What Time Does the Winter Solstice Start

Here are three different time zones for the northern and southern hemispheres also the link so you can find the exact time or as close to it as possible from scientist.

Northern Hemisphere – Winter Solstice

Los Angels, California, USA:

Winter 2023-2024

Start (December solstice)
Dec 21 at 7:27 PM PST
Duration88 days, 23 hrs, 39 mins

Chicago, Illinois, USA:

Winter 2023-2024

Start (December solstice)
Dec 21 at 9:27 PM CST
Duration88 days, 23 hrs, 39 mins

Paris, France, Europe

Winter 2023-2024

Start (December solstice)
22 Dec at 4:27 AM CET
Duration88 days, 23 hrs, 39 mins

Southern Hemisphere – Summer Solstice

Easter Island, Chile

Summer 2023-2024

Start (December solstice)
21 Dec at 10:27 PM EASST
Duration88 days, 23 hrs, 39 mins

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Summer 2023-2024

Start (December solstice)
22 Dec at 2:27 PM AEDT
Duration88 days, 23 hrs, 39 mins

Auckland, New Zealand

Summer 2023-2024

Start (December solstice)
22 Dec at 4:27 PM NZDT
Duration88 days, 23 hrs, 39 mins

Use the following link to find the time of the Solstice nearest to where you live.

Seasons Source: timeanddate.com

A Laugh for Today

On this cool, rainy day I just want to curl up with a witchy book I need to read and give my opinion on some hot chocolate coffee and some raspberry cookies. Yesterday I got a book in the mail to read and don’t even remember who was sending it to me…LOL

I hope you have a sensational Saturday!!

A Thought for Today

May the Lord and Lady bless the WOTC Family and our families with love, happiness, all things positive!

SOrry for the short posts for a couple of days but Big Dwag’s job has kept us on the go. I’m barely getting todays’ done as I have had a broken 3 hours of sleep. Hopefully tomorrow I will have the time and energy to do the northern hemisphere’s Sunday and Monday’s post

A Thought for Today to Honor My Mom

M If not for my Christian mom believing in more than Christianity teaches I probably wouldn’t be the pagan I am today. When my ability surfaced at about 3-years-old to talk to and see spirits my mom took it in stride as she was a spirit talker also and never denied her ability to do this even when she got in big trouble from her parents growing up.

Today would have been her 88th birthday in this lifetime but she crossed the veil on August 24, 2015. She also believed in reincarnation so when her spirit is ready to incarnated again she will. There is still not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her both the good times and bad. My mom knew what unconditional love was and showed it to me time and time again. Did I fully appreciate her when she still walked this earth? No but with us being able to still communicate I have the chance to tell her all things I should of when she was on this plane with me. I very strongly suggest if your parents are still here with you that you make it a point to talk to them, thank them for helping you become the person you are today, and anything else you’ve wanted to tell them but haven’t. If they are across the veil you can still thank them and say everything you didn’t get a chance to when they walked with you.

Happy birthday my beautiful, opened heart and mind Mom!!! Thank you for always having my back and loving me know matter what I put you through good and bad. I love and miss you.

A Once-in-a-Lifetime Eclipse Will Be Visible to Millions on Tuesday—Here’s How to See It

One of the night sky’s brightest stars will be eclipsed by the asteroid Leona late Monday into early Tuesday.

Millions of people around the world may be able to witness a rare eclipse on Tuesday, December 12. Betelgeuse, one of the biggest and brightest stars, will briefly disappear from the night sky as an asteroid passes in front of it to create a once-in-a-lifetime eclipse, according astronomer Gianluca Masi, founder of the Virtual Telescope Project.

Betelgeuse is a blazing red supergiant in the constellation Orion. A supergiant is the term given to stars nearing the end of their lives. They are the largest stars in the universe because they puff up and expand out into space in their old age, according to NASA. The large star will be eclipsed by the asteroid Leona, which orbits between Mars and Jupiter in the outer reaches of the main asteroid belt.

Click here to read the rest of this article

A Thought for Today

I felt the need to update you on how coven and I are doing. Myself I got my first full night’s sleep since the revelations of last weekend concerning a former heart daughter/adept apprentice/coven member real personality bomb went off. Sorry I don’t have a better word to describe what her betrayal felt like. The others in the coven have their only feelings about everything and I will not speak for them or break the confidence they have in me as their High Priestess by speaking out of turn. We all are upset over having to take her young daughter out of the coven also but for everyone’s safety we cannot let the mother have any way to contact or reach us after we banish her. Personally, I am hoping that after the daughter moves out (at least 5-years away) that she contacts me again to continue her training as a white or slightly light gray witch. 🙏🏼🤞🏼

Let’s go back approximately 18 months ago when the women first contacted me. She sent me an email about how her former HP treated her which from what she said I thought the woman didn’t deserve to be a HP. I have sent an apology to her via the universe as I realized everything my former student was either outright lies or greatly altered to fit the former students agenda. I am sure she will be saying the same things about me now all negative and that’s ok as I know who I am deep inside from shadow work and meditations to check where my spirit and heart are at. She is also an energy vampire which I think I mentioned before and was trying to drain me dry. She probably would have succeeded if not for a very strong healer, who happens to be my second cousin, didn’t keep cleaning sludge and dark entities off of me almost weekly. I owe my cousin a life debt that I hope I never have to pay because it would mean she was in mortal danger.

Many, many years ago when I was a teenager, I was in a very dark coven for 2 years, I am not proud of this after learning how wrong I was in some spells I cast and coven rituals I took part in. I now know I needed the experience in my life so I can hopefully see the signs in witches that come to me to apprentice them. But I definitely fell down with this person after I finally took the time and spent the energy to do a full body, inside and out, reading on her I could see the glamours and shields she had done so she appeared as a somewhat helpless women that just wanted someone to understand and support her. There are so much more signs that I choose to ignore including not listening to my Spirit Guides and Ancestors, but I will not bore you with them.

The reason I am going into any detail with what happened between this woman and myself is to warn everyone reading this to LISTEN to your Spirit Guides and Ancestors because I can tell you from experience that they will never steer you wrong. Their main job, at least in my life, is to keep a person safe and on their true-life path. This is something I really need to remember it’ll keep me away from this type of person in the future! This is the second energy vampire I have had to deal with since I started my online witchcraft school and coven in 2014. At that time all the red flags were there, and my Spirit Guides and Ancestors tried to get me to listen to keep me from being drained but I didn’t listen.

I will be back hopefully on Monday doing all the regular daily posts as Sunday there is a coven gathering to not only banish this woman from the coven but from all our lives as well. The daughter will be banished also but with a clause that she can contact myself only after she turns 18-years-old and no longer lives in her mother’s home unless she follows a dark path also.

Thank you all for your kind words and support during this rough patch in mine and my coven’s lives!

A Major Mess Up by Me and Why Limited Posts Until next Monday

I explained yesterday that I was dealing with a problem with what is now an ex-student of mine. Well things got “more interesting” when I was cutting cords between her, and I last night to find about she is a black witch able to do excellent glamour spells and shielding her true heart/spirit self. I missed one small cord which she used to go through me follow a cord I have with a cousin, who’s a powerful healer, and attack her with back pain so bad she couldn’t sleep and barely was able to get out of bed today for short times.

I also discovered she is an energy vampire with as close as I allowed us to get she was draining me some daily. Which explains why for about the last 16 months I have been sick so often and in horrible fibromyalgia flares. I had no extra physical energy to fight these off with.

The student I am talking about is Graphia, who at one time I referred to her as my right-hand witch in training. I feel the need to share her pagan name with you all just in case you had any private emails or other communications with her. Please if you did, put your protection whatever into super mode around yourself, family, and animal companion.

The reason I Am doing limited posts until next Monday is for the first time in my many, many years as either a face to face or virtual high priestess of a coven I am having to excommunicate a coven member and unfortunately because her daughter had started to study with me, I have to do the same to her. So, I am keeping my roller coaster energy away from the website except for current Moon phases, daily and birthday horoscopes. I hope you can understand my reasoning for limiting my time on here the rest of this week. I will not be answering emails until next Monday for the same reason.

I am very sorry I openly exposed you all to this person. I hope you can forgive me and continue being part of my WOTC family. Blessings of protection to each of you, your extend families, and animal companions.

I’ll Be Back to Full Posting Tomorrow

I am having to deal with a serious problem caused by one of my students/coven members. Because of things said and done by her I am having to do blocking and eventually a binding against her being able to try to do anything negative to others in the coven and associated with it. I am sorry this is taking me away from doing all the daily posts but there is a reason for that too. I didn’t want to bring the negative energy from how I am feeling to all of you. Just for your information Graphia is no longer part of WOTC in anyway especially as my right-hand witch she has been stripped of her duties and title.

Taking a Much Needed Mental Floss Day

This past week has been a super stressful one what with computers, printer, and scanner giving my all kinds of problems. Along with someone at the headquarters office for Big Dwag’s job, making a mess out of certain paperwork that has to be signed again and resubmitted. I’m talking over 200 papers that were done correctly but some person or persons hit a wrong key on their keyboard and erased his signature from we’re guessing at this point all 361 submitted papers are coming back to be resigned. It is very frustrating and time-consuming. Coming on top of monthly posts, I’ve spent too much time on the computer trying to get everything done for both our jobs.

So, today, I’m taking a much needed mental floss day and going to our towns Kris Krinkle market with some gal pals. I’ll be back tomorrow a lot more clear-headed and a lot less stressed, I hope.

Now to just get my laptop to talk to the printer and scanner and life’s stressors will go almost completely away. I will have help with that sometime later today.

A Laugh With/At Me Today

So, for us today was supposed be sleep in than get stuff done around the house and laundry. Well, the sleeping in worked 😄 but I have been stuck fighting with my desk top computer just to find out it isn’t able to convert from Windows 10 to 11. Something about my system being incompatible 🤷‍♀️. Likely I a small laptop with Windows 11 👍. I am having to use it after dusting it off. The reasons for the drastic change in how I work is do to our scanner wouldn’t work to scan thing as a PDF and our printer kept arguing with the desk top 😂. The scanner and laptop like each other. As for the printer and laptop are still sizing each other up because it’ll print than go into its, what I call it, stubborn mode that doesn’t want to print. Hopefully 🤞🤞 they will work out their differences and I can get some work down for Big Dawgs job. I am starting on the tomorrow posts now as well as getting up the monthly post for Astronomy Events and Retrograde planets for this month.

Wish me calmness so I don’t pull or my hair out or go on a mini rampage throwing all my electronic devices out of the front door.

A Thought for Today

I have found the happier I am the less pain I have. While it is not always easy to be happy or find a reason to laugh, I make it a point to find at least one reason every day to have a good belly laugh. These are usually provided by one of our fur kids or Big Dawg.

I think it was last Saturday we had about 2 inches of snow on the ground, and it was still flurrying I went outside and made a snow angel. The last two years when we had snow it was too dang cold to go out to do anything more than shovel or take our fur kids out to use the bathroom so as much as I wanted too no snow angels got made. I put a challenge on my personal Facebook page for other “grown-ups” top let their inner child out, make a snow angel or snowman/woman and post the picture as a comment. Guess what? I didn’t get one person to take up the challenge. Here in the northern hemisphere winter officially is still 21 days away but it doesn’t mean we won’t get snow unless you live someplace that it stays to warm all year long to get any. So, I challenge each of you to make a snow man/woman/angel or whatever send a picture of it to ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com and I will do a special post of all our pictures and continue updating until there’s no more snow on the ground to make something. Pictures from actual children will be accept to. Even better a grown-up and child’s creation will get top spots in the post.

So, who’s with me to let our inner children have some fun in the snow whether it is with our children or grandchildren or not?

Full Moon November 2023: The Beaver Moon’s Spectacular Spiritual Meaning

Full Moon November 2023: The Beaver Moon’s Spectacular Spiritual Meaning

The Full Moon of November 2023 brings the Beaver Moon with it. These diligent animals have begun their annual ritual of preparing for Winter. Their spiritual meaning reminds us it’s time to say goodbye to Autumn and welcome the coming of Winter. It’s okay to let go of the past and move forward toward new dreams.

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, great knowledge and strength can be found in the beaver’s art of patience and tenacious creation. For Pagans, witches, and spiritual practitioners, November is sometimes regarded as the beginning of a new year because it follows the final harvest season of Samhain.

Every full moon has its own name based on the month or the season in which it appears. Creating a name for each full Moon allowed people to reflect on each season and how it affects them AND the natural world. There can be some variation on the Full Moon names due to the origins from whence they came.

Most Full Moon names are English translations of Native American names; others are rooted in Celtic, European (Anglo-Saxon and Germanic), and more recent Neo-Pagan origins. I created a guide to each Full Moon, complete with their meanings and how you can celebrate

Please note that I make every effort to ensure this information is correct and accurate through my own experiences and referencing sources throughout OR at the bottom of this article.

Table of Contents

Native American Heritage Day 2023: Activities, History, FAQs, Dates, and Facts

Native American Heritage Day 2023: Activities, History, FAQs, Dates, and Facts

NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY DATES

YEAR DATE DAY
2023 November 24 Friday
2024 November 29 Friday
2025 November 28 Friday

Native American Heritage Day 2023: November 24 is observed as National Native American Heritage Day, the day following Thanksgiving. This day is dedicated to the celebration of the diverse cultures, contributions, achievements, and heritage of Native American. Native Americans are the originators of American history, and the bald eagle depicted on the U.S. shield is an Iroquois emblem. While commemorating this day, one may admire exhibitions of their distinctive recipes and cultural attire while also voicing opposition to the heinous injustices they have endured.

The History of National Heritage Day

In 1912 and 1915, Dr. Arthur C. Parker of the Seneca tribe initially staged a demonstration in opposition to National Native American Heritage Day. Initially, he advocated for the recognition of “American Indian Day” by the Boy Scouts of America. President George H. W. Bush signed the legislation in 1990 with the intention of designating the day after Thanksgiving as American Indian Heritage Day. Congressman Joe Baca had proposed it.

November 28 was designated by law as Native American Heritage Day, in remembrance of their innumerable contributions to the United States. 184 tribes recognized by the federal government and the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) both contributed.

Through activities and ceremonies, Native American Heritage Day encourages individuals of all backgrounds in the United States to develop an appropriate appreciation for indigenous cultures. Additionally, educational institutions are recommended to augment their pupils’ consciousness regarding Native Americans through the implementation of classroom exercises that center on their historical background, significant contributions, and notable accomplishments.

The Native American Heritage Day Act of 2009 underwent technical changes after receiving initial approval from the United States House of Representatives, and all senators in the United States Senate subsequently approved those changes. By a unanimous vote, the House of Representatives re-approved the legislation, incorporating the amendments proposed by the Senate. President Barack Obama subsequently ratified the legislation into law on October 30, 2009.

Native Americans utilize Native American Heritage Day and Month as a significant opportunity to inform the public about their communities. They take the lead in discussions surrounding culture on this particular day, where they exhibit traditional footwear (“rocking the moccasin”) to honor their heritage and provide insight into the various tribal communities.

FAQs for National American Heritage Day

Which term is more suitable for use, Native American or American Indian?

Both expressions are suitable.

Do indigenous Americans remit taxes?

Indeed, they do. Individual Americans and their tribes both pay taxes.

How do communities function?

Tribes possess inherent entitlements to govern according to their own systems of governance. Numerous tribal governments have embraced constitutions as part of their organizational frameworks, whereas others continue to adhere to traditional methods of governance. It is common to refer to the chief, governor, president, or tribal chairperson as the governor of a tribe.

Observing Native American Heritage Day: A Guide

Recognize the realities

Observe documentaries or read books that accurately depict the history and culture of Native Americans. Visit an area-specific Native American museum or heritage center.

Participate in social activities

Engage in online forums or social media discussions to commemorate Native American Heritage Day. The #NativeFamily community on TikTok is renowned.

Prepare meals like an authentic Native American.

Specify a dish from Native America to prepare. Consider serving Three Sisters Soup, Pemmican, or a basic Buffalo Stew. Explore the rich recipes of Native American cuisine, which is famous.

Five Native American facts

The mean age of the population is 31.

Native Americans regard thirty-one as the age of middle age.

A minority of Native Americans possess advanced degrees.

8% of Native Americans aged 25 and older hold a professional or graduate degree.

They hold more than 24,000 companies.

Alaska Natives and American Indians own approximately 24,503 enterprises in the United States.

Hundreds of Indian communities exist.

There are 574 Indian tribes that the federal government recognizes as of 2020.

It is the sequoia tree that bears its name.

The massive redwood honors Cherokee leader Sequoyah, who helped create the Cherokee alphabet.

 

A Thought for Today

For those who celebrated Thanksgiving Day yesterday I hope it was spent the way you fully enjoyed it! Today is just as important if not more so as it is a day to celebrate Native American Heritage Day! If not for the indigenous people of the USA there would not be a Thanksgiving Day. Even with the United States government forcibly moving these tribes and nations off the land the traveled and farmed for centuries before the first Europeans arrived on our eastern shores the land would be totally wild and untamed. We can learn a lot about living in harmony with Mother Earth and its natural inhabitants by looking to their way of life centuries ago for guidance. I am proud to be from the Choctaw tribe that broke off from the “Trail of Tears” in Louisiana. Many tribes and nations were effect negatively by being forced to march during a bitter winter to reservations where the US government thought they should live after stealing their land. Yes, I feel strongly about what did and is happening to all US indigenous people. It is with a heavy heart for those that died and were killed along the very long and dangerous journey that I celebrate this very important day! Please joining in lighting a candle and giving thanks for their continuing struggle to regain lands that were stolen or supposedly bought from all tribes and nations in our land!