too long. Between now and mid September it offers one more chance to act on what we’ve learned about ourselves and commit to breaking the habits that underpin avoidance in the first place. No matter how squeamish we may be about addressing such challenging issues, the consequences of not doing so are much more difficult in the long run. It takes courage and fortitude but allows for a freer and more authentic existence. Facing head on those things we’d prefer to avoid allows life itself to support us through the subsequent healing, rather than our forging on alone as we struggle to keep it all under wraps. Throughout this month we have the opportunity to shed light into the darker corners of our psyche where still may lurk thoughts and feelings, fears and foreboding we’d just as soon avoid. And given the nascent alliance between Uranus and Chiron, it’s very timely that we do so!

Jupiter’s arrival in Virgo on 11th August signals a significant shift of focus: it’s time to stop imagining, hoping, wishing, planning and start doing, even if we only take baby steps toward a distant goal. Jupiter in Virgo delights in the minutiae that form a coherent whole. It sees each tiny part of creation as a precious jewel, perfect in itself as much as it is part of something greater. This needs to be our attitude, for the necessary actions now are equally small but precious. This is not a time of bold acts and risky undertakings but of gradual, step by step activity that furthers our aims piece by piece. It’s important we don’t allow apparent insignificance to fool us, for every adjustment, every nuance right now paves the path ahead.

The New Moon in Leo on 14th is a personal Moon with a collective message: we each have a role to play in furthering the thrust of conscious evolution, but we play that role in the intricacies of our own individual lives. It’s all too easy to forget that small acts carry great power, especially when our attention is taken up with life’s daily demands. This Moon reminds us that everything we do, each thought, word and intention, matters more than we can possibly imagine. It challenges us to step off the habitual tracks of the mind to break any cycles of negativity, victim-consciousness or just plain old hopelessness that may threaten to keep us stuck in past pain and old fears best released.

A square to Saturn from the Sun between 18th and 25th helps out with this, even though it may not feel like it at the time! It is more vital than ever that we strike a balance between personal fulfilment and the responsibilities that come with incarnation on this awesome planet which houses seven billion people and countless other species and life forms. As more planets approach Virgo, and Saturn speaks, we’re reminded it’s not all about us, as much as our individual lives may seem to be. Without listening in to Mother Nature, to the planet itself, to the cosmos, the elements and their echoes within our own hearts we cannot know what to do or how to act. Not really. If all our decisions are made solely from a subjectively individualistic point of view we will reap only individualistic results, separated from the whole and existing in a vacuum which fails to nourish in the long run. Virgo seeks to serve and Saturn nods in agreement, knowing that the most heartfelt service offers the most profound satisfaction, freeing the heart and mind to honour the greater good.

Once the Sun enters Virgo on 23rd we may be so absorbed in the tasks at hand we forget to look up at the world around us, which is why an alliance between the Sun and the North Node reminds us to do so. Balance is the watchword here, affirming that we can only live effectively in this world if we remember to gaze upon it in all its beauty and majesty, not allowing ourselves to be so absorbed with doing that being is lost. Mother Earth is our guide and the heavens along with her. If we stop and listen in the midst of our hectic lives we will hear her whispers on the breeze and her roar in the wind. Soft rain or bird song becomes the sound of our soul coming home. In a world where competition is king and we are told enemies are everywhere, this passage of the Sun through Virgo reminds us that everyone doing their part is far more effective than each pursuing their own personal powerbase from which to dictate events. With Venus retrograding through Leo throughout this month, we must remember that isolationism divorces us from the flow of abundance that shapes our world, as does fear of the other. We need each other to survive, like it or not. We cannot do it alone. Nor can we place ourselves at the mercy of others and still live a fulsome life. It is in the tension of this paradox that we must live each day right now, finding the balance between nurturing interdependence and nourishing self-sufficiency.

Mercury’s entry into Libra on 27th supports mutual understanding and exploration of the very dynamics which keep our relationships alive or condemn them to the scrap heap of misunderstanding and discord. Conjunct the North Node at this point, Mercury reminds us once again of the creative potential alive at the heart of every relationship we have, every connection we make, no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential. A brief exchange with a stranger can make or break their day; a harsh word spoken in haste can do lasting damage in the blink of an eye. We owe each other a duty of kindness and compassion, support and understanding. The more people that can embrace this duty, fulfilling it whenever possible, the deeper flows the vibrant bond which connects us all. The challenge of relationship is often exactly this: to create a space in which we can all make mistakes and mess up, be forgiven and loved enough to start over once again.

The Full Moon in Pisces on 29th raises the issue of commitment and where we choose to invest ours. Do our choices enslave us to the tiny self or align us with the higher one? Do we honour the collective as we forge our path ahead or seek only to suit ourselves? And how do we bridge the gap between personal and ultimate truths which may contradict each other? We each live an individual life which only we can know from the inside. Simultaneously we are a small cog in the mighty machine of becoming. How we balance these roles, where we decide to dig in our heels or give ground, insist or submit, is key to the coming months during which we can bring into greater alignment our individual orientation with the greater one of unity-consciousness.

As Neptune opposes the Sun at the month’s end, the heavens remind us that relinquishment of personal desire can be an act of martyrdom which binds us or liberation which forever sets us free. Discerning one from the other is vital to our well-being and the longevity of our commitment to awakening. We are here to live, love and laugh as much as to confront life’s challenges. Our world is changing, poised on the brink, as are we. To shift with those changes, to become their very essence, is what it means to awaken. In doing so we can embrace both our uniquely individual perspective and our place in the ever-changing collage of humanity.

September will be one of the most powerful months of 2015. As we approach it, the decisions we make and priorities we honour will reverberate throughout our future, gathering influence and pace. Thus do we further (or not!) conscious evolution, not as an act of super-human will but of enduring commitment to a world in which life is respected, wisdom honoured and the quality of our presence is more important than a sprint to the finish line. We are in this for the long haul, not to get this awakening over and done with so we can get on with our lives! Our lives are awakening. They are evolution. So are we, in our very essence and to our very core. Don’t be fooled by the gentle hum of August, the tiny steps of seeming insignificance. Each and every one carries great power and profound influence. As do we, even in the most ‘inconsequential’ moments of our lives….

Lammas Footnotes

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“Lammas celebrates the first wheat or barley harvest f the year and the skills of those who tend them. Baking and sharing bread, feasting with neighbor, and honoring the still-powerful forces of the summer sun’s light, and are key elements of this cooperative, community-based sabbat.   Corn and wheat dollies made from the last sheaves and stalks of harvested grain are kept through winter to be planted with the first seeds of spring. These organic Goddess figures powerfully affirm the reverence for the Earth’s cycles of birth, death, and renewal. The celebrations, which feature a break from toil, contests of skill, laughter feasting, and dancing, are tempered by the knowledge that most crops are still growing in the fields with no guarantee of adequate abundance for the long winter.   Lughnasadh’s energy of cautious optimism and feeling of well-being bring out the best in all people. The sabbat mingles the expansion of vibrant summer energy with the gathering energy of the upcoming season. The result is a unique time for solidly expanding toward focused goals, such as perfecting and challenging your skills.”

–   Damias Vine Yahoo Group, 7/29/07

Your Current Moon Phase for Lammas, August 1st is Waning Gibbous

Lammas/Lugnasadh Comments
August 1
Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 98%

The Moon today is in a Waning Gibbous Phase. This is the first phase after the Full Moon occurs. It lasts roughly 7 days with the Moon’s illumination growing smaller each day until the Moon becomes a Last Quarter Moon with a illumination of 50%. The average Moon rise for this phase is between 9am and Midnight depending on the age of the phase. The moon rises later and later each night setting after sunrise in the morning. During this phase the Moon can also be seen in the early morning daylight hours on the western horizon.

Phase Details for – Saturday, August 1, 2015

Phase: Waning Gibbous
Illumination: 98%
Moon Age: 15.95 days
Moon Angle: 0.54
Moon Distance: 366,554.74 km
Sun Angle: 0.53
Sun Distance: 151,831,689.98 km
Source:

Lammas, Lughnasadh, Summer Feast, First Harvest Celebration

Lammas/Lugnasadh Comments

Lammas, Lughnasadh, Summer Feast, First Harvest Celebration

 

1. Collect corn husks, dry and store in shade. “Corn” was a generic term for cereal crops (i.e., wheat, barley, oats), and New World corn was added after 1520. Our non-irrigated winter wheat is harvested in June and July where I live. We can collect wild wheat stalks and seeds, tie, and hang in shade. Make a corn dolly and keep until the Yule Celebration. We can pick fruit (apricots, berries, figs and plums) and dry them. Many kinds for fruit are ripe in late July, so place some of these on your home altar. Many garden herbs are at their peak and ready for harvesting to make herbal remedies, air fresheners, use in herbal magic, and for decoration. There are hundreds of good books and websites on the magical, sacramental, and health uses of herbs.

2. Read about and make a loaf of bread. Loaves of bread are a traditional part of the First Harvest Feast. Break bread into four pieces and place at each of the Four Corners altars. Lammas means “Loaf Mass” in the Welsh language. Sharing bread is a common feature of a Lammas celebration. What is the role of baking bread in human culture? Find a really good bakery in your area.

3. This is a good month for celebrating. We, in America, celebrate the Fourth of July, and many counties have their annual Fairs. Be try to be very thankful for our peaceful and bountiful life in America. We are thankful for our religious freedom and the 1st Amendment. Americanism and patriotism are forms of a popular religion – we should reflect on our symbols and heritage. Take a look at Ceisiwr Serith’s website and links on Americanism. Hang up the flags, sing, play, smile, celebrate. Remember our fallen heroes, brave soldiers, and hardworking Ancestors.

4. Prepare for the “Games” of the First Harvest Feast. The Greek Olympics and Roman Heracleia games were held at this time. What games might you play? Horseshoes, boche ball, races, swimmng races, croquet, volleyball, badminton, frisbee, baseball, wrestling, spear throwing, arrow shooting, weight tossing …. Get your equipment and playing court ready, and practice.

5. Renew supplies of your favorite ritual-recreational drug: coffee, tobacco, alcohol (whiskey, beer, wine), fuzzy herbs, etc.. Beer and whiskey, made from barley, are often part of joyful summer harvest feast celebrations. Read about the song John Barleycorn.

6. Think about the power of the sun. How can we use solar power? Dry your clothes in the sun. Build a simple box with screen so you can use the power of the summer sun to dry your fresh fruit.

7. Do some thinking, reflection, or discursive meditation on various themes. Here are some themes to reflect upon: What are the relations between Chaos, Gaia, and Eros? What role does more sunlight play in bringing forth the bountiful harvest? What does summertime mean to you?

8. Implement new ways to stay cool that use less electrical energy. Switch to an evaporative cooler in areas with low humidity. Keep all windows covered. Carefully place fans to circulate air indoors. Work early in the morning and rest in the hot afternoon. Drink plenty of water. If your nights are cooler, under 80, draw the cool air indoors at night. A gable fan can really help reduce heat indoors.

9. Check out astronomical details about the rising of the Dog Star, Sirius, in late July, and the beginning of the “Dog Days of Summer.”

10. The Celtic God, Luga (Lugh, Long Hand), is noted for his high level skills in many arts and crafts: smith, carpenter, bard, healer, herbalist, magician, gamesman, spear throwing, military leadership, etc. Get out your paintbrush. Fix something in the yard or garden or home. Tidy up the garden. Create something, make something. Start learning a new practical skill or craft. Clean your weapons and practice with the weapons.

11. Working and meditating in the garden is an important facet of my spiritual path. I need to regularly reconnect with the earth and the autumn season outdoors. I live in Red Bluff, California, USDA Zone 9, Northern Hemisphere. My late September gardening chores might be quite different from yours, depending upon where you live. Tend your garden daily. Water your garden each day. Weed your vegetable garden. Harvest squash, tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables from your garden each day. Review your own lists of chores for July and August, and act accordingly.

12. Read about Lammas, Lughnasadh, and summer festivals around the world. Add notes and links to books, magazines, and webpages on the subject. See my bibliography and links above. Visit your local public library or college library to obtain access to books, media and magazines on the subject. Study about ancient Indo-European religions. I update my Months webpages on July and September.

13. Add some appropriate Lammas, Lughnasadh, or Mid-Summer songs, chants, prayers, reflections, invocations, or poems to your Neo-Pagan Craft Journal, Book of Shadows, blog, website, or Ritual Handbook. Write in your personal journal. Most spiritual seekers keep a notebook, journal or log as part of their experimental, creative, magical and experiential work.

14. Stay at home. Improve your home, backyard, or garden. Eliminate long driving trips. Do you really need to “Go” anywhere? Do you really need to fly by airplane to another country? Explore your backyard, neighborhood, local community, nearby city, county wide area, regional area within 100 miles. Visit a local “sacred site.” For us, for example, this could be Mt. Shasta, the headwaters spring of the Sacramento River in Mt. Shasta City, the Sacramento River at Woodson Bridge Park, a long walk in the forest below nearby Mt. Lassen, sitting on the shore of Whiskeytown Lake, sitting in my backyard in the moonlight, or visiting a beautiful church or college or park that is nearby. Watch a DVD on a spiritual subject, sacred place, or inspirational topic. Learn more about your local environment.

15. Read solitary or group rites for Lughnasadh available in books and webpages (see above). Create your own ritual for Lughnasadh. Practice the ritual. Conduct the ritual at a convenient time for you, or your family and/or friends, as close to the day of the autumnal equinox as possible. Attend a public Mabon ritual of a local NeoPagan group.

16. A large fire is often lit in your safe outdoor fireplace as part of celebrating Lughnasadh. Take special care because many areas are quite dry in early August. Maybe use a few fireworks left over from the Fourth of July in America.

17. Thoroughly clean, dust, tidy up, refreshen, improve, and add appropriate seasonal decorations to your home altar. This should normally be clean and tidy, however an extra cleaning before the Lughnasadh celebration is a way to express your reverence, create a visible reminder of your thoughts and devotional practices, and to offer hospitality to the nature spirits, ancestors, and Shining Ones. If you don’t have a home altar, read some books and webpages about setting one up in your home or garden, and then establish one this holiday season.

Lughnasadh Celebrations

 

Lammas / Lughnasadh Traditions

Lammas/Lugnasadh Comments

Lammas / Lughnasadh Traditions

At Lammas, sometimes called Lughnasadh, it’s time to celebrate the first harvest of the year, and recognize that the hot summer days will soon come to an end. Celebrated July 31st – August 1st, the plants of spring are withering and dropping their seeds to ensure future crops. Grains are ready to be harvested and the fruits are ripe for picking.

As autumn begins, the Celtic Sun God enters his old age, but is not yet dead. The God symbolically loses some of his strength as the Sun rises farther in the South each day and the nights grow longer.
The Christian religion adopted this theme and called it ‘Lammas ‘, meaning ‘loaf-mass’, a time when newly baked loaves of bread are placed on the altar. An alternative date around August 5 (Old Lammas), when the sun reaches 15 degrees Leo, is sometimes used by Covens.

 
Source:
Wiccan & Pagan Holidays: An Easy Beginner’s Guide to Celebrating Sabbats and Esbats (Living Wicca Today Book 1)
Kardia Zoe

 

Lughnasadh Ritual Tools, Symbols, and Decorations

Lammas/Lugnasadh Comments
Lughnasadh Ritual Tools, Symbols, and Decorations

 

Altar Decorations: Gold or yellow altar cloth; gold altar candles; four ears of corn, each tied with a yellow and orange ribbon; small basket of fruit; gold-colored pillar candle; chalice covered with a yellow cloth; red and white wine; cornbread or ritual cakes.

Symbols: Corn; bread and all baked goods; the pentacle; the hearth, broom, and things connected with the home; baskets filled with corn and fresh vegetables; gift baskets filled with fresh baked goods and tied with gold ribbons; dried corn husks for making corn dollies.

Legends and Lore of Lammas (Lughnasadh)

Lammas/Lugnasadh Comments

Legends and Lore of Lammas

(Lughnasadh)

In many cultures, there are different legends and lore surrounding Lammas (Lughnasadh). Here are a few of the stories about this magical harvest celebration from around the world.

In Israel, the festival of Shavout commemorates the beginning of the harvest, as well as honoring the date that Moses received the Torah on Mt. Sinai. The final sheaf of wheat is brought to the rabbi for a blessing, synagogues and homes are decorated with flower, and a great feast is prepared for all to enjoy.

The festival of Onam is celebrated in India, and people dress up in their finest clothes and give food to the poor. Onam is celebrated in honor of King Mahabali, who was a ruler of Kerala. In one story, the god Vishnu approached Mahabali dressed as a beggar, and asked for land, which Mahabali gave him. Mahabli ended up buried under the earth by Vishnu, but was allowed to return once a year, symbolizing the planting of the seed and the subsequent harvest.

Thor’s wife, Sif, had beautiful golden hair, until Loki the prankster cut it off. Thor was so upset he wanted to kill Loki, but some dwarves spun new hair for Sif, which grew magically as soon as it touched her head. The hair of Sif is associated with the harvest, and the golden grain that grows every year.

In the Shetland Islands, farmers believed that grain harvesting should only take place during a waning moon. They also believed this about the fall potato crop, and the cutting of peat.

At Lughnasadh, calves are weaned, and the first fruits are ripe, such as apples and grapes. In some Irish counties, it was believed farmers had to wait until Lughnasadh to start picking these fruits, or bad luck would befall the community.

In some countries, Lammas is a time for warrior games and mock battles. This may hearken back to the days when a harvest festival was held, and people would come from miles around to get together. What better way for young men to show off their strength and impress the girls than by whacking away at all the competition? Games and contests are also held in honor of Lugh, the mighty Celtic craftsman god, in which artisans offer up their finest work.

It’s become a custom to give people the gift of a pair of gloves at Lammastide. In part, it’s because winter is just around the corner, but it’s also related to an old tradition in which landowners gave their tenants a pair of gloves after the harvest. The glove is a symbol of authority and benevolence.
Source:
By Patti Wigington, Pagan and Wicca Expert
Article found on & owned by About.com

About Lammas

Lammas/Lugnasadh Comments

About Lammas

a guide to the Sabbat’s symbolism

by Arwynn MacFeylynnd

Date: August 1 or 2.

Alternative names: Lughnassadh, Lammastide, August Eve, Harvest Home, Ceresalia (Roman, in honor of the grain goddess Ceres), First Fruits, Festival of Green Corn (Native American), Feast of Cardenas, Cornucopia (Strega), Thingtide and Elembiuos. Lammas, an Anglo-Saxon word, means “loaf mass.” Lughnassadh is named for the Irish sun god Lugh (pronounced Loo), and variant spellings are Lughnasadh, Lughnasad, Lughnassad, Lughnasa and Lunasa.

Primary meanings: This festival has two aspects. First, it is one of the Celtic fire festivals, honoring the Celtic culture-bringer Lugh (Lleu to the Welsh, Lugus to the Gauls). In Ireland, races and games were held in his name and that of his mother, Tailtiu (these may have been funeral games). Second, the holiday is the Saxon Feast of Bread, at which the first of the grain harvest is consumed in ritual loaves. These aspects are not too dissimilar, as the shamanic death and transformation of Lleu can be compared to that of the Barley God, known from the folksong “John Barleycorn.”

Lammas celebrates the first of three harvest celebrations in the Craft. It marks the beginning of autumn, the start of the harvest cycle, and relies on the early crops of ripening grain and any fruits and vegetables ready to be harvested. It is associated with bread because grain is one of the first crops harvested. Those in the Craft often give thanks and honor now to gods and goddesses of the harvest, as well as those who represent death and resurrection.

Symbols: All grains, especially corn and wheat, corn dollies, sun wheels, bread, harvesting and threshing tools and the harvest full moon. Altar decorations might include corn dollies or kirn babies (corncob dolls) to symbolize the Mother Goddess of the Harvest. Other appropriate decorations include summer flowers and grains. You might also wish to have a loaf of whole cracked wheat or multigrain bread upon the altar, baked in the shape of the sun.

Colors: Red, orange, gold, yellow, citrine, green, grey and light brown.

Gemstones: Yellow diamonds, aventurine, sardonyx, peridot and citrine.

Herbs: Acacia flowers, aloes, chamomile, cornstalks, cyclamen, fenugreek, frankincense, heather, hollyhock, myrtle, oak leaves, passionflower, rose, rose hips, rosemary, sandalwood, sunflowers and wheat.

Gods and goddesses: Lugh, Thor, John Barleycorn (the personification of malt liquor), Demeter, Danu, Ceres, sun gods, corn mothers, all grain and agriculture deities, mother goddesses and father gods.

Customs and myths: Spellwork for prosperity, abundance and good fortune are especially appropriate now, as well as spells for connectedness, career, health and financial gain. Sacrifice is often associated with this holiday. Visits to fields, orchards, lakes and wells are also traditional. It is considered taboo not to share your food with others now.

Activities appropriate for this time of the year are baking bread, wheat weaving and making corn dollies or other god and goddess symbols. You may want to string Indian corn on black thread to make a necklace, or bake cornbread sticks shaped like little ears of corn for your Sabbat cakes. The corn dolly may be used both as a fertility amulet and as an altar centerpiece.

Some pagans bake Lammas bread in the form of a god-figure or sun wheel — if you do this, be sure to use this bread in your Lammas ritual’s cakes and ale ceremony, if you have one. During the Lammas ritual, some consume bread or something from the first harvest. Some gather first fruits; others symbolically throw pieces of bread into a fire

 

The Witches Correspondences for Lammas, August 1, 2015

Lammas/Lugnasadh Comments

The Witches Correspondences for Lammas, August 1, 2015

 

Time of Day: Mid-Afternoon, Noon to 5 pm

Time of Life: 40-60’s, Middle Age, Height of Powers, Fatherhood

Decorations: Bread, Corn, Wheat, Fruits, Corn Dolly, Green Man

Foods: Plums, Peaches, Grapes, Wheat, Lamb, Berries, Barley Cakes, Breads

Herbs: Heather, Acacia, Hollyhock, Aloes, Sunflowers, Frankincense, Sandalwood, Rose

Tools: Baskets, Lugh’s Spear (Areadbhar), Sickles, Scythes

Goddesses: Ceres, Demeter, Corn Mother, Pomona, Mother Earth

Gods: Lugh, Mercury, Hermes, Adonis, John Barleycorn, Green Man
Lughnasadh is more of a Men’s Holiday

Themes
Harvest, Transformation, Fruitfulness, Change Abundance, Completion, Prosperity, Robustness, Achievement, Letting Go, Reaping, Sacrifice, Purification, Contentment, Bread of Life, Table of Plenty, Ever Flowing Cup, Chalice of Plenty

Farming Activities
Harvesting and preserving wheat, corn, vegetables

Animals: Crow, Salmon

Tarot, Divination: Wheel of Fortune, Justice

Colors: Golden Yellow, Light Brown, Purple, Orange, Red-Brown, Brown-Grey

Activities, Celebrations
Dancing, Singing, Playing Music, Poetry Reading, Bardic Competitions, Games, Competitions, Men’s Sports, Drinking beer, whiskey, mead, iced tea

Sacred Circle (Valley Spirit): South-West, Violet

Celebrations:
Lughnasadh – Druid, Neo-Pagan, Lammas – Wiccan, Mea’n Fo’mhair (Greenman) – Druid, Welsh

 

The Witches Almanac for Saturday, August 1st

Lammas/Lugnasadh Comments
The Witches Almanac for Saturday, August 1st

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

Lammas

Waning Moon
The Waning Moon (from the Full Moon to the New) is a time for study, meditation, and little magical work (except magic designed to banish harmful energies).

Moon phase: Third Quarter

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

Moon enters Pisces 6: 36 pm
Pisces: The focus is on dreaming, nostalgia, intuition, and psychic impressions. A good time for spiritual or philanthropic activities.

Incense: Ivy

Color: Brown

Let Us Celebrate The Gift of the First Harvest, Lammas! Thank You Divine Mother & Almighty Father For Our Bountiful Harvest!

Lammas/Lugnasadh Comments
“Now is the time of the First Harvest,
when bounties of nature give of themselves
so that we may survive.
O God of the ripening fields, Lord of the Grain,
grant me the understanding of sacrifice as you
prepare to deliver yourself under the sickle of the
goddess and journey to the lands of eternal summer.
O Goddess of the Dark Moon,
teach me the secrets of rebirth
as the Sun loses its strength and the nights grow cold.

I partake of the first harvest, mixing its energies
with mine that I may continue my quest for the starry
wisdom of perfection.
O Lady of the Moon and Lord of the Sun,
gracious ones before Whom the stars halt their courses,
I offer my thanks for the continuing fertility of the Earth.
May the nodding grain loose its seeds to be buried in
the Mothers breast, ensuring rebirth in the warmth
of the coming Spring.”

– Scott Cunningham, Lammas Ritual

A Few Full Moon Goodies

A Few Full Moon Goodies

 

Full Moon Oil Recipe

6 drops gardenia essential oil
4 drops lotus essential oil
2 drops jasmine essential oil
Add to a base oil such as sweet almond or grape seed (about 15mls of carrier oil should be about right).

Full Moon Balm

(for pulse points)
6 drops sandalwood essential oil
3 drops lemon essential oil
2 drops palma rose essential oil
¼ cup grated beeswax
¼ cup vegetable oil
Melt oil and wax together, cool slightly then stir in essential oils. Store in an airtight pot.

Full Moon Incense

(loose mix to burn on charcoal disc)
2 parts sandalwood
2 parts frankincense resin
¼ part dried rose petals
½ part orris root
6 drops sandalwood oil

Moon Magic Bath Salts

1 cup sea salt
8 drops sandalwood essential oil
8 drops lotus essential oil
Mix together and store in an airtight container, sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of the mixture in you bath.

Source:

Pagan Portals – Moon Magic
Rachel Patterson

The Full Moon & The Perfect Spell for When It Fall On Friday – Making Love Grow Spell

The Full Moon & The Perfect Spell for When It Fall On Friday – Making Love Grow Spell

 

Love is in the air … especially on a Friday full moon. For this bewitching recipe, we combine all those ripe, full, mystical, and inspiring lunar energies of a full moon mixed together with the special day of the week aligned with the planet Venus. Now sprinkle in a dash of love and romance, add a teaspoon of flower and color magick, and you’ve got yourself one powerful formula with which to work loving and romantic theme spells.

This full moon spell works with a common variety of houseplant, which is also a magickal flower: the African violet. This hearth-and-home spell is designed to increase the loving vibrations and the feelings of the fullness of love in your home. Just like the common violet, the African violet falls under the planetary influences of Venus. These little blooming houseplants make a lovely addition to your Friday full moon spells. Basically, this spell is a floral fascination. A floral fascination is a term that I coined years ago, and it means practical and powerful magick worked with a flower or a blooming plant.
Making Love Grow Spell

• 1 African violet plant-a pink blooming variety is best (if for some reason you cannot find a pink blooming violet, go with a white variety; white is an all-purpose color)
• 1 pink votive candle
• 1 votive candle cup
• A pin or nail to engrave the candle with the symbol of Venus
• A small tumbled rose quartz stone to increase warm, fuzzy feelings
• Lighter or matches
• A safe, flat surface on which to set up the spell

Again, I would suggest working this spell out under the moonlight or at least near a window that allows you a view of the full moon. To start, set the African violet and the rose quartz stone in the center of your working area. Take the pin and gently carve the planetary symbol of Venus into the side of the votive candle. Drop the votive inside of the cup, and set it to one side. Take a few moments to visualize the spirit of love blessing ing your home. Feel the fun and the joy of love, and let it fill up your heart. Now light the candle, and place your hands on either side of the potted plant. Repeat the following verse:

Under the light of Friday’s full moon
I ask the Goddess to grant me a boon
By the energy of a Venus flower
Mix with this a rose quartz’s warm, fuzzy powers
Bless this home with love and your grace
Let it expand out and fill up this place.

Close the spell with these lines:

By flower petal and moonlight, this spell is begun
For the good of all, this witchery brings harm to none.

Pocket the rose quartz stone and keep it with you. Care for your houseplants and enjoy the richness of love that is sure to bless your days and your home.
 
Book of Witchery – Spells, Charms & Correspondences For Every Day of the Week
Ellen Dugan

How To Draw Down the Moon

How To Draw Down the Moon

In this beautiful and powerful rite, the practitioner invokes the Goddess directly into herself (or himself, as the case may be). In some variations, a High Priestess (HPs) may go into a trancelike state and speak the words of the Goddess, or it may be a formal monologue calling upon the Goddess in her many forms. Regardless of how you practice it, Drawing Down the Moon is best performed on the night of the full moon, or on one of the nights immediately before.

While it’s more suitable to be performed outside, if the weather is inclement or your neighbors are easily startled, you can hold the ritual indoors.

Stand at your altar with your arms crossed over your chest, and feet together. Face towards the full moon. Say:

Goddess of the Moon, You have been known by many names in many lands in many times. You are universal and constant. In the dark of night, You shine down upon us and bathe us in Your light and love. I ask You, O Divine One, to honor me by joining with me, and allowing me to feel Your presence within my heart.

Move your feet apart to about shoulder width, and raise your arms up and out to welcome the Goddess into you. The next part is one that you can memorize and learn, or you can speak spontaneously from the heart. You will begin to feel a surge of energy, a palpable tingle – don’t worry, that’s the Goddess making Herself known to you. Feel free to change these words as you like. You are speaking for Her, in Her voice, so let Her say what She wishes.

Say:

“I am the Mother of all life, the One who watches over all. I am the wind in the sky, the spark in the fire, the seedling in the earth, the water in the river.

Continue:

“I am the vessel from which All Things spring forth. Honor Me from within your heart! Remember that acts of love and pleasure are My rituals, and that there is beauty in all things. Honor Me on this night of the full moon! I have been with you since the moment you were created, and shall remain with you always. Let there be beauty and strength, wisdom and honor, humility and courage within you. If you need Me, call upon Me and I shall come to you, for I am everywhere, always.

Honor Me as you seek knowledge! I am the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone, and I live within you.”

Feel the power of the Goddess within you. When you are ready, conclude with:

“I look down upon the sands of the desert, I crash the tides upon the shore, I shine on the mighty trees of the forests, and watch with joy as Life continues every cycle.

Be true to Me, honoring that which I have created, and I shall be true to you in return. With harm to none, so it shall be.”

Take a few moments to stand and bask in Her glow, and to meditate upon that which you have just experienced. Once the energy surge has subsided, lower your arms, and proceed with your ceremony as you normally would at the conclusion of a ritual.

Tips:

Drawing Down the Moon is an altered state of consciousness, a ritual possession by the Divine. It is not uncommon to feel the energy of the Goddess for quite some time following Drawing Down the Moon, so don’t be alarmed if you feel a heightened sense of clarity over the next few days. You may also feel extremely emotional — it’s not uncommon to cry or laugh spontaneously during this rite.

The above ritual is one that I created myself, but for more variations on Drawing Down the Moon, there are excellent versions in Wicca For One by Raymond Buckland (pp. 87 – 89 and The Grimoire of Lady Sheba (pp. 167 – 168).

 

 

Source:
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Hold an Esbat Rite – Celebrate the Full Moon

In addition to the eight Sabbats observed every year, many Pagans celebrate a regular Esbat, in which magic is performed and the gods and goddesses of the tradition are honored. Most covens and groups meet at least once a month, and time this ceremony so it coincides with the full moon. The word Esbat is of French origin, from s’esbattre, which loosely translates to “frolic joyfully.” In addition to frolicking, this is a time to commune with the gods of your tradition.

In some groups, the Esbat rite is followed by a Cakes and Ale ceremony. You may also wish to tie this in to Drawing Down the Moon.

First, if your tradition requires you to cast a circle, do so at this time. If you don’t normally cast a circle, at least take the time to ritually purify the area by smudging or asperging. This will establish the space as sacred. You’ll need a bowl of water and a moon candle for the altar. This is traditionally a white unscented pillar-style candle. You can decorate the moon candle with sigils or inscriptions etched with a hot knife. Adorn your altar with lunar symbols — mirrors, silver ribbons, white crystals. Feel free to substitute the names and attributes of the deities of your path in this incantation.

Turn to the altar, and hold your arms open wide. Tilt your head so that your face is skyward — after all, this is a celebration honoring the full moon. Say:

Goddess of the moon, queen of the night,
keeper of women’s mysteries, mistress of the tides,
you who are ever changing and yet always constant,
I ask that you guide me with your wisdom,
help me grow with your knowledge,
and hold me in your arms.

At this time, light the moon candle, and take a moment to reflect upon the gifts you have in your life.

Hold the bowl of water to the sky. Say:

The moon is the symbol of the mother,
and she watches over us day and night.
She brings the changing tide, the shifting night,
the flow that changes women’s bodies,
and the passion of lovers to their beloved.
Her wisdom is great and all-knowing,
and we honor her tonight.
Keep your watchful eyes upon us, great mother,
until the cycle returns once more,
and bring us to the next full moon,
in your love and light.

Take a few moments to think about the things in your life which have changed in the past moon cycle. Are there people who have come into your world that you’re thankful for? Have you ended a toxic relationship? Have you experienced good fortune at work? Meditate on all the things you have to be thankful for, as well as the things you would like to see change for you by the next full moon. When you are ready, close the circle and end the ritual. If you choose, you can move into healing rites or magical workings, or a Cakes & Ale ceremony.

Tips:

Use the moon water over the next month for watering plants, making offerings, or doing spellwork.

 

Source:
Article Found On & Owned by About.com

July’s Full Moon – The Blessing Moon

Blessing Moon

Definition:

July’s full moon is known as the Blessing Moon, although it’s also called the Meadow Moon. July was originally called Quintilus, but was later renamed in honor of Julius Caesar.

Correspondences:

Colors: Green, silver, blue-gray
Gemstones: Moonstone, white agate, opals or pearls
Trees: Ash and oak
Gods: Juno, Venus, Cerridwen, Athena, Nephthys, Lugh
Herbs: Mugwort, hyssop, lemon balm
Element: Water

This is a great time to do divination and dreamwork. Find a way to incorporate the watery energy of the Blessing Moon into your spell crafting and ritual. Enjoy the relaxing feeling of July’s full moon and use it in your personal meditation.

Also Known As: Meadow Moon

 

Source:
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A Little Blue Moon Magick

A Little Blue Moon Magick

 

Blue Moon Blessing Water

First get a glass jar. Paint the inside with blue paint and glitter if you’d like. Decorate the outside by gluing gems, cut outs, or paper in blue shades and in the shape of the moon or stars. Or you can paint these on. Use a blue Sharpie to write the date of the Full Moon on the jar on the bottom or the lid. Fill the jar with water (a natural source such as the river or ocean is best but tap water is okay) and leave it under the Blue Moon to charge. The blessed water can be used in ritual and workings.

 

 

Blue Moon Chant for Love

Blue Moon shining in the night,
Fill my heart with love and delight,
Grant me someone who loves me too,
Bless our love that is true.
As I will it, so mote it be.

 

Blue Moon Candle Spell (Version 1)

Get a blue candle. Write down your wish on a slip of paper. Tell the candle and the cosmos what it is you desire, why you want it, and why you think you should have it. Create a simple affirmation that you can chant as you burn the paper and let the smoke carry your wish to the Blue Moon. Let the candle burn completely.

 

 

Blue Moon Candle Spell (Version 2)

Get a blue pillar candle. Using a pin scratch you name and wish onto the candle. Anoint the candle with myrrh oil. Take the candle in your power hand and imagine the Blue Moonlight flowing into the candle. Light the candle and then concentrate on your wish. Let the candle burn completely.

 

 

Source: The Domestic Witch

A Blue Moon Magic Spell

A Blue Moon Magic Spell

You will need:
A square piece of blue fabric, felt works well. You can even decorate it with Moons if you like.
Safety pins
Paper and pen
Length of cord or ribbon, gold or silver would be good
Lay out your items and calm, ground and centre yourself.

Then make a list of all the things that you would like but you think are unobtainable, the sort of things that you think you could never achieve or own.

Once you have written your list go back over it and really think hard. Double check all of the things you wrote down. Are there some that you don’t really, really want? Are there some that in reality wouldn’t work for you? If there are cross them off.

Once you have narrowed down your list cut your paper into strips and write a wish on each piece. Be positive when you write each one down, and visualise it happening.

Then, using the safety pins, pin each piece of paper to the blue cloth. Once you have pinned them all fold the cloth up and tie it with the ribbon or cord.

When the Full Blue Moon is risen take the bundle outside and hold it up to her, then make your request that your wishes be fulfilled, but don’t forget to thank the Goddess. You can write a poem or chant to say at this time if you wish.

Once you are done, put the bundle somewhere that you can see it regularly, on your altar would be a good place. Then wait and see what happens …


Pagan Portals – Moon Magic
Rachel Patterson

What Exactly Is a Blue Moon?

What Exactly Is a Blue Moon?

“Blue Moon” facts and folklore

July 31, 2015 will be the occasion of a blue moon — the last blue moon anyone will see, in fact, until 2018. But what exactly is a blue moon, and why does anyone care?

These days, the term “blue moon” is most often defined as the second of two full moons that occur within the same month. By a somewhat older definition, it’s the third full moon in a season that has four full moons instead of the usual three.

Either way, a blue moon is an out-of-the-ordinary phenomenon that occurs only once every few years, hence the expression “Once in a blue moon.”

Historically, the phrase was understood in a much more literal way, writes folklorist Philip Hiscock in the pages of Sky & Telescope. Once upon a time, he says, it denoted an even rarer phenomenon than an extra full moon in a given month or season, a phenomenon that has occurred perhaps only once or twice in recorded history — the face of moon actually appearing to turn bright blue in color.

“In fact,” notes Hiscock, “the very earliest uses of the term were remarkably like saying the Moon is made of green cheese. Both were obvious absurdities, about which there could be no doubt. ‘He would argue the Moon was blue’ was taken by the average person of the 16th century as we take ‘He’d argue that black is white.'”

Unusual atmospheric phenomena such as dust and ash thrown up by volcanic eruptions probably account for the few times in recent millennia when the moon presented an azure face to observers on earth.

One such incidence occurred over a period of several days in December 1883, when geologist W. Jerome Harrison, among others, reported viewing a striking “electric-blue” crescent moon against a copper-colored sky from his home in Birmingham, England. He and other scientists attributed it to lingering debris from the explosion of the massive volcano Krakatoa, which had occurred a little more than three months earlier. In fact, oddly-hued skies, sunsets and moonrises were observed for up to two years after the eruption.

Most people don’t realize that “blue moon” took on its present meaning only recently. It’s a “truly modern piece of folklore, masquerading as something old,” says Hiscock. The second-full-moon-in-a-month definition is only slight more than 50 years old.

No matter how it’s defined, “blue moon” will probably always retain its ancient connotations, as evinced in popular songs identifying the image with loneliness and despair.

Source:
About.com