Category: Book of Spells

Earth Sky News for Dec. 15th – Northern Cross upright in west in December

Northern Cross upright in west in December

Tonight, look for the Northern Cross. It isn’t as famous as its counterpart – the Southern Cross – visible from the Southern Hemisphere or the northern tropics. But the Northern Cross also looks like a cross, and it’s pretty easy to spot. It’s a large, noticeable star pattern.

The star Deneb marks the top of the Northern Cross, and the star Albireo marks the bottom. Tonight you can find the Northern Cross shining fairly high in the west at nightfall, as seen from mid-northern latitudes. It sinks downward during the evening hours, and stands proudly over the west-northwest horizon around mid-evening.

The Northern Cross is what’s known as an asterism. In other words, it’s not a constellation but simply a noticeable pattern of stars. It’s part of the constellation Cygnus the Swan.

As an added bonus, if you have a pair of binoculars, break them out this evening and point them toward the Northern Cross and its larger constellation Cygnus the Swan. In this direction, you’ll find a part of our Milky Way galaxy that is called the Cygnus Star Cloud. It is part of the spiral arm of our galaxy that also contains our sun, and you should be able to pick out stars from it if the night is clear in your area.

By the way, we get many questions from people in northern latitudes about if and when they can view the Southern Cross in their portion of the sky. The truth is that unless you live close to the tropics (Hawaii, or the southernmost parts of Texas or Florida for those of us in the U.S.), you will not be able to view the Southern Cross, also known as the constellation Crux. To find out how to locate Crux in Hawaii at this time of year, look here.

Bottom line: Learn to recognize a famous star pattern known as the Northern Cross, which stands upright over the west-northwest horizon in December.

________________________

About the author:

The Witches Magick for the 15th Day of December – Ritual To Welcome Back the Sun


Yule Comments & Graphics

Ritual To Welcome Back the Sun

The ancients knew that the winter solstice was the longest night of the year — and that meant that the sun was beginning its long journey back towards earth. It was a time of celebration, and for rejoicing in the knowledge that soon, the warm days of spring would return, and the dormant earth would come back to life.

On this one day, the sun stands still in the sky, and everyone on earth knows that change is coming.

Because this is a festival of fire and light, feel free to use lots of candles and lights, solar symbols, bright colors, or even a bonfire. Bring light back into your home and your life.

Like any Sabbat, this festival works well if paired up with a feast. Celebrate the sun’s return by preparing all kinds of winter foods — whip up a batch of cornbread, a pot of buttered rum, plum pudding, cranberry dressing, game stew, etc. Have the whole family eat together prior to the ritual. Clean up, and when you’re done, cover your table or altar with candles. Use as many as you like; they don’t have to match.

In the center, place a sun candle** on a riser, so it’s above the rest. Don’t light any of the candles just yet.

Turn off all the other lights, and face your altar. If your tradition requires you to cast a circle, do so now.

Face the candles, and say:

The wheel of the year has turned once more, and the nights have grown longer and colder. Tonight, the darkness begins to retreat, and light begins its return once again. As the wheel continues to spin, the sun returns to us once more.

Light the sun candle, and say:

Even in the darkest hours, even in the longest nights, the spark of life lingered on. Laying dormant, waiting, ready to return when the time was right. The darkness will leave us now, as the sun begins its journey home.

Beginning with the candles closest to the sun candle, and working your way outward, light each of the other candles. As you light each one, say:

As the wheel turns, light returns. The light of the sun has returned to us, bringing life and warmth with it. The shadows will vanish, and life will continue. We are blessed by the light of the sun.

Take a moment to think about what the return of the sun means to you.

The return of the light meant many things to different cultures. How does it affect you, and your loved ones? When you’re ready, go through the house and turn all the lights back on. If you have children, make it a game — they can yell out, “Welcome back, sun!”

If you’re not too full from dinner, have some eggnog and cookies on standby, and take the time to bask in the light of your candles and eat some treats. When you’re done, extinguish the candles from the outside of the altar working towards the center, leaving the sun candle for last.

Tips:

** A sun candle is simply a candle you’ve designated to represent the sun in ritual. It can be in a sunny color — gold or yellow — and if you like, you can insribe it with solar sigils.

If you like, you can do this ritual on the morning of Yule. Cook a big breakfast with lots of eggs, and watch the sun rise. If you do this, you can eliminate all the candles except the sun candle. Allow the sun candle to burn all day before you extinguish it.

Author: Patti Wigington

Article published on & owned by About.com

The Witches Magick for the 14th Day of December – Hold A Yule Tree Blessing


Yule Comments & Graphics

Hold A Yule Tree Blessing

If your family uses a holiday tree during the Yule season — and many Pagan families do — you might want to consider a blessing ritual for the tree, both at the time you cut it down and again before you’ve decorated it. Although many families use fake holiday trees, a cut one from a tree farm is actually more environmentally friendly, so if you’ve never considered a live tree, maybe this is a good year to start a new tradition in your house.

Things to Take With You

You’ll want to have the following items on hand when you go to cut down a tree for Yule:

A sharp saw

Gloves

Rope

Some fertilizer sticks and birdseed

 

Selecting Your Tree

First of all, make sure you’re in a place where you have permission to cut trees. Either find a local Christmas tree farm, or if you’re on private property, get the approval of the landowner before you cut anything. Never cut a tree down in a park or forest without permission.

Don’t just randomly start hacking away at trees. Take some time to wander around and find the tree that’s right for you. Often, you’ll know the right tree when you find it — it will be just the right height and width, the exact fullness you want, and so forth.

In our family, our annual tradition is that we only cut down our tree if it has a bird’s nest in it (obviously, by December the birds don’t need it any more, it’s just something my teenager started as a child).

 

Cutting Down Your Tree

If you’ve found the right tree, take a moment to touch it. Feel its energy flowing from the earth and into you. Recognize that once you’ve cut it down, it will no longer be a living thing.

In many traditions, people find it comforting to ask the tree for permission to make the first cut. In Dorothy Morrison’s book Yule, she recommends asking the tree to move its spirit deep into the ground so that it will not feel injury or pain when you cut the trunk.

Use the following blessing before you make the cut:

O evergreen, mighty tree, you who are full of life. I am about to make the cut, and ask your permission. We will take you into our home and honor you, adorning you with light in this season of the sun. We ask you, o evergreen, to bless our home with your energy.

As an alternative, if you have children with you and you’d like to make the occasion more fun than somber, try something like this instead:

Evergreen, evergreen, big fat tree! I ask you now please to come home with me! We’ll cover you with ornaments and lots of pretty lights, and let you shine about our house at Yule, the longest night! Thank you, tree, thank you tree, for the gift you give today, we’ll plant another in your name, when spring comes our way!

Make the cut about eight inches above the ground, and cut quickly. Make sure no one is standing on the opposite side when the tree begins to fall. Using the gloves to protect your hands if necessary, tie the rope around the trunk so you can pull it out of the area. Before leaving, push the fertilizer sticks into the soil near the cut trunk. This will promote new growth from the remaining stump. If you can, periodically stop by and add more fertilizer sticks to the newly sprouted branches.

You may wish to also leave some birdseed on the ground as an offering to the wildlife in the area. Some families even use the birdseed to cast a protective circle around the stump where they’ve cut their tree down. Finally, if you’ve promised to plant a new tree somewhere in the spring, be sure to keep your word.

 

Decorating Your Tree

Decorating a Yule tree is a lot of fun, and should be a celebration of family. Put on some holiday music, light some incense or scented candles, get a pot of herbal tea brewing, and turn it into a ritual of its own. Before you decorate, you may wish to bless the tree once more.

Have on hand some salt, incense, a candle and water. Bless the tree as follows:

By the powers of earth, I bless this tree, that it shall remain sacred, a symbol of life, stable and strong in our home throughout the Yule season. By the powers of air, I bless this tree, as the cool winter winds blow away the baggage of the old year, and we welcome the brightness of the new into our hearts and home. By the powers of fire, I bless this tree, as the days have gotten shorter, and the nights grown dark, yet the warmth of the sun is returning, bringing with it life. By the powers of water, I bless this tree, a gift I give, that it may stay bright and green for us a bit longer, so that we can enjoy the harmony and peace of Yule.

As you say the blessing, sprinkle the salt around the tree in a circle (not on the tree, just around it), smudging with the incense, passing the candle over it, and finally, adding water to the tray at the bottom.

Once you’ve finished the blessing, decorate your tree and celebrate!

 

 

Author: Patti Wigington

Article published on & owned by About.com

 

 

Let’s Talk Witch – The Four Quarters

Winter

The Four Quarters

 

At the start of a ritual, we ask the four elements – Earth, Air, Fire and Water – to join us in circle. We call these the four quarters (for the four directions of north, east, south, and west), or watchtowers. towers. As the term watchtower suggests, we are asking them to protect and watch over us as we do our magick. This way, we can relax and concentrate on our Witchcraft instead of having to guard ourselves against negative energy or the like.

We also ask the watchtowers to lend us their assistance in our magickal work. As I mentioned in the section on elements (which, again, I know you have memorized), each element has certain aspects associated with it, such as air being the property that rules over intellect.

So, if you were going to do magick to help you succeed on an important test (in addition to studying hard, of course, not instead of studying at all), you might ask that quarter for particular help during your ritual.

Here is an example of a typical quarter call or invocation:

I call the watchtower of the north, the element of earth.

Come guard me in my circle, and keep me safe as I work my magickal craft.

Help me to stay grounded and centered, and lend me your strength.

Come now, and enter the circle. So mote it be.

Once we have completed our magickal work and are ready to open the circle, we dismiss the quarters. Don’t be misled by the terms calling and dismissing-we don’t actually try to boss the quarter powers around. After all, you don’t want to irk the power of water and have your toilet explode, now do you? Always invoke and dismiss the watchtowers respectfully, and say thank you when you are done. As Witches, we have the power to summon the elements, but hopefully we also have the wisdom to treat them with the awe and deference they deserve.

 

–Deborah Blake, Everyday Witch A to Z: An Amusing, Inspiring & Informative Guide to the Wonderful World of Witchcraft

 

“Prosperity Possibilities”

“Prosperity Possibilities”

Here is a simple prosperity spell. Notice the practical nature of the spell-it asks for specific things (pay off bills, lessen debt) and specifies that they come in positive ways. May it bring you what you need!

 

Turn the wheel of prosperity ’round

‘Til gifts and money do abound

Pay off debt and manage bills

Compensate for living’s ills

Abundance flows in positive ways

When money comes, money stays

All I wish for, all I need

I summon now with word and deed.

 

 

–Deborah Blake. Everyday Witch A to Z: An Amusing, Inspiring & Informative Guide to the Wonderful World of Witchcraft

 

Let’s Talk Witch – Prosperity & Spells

Prosperity & Spells

 

Witches cast spells to achieve all sorts of goals-some of the most common are love, strength, protection, healing, and purification. But probably the most widely used spells are those for prosperity.

Prosperity means different things to different people. For some it means being able to pay the monthly bills without worry. For others it means the fulfillment of a specific goal (like an author selling a lot of her books, for instance, not that I would need to do magick for such a thing…). To some Witches it is about acquiring riches, for others it is more about lessening poverty.

In general, though, prosperity spells are aimed at removing the stress that not having enough money can cause, leaving us free to focus on other more important aspects of our lives. (It is hard to be spiritual when they are turning off the electricity, after all.)

As a Witch, I’m sure that it will come as the gods help those who help themselves. Doing magickal work is only the first step. If you need a new job, by all means cast a prosperity spell to help you find the right one-then get up off your butt and go looking. The spell may help direct your feet to the right path, but that only works if you are walking in the first place.

 

–Deborah Blake. Everyday Witch A to Z: An Amusing, Inspiring & Informative Guide to the Wonderful World of Witchcraft

 

Let’s Talk Witch – What Should We Use Magick for?

Winter Dream

What Should We Use Magick for?

 

Magic is a force, a power, a wisdom, a knowledge. It is both more and less powerful than the ignorant suppose. Magic can only change the changeable. It can cure a sickness; it cannot regrow a lost limb. In Wicca, magic is carried out according to strict ethics. For this reason, coven training takes a long time. Matches are not put into the hands of children, nor power into the hands of the untrained and untested. Magic is not a power we use in place of our other powers – mind, emotion, hand and limb. It is not a crutch for the weak, nor an ego-boost for the inadequate. It is a skill that we must learn to use wisely and well.

‘Wisely and well’ means in the right time and place, when other avenues on the material plane have been explored. Wicca teaches people sound ethical principles for the use of magic and encourages their spiritual development hand in hand with any powers that they wish to develop. This can be boring and frustrating to the would-be Witch who just wants to get on with it, but going through the boredom threshold is an aspect of any learning, be it playing a musical instrument or learning a language.

Most people do not come to Wicca seeking magical training in order to make a lot of money and gain power over others. There are much simpler ways of achieving this – become a lawyer or an accountant. The usual problem is not people wanting to do negative magic but the ‘astral bandage syndrome’: people wanting to use their new-found powers to put the world to rights. New Witches can easily become interfering nuisances, wanting to cure everyone of every illness, whether they want it or not.

Magic is a simple force but applying it skilfully is difficult. In seemingly simple situations, there can be many complex factors. Even if someone has asked for healing, there can be many barriers within the person that can prevent it. On one level, he or she may want to be well. On another level, the illness may be serving the individual in some way. It may bring attention to the neglected. It may be a way of hiding from a relationship, job or another aspect of life that someone finds untenable.

There is a traditional Witchcraft saying, ‘If it harms none, do what you will.’ Often there is long debate in covens about particular pieces of magical work. It is very important that if you are in a group you take time to check that everyone is happy with any piece of magic you are going to do. If people are half-hearted or have hidden resentments, firstly the magic is unlikely to work and secondly they will feel disempowered. When we enter into trance and do magic, there is not a total dissolving of the boundaries between ourselves and others, but there is a blurring of this distinction. To allow this to happen, we need to be able to love and trust those with whom we are working. This involves treating one another with mutual respect.

This is one of the reasons why traditionally covens are small, closed groups. To build bonds requires time and mutual knowledge. This cannot be achieved quickly; nor is it possible to have this type of loving relationship with everyone.

Some covens believe that you should not do magic for yourself and if someone in the group has requested help, he or she will not participate in the spell that gives it. In most covens, however, people can work for themselves providing the group thinks it is appropriate. There are a number of reasons why working for ourselves is not a good idea. One is the delusion of the ego and our own self-centredness. It is very easy for us to convince ourselves that what we want is right and appropriate. It takes long years of training for us to become objective about such things. This is one advantage of belonging to a group. If we take our problems to our group, they can be much more objective about them than we are and can advise us if it is appropriate to tackle them with magic or not.

Love is an important aspect of magic. This is not some New Age idea but a good Wiccan principle also found in modern psychology. The founder of the psychotherapeutic system of psychosynthesis, Italian psychologist Roberto Assagioli who had studied much esoteric teaching, wrote:

We must realize that love, in order to truly fulfil its mission of being helpful … must be allied to insight; even more, permeated and blended with wisdom; without understanding there cannot be harmlessness.

The same is true of magic. We must combine it with common sense, worldly wisdom and spiritual insight if it is to do its work. Magic is the power to change ourselves and to change society. For true magic we must want to reach out positively to something beyond the boundaries of the self. This emotion is love. Love operates on many different levels. There is the love of ourselves; the love of those close to us – parents, children, partners, siblings; the love for country and land; the love for humanity as a whole and the love for all creation – both the physical world of Nature and that which lies beyond – the realm of the Gods.

If we talk about love of country, people can become nervous, but this need not mean unthinking patriotism. It is good to respect our own culture and people but the dangers of nationalism are all too present in the world today. Perhaps we need to think of ourselves more as citizens (and tenants) of the Earth itself; that it is terrestrial and not national boundaries that define us. Wicca is less anthropocentric than monotheisms. These tend to believe that the universe was created for the benefit of human beings.

This is a bizarre bit of ego inflation if only we stop and think about it. If we truly love the land then we will love all its species and inhabitants. Loving the land is often a good deal easier than loving our fellow human beings, but it is through love of others that we learn to love the greater universe, both material and non-material. The interdependence of the universe is found at the heart of all Paganism (including Hinduism), within mysticism and in modern physics. The Divine is within us and we are part of the Divine. In coming to an understanding of this, we move into the realms of the Spirit.

Another way of reaching out emotionally is hate. Some traditional Witchcraft books and some feminist Witchcraft books advocate cursing. I have even seen a book written by a feminist academic which criticizes Wicca because it does not ’empower’ women to curse men, their patriarchal enemies. This is an extremely silly and irresponsible idea and can only be advocated by those who do not believe magic works. What is important to remember is that magic does work – both on the recipient and on the practitioner. Don’t be misled by such nonsense.

Magic is about the use of energy. It involves creating certain energies within ourselves and then sending them out into the world to do their work. It is easy enough to create negative energy. How many people have not cursed a driver who causes them to swerve in the road, or some inadvertent shopper who happens to tread on their foot in a busy store? A little anger can be therapeutic. We swear, curse and stamp our feet and feel a whole lot better. This harms no one. Accumulated anger and the negative energy build up needed to indulge in cursing will make us stressed and ill. People who brood and indulge in hate become hateful. As the psychologist Carl Jung said, we all become like the thing we hate. Nor can we do what we will with impunity. Magic operates according to Three-fold Law. The energy that we transmit returns to us but three times as strongly as before. In addition, there are checks and balances within the universe. The universe seeks equilibrium and harmony. If we create negative energy then the universe will choose at some point to short-circuit our efforts, with extremely unpleasant effects.

‘If it harms none do what you will’ sounds superficially easy, but it can be very difficult. Would you help someone attract an individual he or she had fallen in love with? Traditional Witchcraft abounds in love spells, but is it right to make someone fall in love with somebody when they would not otherwise? Will it lead to unhappiness because deep down the couple are not compatible? Love is more than superficial desire. Unrequited love can rarely be turned into happiness by the power of magic.

Another important principle is that magic must not be a refuge for the lazy. It is pointless to do magical work to help someone get a job if they are not doing what is necessary to find one. Another strange truth is that the longer people are Witches, the less active magic they do. This is because something happens along the way. Wicca teaches us to harmonize ourselves with the greater universe, so that with time the direct action of spell-making becomes less necessary. We learn to know what we really want and to be in the right place at the right time to get it. Experienced Witches find that simply by someone asking them to do something and their thinking about it, then the thing will often come to pass. The important steps have been the individual articulating his or her need and the Witch thinking of a successful outcome occuring.

 

–Gabby Benson, Witchcraft Wicca: A Beginners Guide

 

New Moon Spell – Saving Money Spell

Y.A.M._Winter

Saving Money Spell

We could all probably do with a bit of extra cash now and then in a savings account for emergencies. Money spells will always work better if we have a real need for the money to cover our basic living costs or specific essential needs rather than just wanting loads of cash to go on a frivolous spending spree!

What you need:

Three gold or silver coins

A green envelope or piece of green paper

Gold or Silver thread

Moon water (or rain water works well too)

Hold the coins in your hand and visualize yourself with the money that you need to live on, or purchasing an essential item that you need or have to replace.

When you are ready, put the coins in the envelope or wrap them in the piece of paper and then tie the silver or gold thread around it seven times, visualizing your goal as you do so.

Send up your wish and thanks in advance to the Divine and then knot the thread three times. Next, you will need to buy the coin package in the earth, somewhere in your garden (or in a pot on your windowsill) where it will catch the moonlight. Sprinkle the earth where you have buried it with the water.

 

 

—Rachel Patterson, Pagan Portals – Moon Magic

 

Safe Travel Spell

Safe Travel Spell
Author: Rowan Moonstone

Tools Needed:

2 white candles anointed with sandalwood oil.
1 purple candle anointed with sandalwood oil.
Photo or personal articles of the person the spell is for
A “Personality ” candle (color appropriate to the recipient of the spell)
Sandalwood incense

Altar should be arranged as below:


O (white candle) O (Personality candle) O (purple candle)
O (white candle) Photos or personal object O (incense)

Instructions:

Light white candles
Light personality candle
Light purple candle
Light incense

Repeat the following invocation:

“Hail Mother of the World!
Ananna, Isis, Astarte, Selene, Holy Sin (pronounced Sheen).
See me, look upon me
See me, look upon me
See me, look upon me
Protect me and my people tonight.
Send your white light around me.
Send your protective light around ______________
That they may be protected
As they travel and as they dream.
Send only good and lucid energies their way.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.

You can either let the candles burn out by themselves, or snuff them
in reverse order and let them burn a little each night if the person
will be on an extended trip. On the last night let them burn down on
their own. NEVER blow our or pinch out the candles. This destroys
the luck.

Holiday Relaxation Spell

Holiday Relaxation Spell

Take some time today to de-stress:


Fill a bowl with water and a floating candle. Light the candle and gaze into the flame. Gaze for awhile into the candle flame and let your mind go blank. Feel your stress pouring into the water and feel your body relax as the stress leaves it. Imagine the bowl is a deep well and is drinking in whatever it is in your life that is causing unease, discomfort or stress. Breathe deeply. Sprinkle dried basil over the water, and then chant softly before the candle flame:

I am calm.
I am at peace with my surroundings.
I am whole and well.
By the powers of earth, air, fire, and water, I am free.

Sit before the bowl for several more moments. Let the candle burn till it burns out. Pour the water onto the ground and feel your stress and anxiety going with it. Tell yourself that the earth has taken your stress away. Give thanks.

Winter Ritual Bath

Winter Ritual Bath

During the Winter Solstice/Christmas Season we often place too much emphasis on celebrating and sharing this joyous holiday. It is often helpful amongst all the stress to attune to a quiet, internal spirituality. To begin to do so, prepare a ritual bath with oils of rosemary, pine and orange. Add a touch of patchouli for grounding. Light gold and green candles and immerse yourself in the watery solitude to refresh your weary holiday spirit. Meditate on the Winter Goddess and her lesson of stillness. Find the cool and clean space she offers, free of clutter and activity. It is the season for centering and grounding and for defining who we really are. After the bath, take your journal and write down your goals by candlelight. Contemplate the coming re-birth and identify which direction you wish to channel your energies and focus your intentions.

-This bath was adapted by one written by Karri Allrich

Winter Prosperity Spell

Winter Prosperity Spell

Gather your supplies:

A piece of ribbon from Yule in your favorite color at least 12 inches long.
A green candle
A bit of Myrrh oil

Ritual:
Rub a few drops of Myrrh oil into the candle and light it.
Tie nine knots in the ribbon while reciting this rhyme:

“By the count of one, this spell’s begun,
By the count of two, prosperity’s due,
By the count of three, I’ll have no more need,
By the count of four, abundance galor,
By the count of five, this spell’s alive,
By the count of six, prosperity’s fixed,
By the count of seven, blessings given,
By the count of eight, I seal my fate,
By the count of nine, praise the Goddess divine!”

Pass the tied ribbon through the smoke from the candle three times. Put the ribbon in a safe place for the next year looking and meditating on it if you need extra strength throughout the year. As the next year commences, burn the old ribbon and empower a new one!

Yule Log Charge

Yule Log Charge

It is best that every owner charge his or her own Yule Log. It is through your own energies that the results you desire will be achieved. Do you truly believe in the power of your log? If the answer is yes, then the answers and gifts you request from it will be honored. Here is a simple Charging Ritual to help you get the most from your log.

Gather your supplies:

Chalice (or glass) of water
A white candle in a holder
A small amount of salt
A table
A white cloth
Incense of any kind in a holder
A quiet place to perform the ritual


Ritual :
Lay white cloth over the table.  Place candle, water and incense in the center of the cloth.  Light the candle and the incense.

Darken the room.

Close your eyes and meditate on the log and what you want it to achieve until you have fully cleared your mind of all other influences and are focused on the desired result.


Take a pinch of salt between your thumb and forefinger and sprinkle it into the water while saying:


“Earth and Water bond this log to me,
May it protect me/us throughout the year
And channel my desires,
Blessed Be”

Sprinkle this “empowered” water onto your log. Pass the incense and candle over the log to purify it while again saying:


“Fire bond this log to me,
May it protect me/us throughout the year
And channel my desires,
Blessed Be”

 

Place your hand on the log. Close your eyes. Meditate to feel the powerful, protective internal energy of your body flowing down your arm and into your hand.
Envision yourself burning the log and its strength protecting you as you go about your life. Invoke the god or goddess you feel most personally attuned with by saying:


“(God/Goddess Name) bond this log to me,
May it protect me/us from harm
And channel my desires,
Blessed Be”


Feel the log begin to surge with your power and envision a white or yellow light glowing about you.


Sit like this until you feel the energy winding down, you will know when the charging it complete.


Place the log in your fireplace or pit. If it was charged with certain people in mind, make sure they are there as you burn the log and meditate and enjoy their company!

Winter Solstice Spell

Winter Solstice Spell

Perform on the night of Winter Solstice

Gather your supplies:

Small Amount of Holly berry Oil
 Small Amount of Mistletoe Herb
Clean, small piece of white paper (parchment if you have it)
Red Candle

Ritual:
Write a single word in red ink that represents what quality in yourself you would like to enhance with the dawning of the Yule Sun. Sprinkle the Mistletoe Herb into the center of the paper.  Add three drops of the Holly berry Oil on top of the Mistletoe. Twist the paper closed with the Mistletoe and Holly berry Oil inside.


Light the red candle. From the flame of the candle, light the paper package on fire.
As it burns envision your wish fulfilled.


The spell is done.

The Current Moon Phase for Dec. 10th is Waning Crescent

December 10
Waning Crescent
Illumination: 1%

The Moon today is in a Waning Crescent phase. In this phase the Moon’s illumination is growing smaller each day until the New Moon. During this phase the Moon is getting closer to the Sun as viewed from Earth and the night side of the Moon is facing the Earth with only a small edge of the Moon being illuminated. This phase is best viewed an hour or 2 before the sunrise and can be quite beautiful if you’re willing to get up early. It can also be a great time to see the features of the Moon’s surface. Along the edge where the illuminated portion meets the dark side, the craters and mountains cast long shadows making them easier to observe with a telescope or binoculars.

Phase Details for – Thursday, December 10, 2015

Phase: Waning Crescent
Illumination: 1%
Moon Age: 28.62 days
Moon Angle: 0.50
Moon Distance: 395,606.76 km
Sun Angle: 0.54
Sun Distance: 147,315,205.18 km