Category: Articles

Calendar of the Moon for February 2nd

Calendar of the Moon
3 Nion/Anthesterion

Day of Llyr

Color: Sea-blue
Element: Water
Altar: On a sea-blue cloth place a chalice of salt water, a skull, a dolphin, and a ship.
Offerings: Paper ships. Deal with fearful emotions that threaten to drown you.
Daily Meal: Fish or seafood.

Invocation to Llyr

We cross the sea at our own risk,
Be it the sea of water
Or the depths of our own
Internal tides of feeling.
We cross the sea at our own risk,
Knowing that the smooth expanse
Could at any moment become turbulent,
Degenerate into a vast
And draw us screaming into the darkness.
We cross the sea at our own risk,
Navigating our way with signs
And symbols that have nothing
To do with the vast expanse we see,
But are just numbers, spun out of
The mind’s vast abilities,
The world of air and sky,
And sometimes they fail us.
We cross the sea at our own risk,
But if we do not cross it
We will be separated forever
By those terrible watery chasms.
Ocean god, we  to  mercy;
Bear us up and do not let us drown
In any ocean, within or without.

Chant:
Born of water, cleansing, powerful, flowing, healing, we are…..

(Let one who has been chosen to do the work of the ritual come forward with the bowl of salt water, and each shall dip their hands into it and mark themselves on their heart chakras and their heads. Then the salt water shall be poured out as a libation.)

 

[Pagan Book of Hours]

Calendar of the Sun for February 2nd

Calendar of the Sun

2 Solmonath

Oya’s Day

Colors: Purple, burgundy, dark orange (pottery color), copper
Element: Air
Altar: Lay out the nine sacred items of Oya: the purple cloth, the black flywhisk, the copper crown, the rainstick, the broken pottery rolled up in a woven mat, the earthen pot of candles, the basket of graveyard earth, the buffalo horn, and the glass knife. Burn incense.
Offerings: Plums, eggplants, red wine. The house should be swept thoroughly before the ritual.
Daily Meal: Cooked plums or . Cooked eggplant. Millet. Red wine. .

Invocation to Oya

Hail, Lady of the Wind,
Weather goddess most unpredictable,
Whirlwind that  all away
Before its inevitable path!
Hail, Lady of the Rain,
Bringing water to grow
Our crops and slake our thirst!
Hail, Water Buffalo Woman,
Crashing through the underbrush
Unstoppable as fate!
Hail, Carrier of the Container of Fire,
You who can unleash
New beginnings from the ashes!
Hail, Mistress of the Marketplace
Hetaera of the smashed crockery!
Hail, Lady of Death,
Duena de la Cemetaria,
Princess of Graves!
Hail, Keeper of Souls,
Mother of dancing Egungun!
Hail, purifier of the motivations,
In whose mirror we see ourselves,
Who cuts away our illusions!
Hail, Queen of the Air
Whose essence we breathe!

Chant:
O-ya! He-yi! (This should be accompanied by a drum circle, with trance dancing.)

 

[Pagan Book of Hours]

The Witches Spell for Saturday, February 2nd: Dream Tending Spell

Imbolc/Candlemas Comments

The Witches Spell for Saturday, February 2nd

 

Dream Tending Spell

Imbolc – Groundhog Day

Color of the Day: Brown

Incense of the Day: Sandalwood

This is a truly special day for Wiccans and some Witches. It is Imbolc, a high holiday that honors the triple Goddess Brigit and one of the eight Sabbats that mark the turning of the Wheel of the Year. Groundhog Day is also observed today. This holiday incorporates the seasonal divination of the more ancient Imbolc, which uses the movement of a snake rather than the shadow of a groundhog to divine how much longer winter will remain. It is the beginning of the Storm Moon and also the time of the Feast of Oya, the orisha of weather and changes. To the Iroquois people, it is Midwinter Ceremony, a time to bless the fields, tell your dreams, and pay tribute to your Ancestors. Today is also the birthday of Marie Laveau II, New Orleans’ Voodoo Queen and diviner extraordinaire. At bedtime now, light a braid of sweet grass. Extinguish the flame but allow the braid to smolder. Wave the braid lovingly and with great care around your bedroom, motioning with your hand to encourage the smoke to drift in a snake-like stream over your bed and pillow. Dip the braid in springwater, making absolutely sure no flame remains. Then put the braid away. Pour lavender water in a large bowl. Put your favorite seashell inside the bowl of water. As you sleep, the bowl will act as a conduit for messages from the Ancestors, nature spirits, and the great beyond. Place this under your bed or on your bed table. Replenish the water as needed over a period of two weeks. Write down your dreams in a journal. Read over them frequently. Messages revealed in the darkness of winter have special meaning. Work each day to lift the shroud of darkness so you can glimpse new growth and the coming light of spring. Understanding the mysteries of winter is at the heart of Imbolc and its celebration.

by Stephanie Rose Bird

The Witches Magickal Correspondence for Imbolc 2013

Imbolc/Candlemas Comments

The  Witches Magickal Correspondence for Imbolc 2013

Colors: White, Pink, Red, Orange, Yellow, Light Green, Brown.

Food: sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, muffins, diary products, peppers, onions, raisins, garlic, poppyseed breads and cakes, herbal teas, dairy, spiced wines, potatoes, turnips, bread, rabbit and venison. Use up last of winters supply of food.

Incense: basil, bay, cinnamon, violet, vanilla, rosemary, frankincense,  and wisteria.

Candles: brown, pink and red.

Gemstones: amethyst, garnet, onyx, bloodstone, ruby and turquoise

Deities: All Virgin/Maiden Goddesses, Brighid, Aradia, Athena, Inanna, Gaia, and Februa, and Gods of Love and Fertility, Aengus Og, Eros, and Februus.

Symbols: Brideo’gas, Besoms, White , Candle Wheels, , Priapic Wands (acorn-tipped), lamps, yellow flowers and Ploughs.

Herbs: Angelica, basil, bay, blackberry, celandine, coltsfoot, heather, iris, myrrh, tansy, snowdrop, violets, all white or yellow flowers.

The Witches Almanac for February 2nd, Imbolc

Imbolc/Candlemas Comments

The Witches Almanac for *Saturday, February 2nd

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

 

Imbolc – Groundhog Day

 

*Waning Moon

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

Moon Sign: *Libra

*Libra: Favors cooperation, social activities, beautification of surroundings, balance and partnership.

Moon enters *Scorpio 7:00 am

*Scorpio: Increases awareness of psychic power. Precipitates psychic crises and ends connections thoroughly. People tend to brood and become secretive.

Moon Phase: Third Quarter

Incense: Sandalwood

Color: Gray

The Celtic Calendar for February 2nd – Imbolc and Candlemas

Imbolc/Candlemas Comments

February 2nd – Imbolc and Candlemas

The festival of Candlemas has ancient roots, for in Pagan Europe, fires were kindled at this time of year to reflect and encourage the growing strength of the Sun. It’s name is Christian, however, being derived from the tradition of the future year’s supply of candles being blessed before the first mass of February 2, and then being carried around the church in a pious procession. This is also the feast of the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple; the parallels between the Virgin Mary and the Goddess in Her maiden aspect, and Baby Jesus and the solar child of promise, are unmistakable.

 

Candlemas Creativity

White represents purity, pale gree denote a fresh start and growth, and a flame signifies the kindling of creativity. Light candles of these colors to commemorate the concepts symbolized by Candlemas. As you gaze at the flaming taper, ask the Goddess for inspiration.

Imbolc to Ostara

Imbolc/Candlemas Comments

Imbolc to Ostara

Imbolc (Oimelc or Candlemas) celebrates youthful potential, with the Goddess being venerated in her Maiden guise, while the Horned God is still in his infancy and childhood. That the Goddess has returned to Earth from the Otherworld, and that nature is reawakening under her magickal touch, may be evident in the tender green shoots of such spring-flowering pioneer as snowdrops, whose white blooms represent the Maiden purity.

Imbolc – In The Belly fthe Mother

Imbolc/Candlemas Comments

“Candlemas’ is the Christianized name for the holiday, of course.  The older Pagan names were Imbolc and Oimelc. ‘Imbolc’ means, literally, ‘in the belly’ (of the Mother).  For in the womb of Mother Earth, hidden from our mundane sight but sensed by a keener vision, there are stirrings.  The seed that was planted in her womb at the solstice is quickening and the new year grows.  ‘Oimelc’ means ‘milk of ewes’, for it is also lambing season.  The holiday is also called ‘Brigit’s Day’, in honor of the great Irish Goddess Brigit.  At her shrine, the ancient Irish capitol of Kildare, a group of 19 priestesses (no men allowed) kept a perpetual flame burning in her honor.  She was considered a goddess of fire, patroness of smithcraft, poetry and healing (especially the healing touch of midwifery).”

–  Daven’s Journal – Imbolic

A Little Humor for Your Day – THINGS IT TOOK ME 50 YEARS TO LEARN

THINGS IT TOOK ME 50 YEARS TO LEARN

Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same
night.

There is a very fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness.”

People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to
share yours.

You should not confuse your career with your life.

No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.

When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who
perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that individual
is crazy.

Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.

Never lick a steak knife.

Take out the fortune before you eat the cookie.

The most powerful force in the universe is gossip.

You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why
we observe daylight savings time.

You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you
think she’s pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that
moment.

“The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender,
religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we
all believe that we are above average drivers.

The main accomplishment of almost all organized protests is to annoy people who
are not in them.

A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.

Your friends love you anyway.

And the thought for the day: never be afraid to try something new. Remember that
amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic.

Author unknown

Calendar of the Sun for January 31st

Calendar of the Sun

31 Wolfmonath

Imbolc Eve: Day of the Bean Sidhe

Color: Black
Element: Air
Altar: Upon cloth of black place a cup of blood, kept from the last slaughtering. Before it lay bloodstained rags and a flute, and many small unlit . Block the windows and shut out all sunlight.
Offering: Give aid to a child who has lost their mother.
Daily Meal: Red meat and milk.

Imbolc Eve Invocation

Go, my children, to the riverbank,
In the dark of the night when the wind is howling,
And you shall hear the wails of one who mourns,
And you shall see her kneeling by the water,
Washing the bloody clothes of those
Who did not survive the giving forth of life.
She weeps for the mothers lost,
She weeps for the children lost,
She weeps for the life cut short,
What should have been a joyous day
Become a night of mourning.
She weeps above all for those
Who have no one else to weep for them.
So we shall light a candle, on this night
Before the morn of Candlemas,
For all those who have no one to weep for them,
And we shall shed the tears
And we shall be the voice,
And we shall do the work
Of the lonely Bean Sidhe.

(The cup of blood is poured as a libation. Each comes forward and lights a small , and then all wail in a great torrent of sound together, with one wildly over the cacophony. Those who can shed tears should do so. This should go on until all are exhausted from wailing, and then all should go quietly to their other tasks in silence until Hesperis.

 

[Pagan Book of Hours]

The Witches Correspondences for Thursday, January 31st

Blessed Be Comments

 The Witches Correspondences for Thursday, January 31st

 

Magickal Intentions: Luck, Happiness, Health, Legal Matters, Male Fertility, Treasure and Wealth, Honor, Riches, Clothing Desires, Leadership, Public Activity, Power and Success

Incense: Cinnamon, Must, Nutmeg and Sage

Planet: Jupiter

Sign: Sagittarius and Pisces

Angel: Sachiel

Colors: Purple, Royal Blue and Indigo

Herbs/Plants: Cinnamon, Beech, Buttercup, Coltsfoot, Oak

Stones: Sugilite, Amethyst, Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli and Sapphire

Oil: (Jupiter) Clove, Lemon Balm, Oak moss, Star Anise

Jupiter presides over Thursday. The vibrations of this day attune well to all matters involving material gain. Use them for working rituals that entail general success, accomplishment, honors and awards, or legal issues. These energies are also helpful in matters of luck, gambling, and prosperity.

The Witches Almanac for *Thursday, January 31st


Blessed Be Comments

The Witches Almanac for *Thursday, January 31st

*Thursday (Jupiter): Expansion, money, prosperity and generosity.

 

Independence Day (Nauru)

 

*Waning Moon

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

Moon Sign: *Virgo

*Virgo: Favors accomplishment of details and commands from higher up. Focuses on health, hygiene and daily schedules.

Moon enters *Libra 1:36 am

*Libra: Favor cooperation, social activities, beautification of surroundings, balance, and partnership.

Moon Phase: Third Quarter

Incense: Clove

Color: Green

The Earth’s Commandments

BeneMaleFantasy

 

Earth’s Commandments

1. Thou shalt love and honor the Earth for it blesses thy life and governs thy survival.

2. Thou shalt keep each day sacred to the Earth and celebrate the turning of the seasons.

3. Thou shalt not hold thyself above other living things nor drive them to extinction.

4. Thou shalt give thanks for thy food to the creatures and plants that nourish thee.

5. Thou shalt limit thy offspring, for multitudes of people are a burden unto the Earth.

6. Thou shalt not kill nor waste Earth’s riches upon weapons of war.

7. Thou shalt not pursue profit at the Earth’s expense but strive to restore its damaged majesty.

8. Thou shalt not hide from thyself or others the consequences of thy actions upon the Earth.

9. Thou shalt consume material goods in moderation so all may share Earth’s bounty.

–Earnest Callenbach. 1990  

A Little Humor for Your Day – Safe Witch Kit

Safe Witch Kit

Want to be a Witch, yet don’t want dangerous items in your home? We’ve assembled this comprehensive kit to meet the beginning Witch’s needs, without compromising safety.

Includes:

1 Rubber Athame. Painted black handle, silver blade. Very flexible. You can swing this about in Circle with no fears about hurting anyone!

Exclusive! The incredible Collapse-a-Wand! Hand-wrought of authentic wood-grained expanded foam, with a special adhesive patch for attaching the Power Stone of your choice (see below).

2 Battery-operated Candles (1 black, 1 white). No more concerns about flowing gowns catching fire.

1 package Glade Stick-ems. Fresh, floral scent, without the concerns of burning incense. No messy ash to clean up!

1 shaker Mrs. Dash. Get all the flavor and zip of salt, without the sodium!

1 Quality Fold-a-Cauldron. Easy-to-assemble, genuine simulated cast iron corrugated material. Complete instructions.

1 Fabric Rainbow Disk. No sharp corners to be concerned about. The perfect centerpiece for your own Altar. No worries of offending anyone, as could happen with those misunderstood pentagrams.

3 Assorted colors soft vinyl “Power Stones.” Focus the energy of crystals. Perfect for attaching to your Collapse-a-Wand!(Choking hazard. Not recommended for children under 3 years of age)

1 Booklet, “How to Be One with the White Light, Because There Is No Dark Side, Luke” subtitled: “The Absolutely, Completely Comprehensive Guide to Everything Possible that a Witch Needs to Know to cast Any Spell at All”

BONUS! Order now, and we’ll send you our exclusive Fill In The Blanks Book of Light! All the spells you’ll ever need, and YOU fill in the names and dates! Quality softcover binding.

All packaged attractively in a lovely carry-case, which unfolds to become your altar cloth.

Rush out and get yours today!

— by René Friberg, aka RaeVynn Sands

Daily Cosmic Calendar for January 30th

Forewarned is forearmed — so goes the ancient saying in astrology. This calendar has pointed to today numerous times because it is finally time for Jupiter at 7 degrees of Gemini to leave reverse motion, make a station (3:38AM PST), and slowly turn direct. [Jupiter remains in forward motion until November 6.]  Jupiter’s themes — the power of positive thinking, good fortune, golden opportunities, providence, benevolence, faith and religious beliefs, higher education, literary and publishing pursuits, long-distance journeys, seeing into the future, over-optimism, egocentricity, hubris and arrogance — are emphasized throughout the day.  Your productivity I.Q. can soar — thanks to Mercury forming a harmonious trine with Ceres (11:21AM PST). A virtual stop sign can block your progress when the Sun in Aquarius squares Saturn in Scorpio (2:50PM PST). Utilize the natural happy-go-lucky qualities of strong Jupiter to neutralize the tendency to feel pessimistic when Saturn confronts the Sun.  There is a brief window when the creative arts look promising as the Moon approaches a trine with Venus in earth signs (forming exactly at 6:00PM PST). The problem here is that this Moon-Venus rapport begins a void lunar cycle that lasts until 10:37PM PST. During the void limbo zone, avoid battles of the will as Mercury makes a frictional, 45-degree link to Uranus (10:00PM PST).  Once the Moon enters Libra (10:37PM PST), think about helpful ways to nurture primary partners. You can become an expert problem-solver later on and overnight since Jupiter makes a constructive, 60-degree alliance with Pallas (11:44PM PST).