The Wheel of the Year - Pagan Holidays

Alright everyone, how is everything going? Today, we are going to be going over, very briefly, about the Pagan holidays that are and have been celebrated for hundreds of years! These holidays are called Sabbats, or days of power that one can be closer to Nature.

Yule / Winter Solstice on or near December 21st 
Here in the northern hemisphere, nights get longer and days get shorter until the day of the Winter Solstice when the cycle reverses. The word Yule comes from the Norse Jul meaning wheel. On this darkest of nights, the Goddess becomes the Great Mother and once again gives birth to the Sun God. This is a fire festival so celebrate with a Yule log in the fireplace, candles on the table and lights on the tree. Evergreens, holly, ivy and mistletoe, symbols of fertility and everlasting life, remind us that the cold darkness of winter will eventually give way to the warmth & new growth of spring. 

Imbolc / Imbolg / Candlemas - February 2nd 
Imbolc means, literally, 'in the belly' (of the Mother) and in the womb of Mother Earth new life is truly stirring. The young Sun God is growing and his strength is beginning to be noticeable. If you look closely, you may notice a snowdrop or a crocus pushing its way out of the still-cold earth. This is traditionally a day of purification, of sweeping out the old to make room for the new... both physically and emotionally. Celebrate by lighting LOTS of candles to encourage the young Sun; if you like to make them yourself, this is an auspicious day to do it. As nuts and seeds symbolize new beginnings, enjoy some sesame cookies or nutbread while visualizing yourself co-creating a loving, joyous & prosperous future. 

Ostara - Spring Equinox - on or near March 21st 
Named for Eostre the Teutonic Goddess of New Life, Ostara is the first day of Spring. Light and darkness are in balance, but the light is growing stronger as days continue to grow longer. The Young Sun God continues to mature and grow; small tender leaves appear on the trees, young buds are swelling and, here in New York, cheerful white and yellow daffodils are already in full bloom. The Life Energies are building quickly now and the very air seems to vibrate with promise. Celebrate by coloring eggs, an ancient symbol of fertility. 

Beltaine / Beltane / May Day - May 1 
From the Irish Gaelic Bealtaine meaning Bel-fire (the fire of Bel, Celtic God of light) Beltaine is primarily a fertility festival; the Land represented by the Goddess is now ripe and fertile and the Sun God expresses His Love for Her. Celebrate by establishing a woodland or garden shrine and gathering flowers to adorn your living space... and yourself! 

Midsummer / Summer Solstice - on or near June 21st 
Midsummer is the longest day of the year. It's not harvest time yet, but Mother Nature is impressively lush. The veil between the Faerie realm and our world is thin so don't be surprised if you catch a glimpse of an otherworldly someone on Midsummer's Eve! Celebrate with a bonfire and if you're into herb magick, any plants gathered at this time are particularly powerful. Or just stroll through a park or woodland area and bask in the glory of our natural world. 

Lughnasadh / Lammas - August 1 
Even though Lughnasadh occurs at the warmest time of the year, it marks the time at which days become noticeably shorter and so is considered the starting point of the autumn quarter of the year. The autumn season contains three harvests, and Lughnasadh is the first of these, the time when the first corn harvest is cut. The name is derived from Lugh (pronounced 'loo'), a Celtic deity of light and wisdom. At Lughnasadh, bread from the first harvest was eaten in thanks. Baking, sharing & eating bread is a wonderful way to celebrate this holiday and if you can, attend a Renaissance Faire, Medieval Festival or Highland Games competition. The jousting matches and caber & sheaf tosses were no doubt inspired by that aggressive war god Lugh :-) 

Mabon / Autumn Equinox - on or near September 21 
Mabon is the time of the second harvest, when fruits are ready for collection. The land is showing clear signs of the journey towards winter - leaves are beginning to turn and birds are gathering for migration. Mabon is a time to consider which aspects of your life you wish to preserve and which you would prefer to discard. This is the Pagan Thanksgiving, a time to appreciate and enjoy the fruits of your labors. Commemmorate Mabon by making wine, feasting with friends, planting bulbs to bloom in the spring and put out feeders to help those brave birds who don't migrate get through the long winter ahead. 

Samhain, All Hallow's Eve, Hallowe'en - October 31 
This is the Last Harvest and New Year's Eve to the ancient Celts. Being "between years," it is considered a very magical time, a day when the veil separating the the physical plane and spiritual realms is most permeable. This is a good day to practice divination: scrying, Tarot readings and Rune casting are all particularly effective. The practice of donning costumes... especially scary ones... grew out of the ancient fear of evil spirits passing through the veil along with the benevolent ones and pumpkin carving evolved from the practice of painting hideous faces on gourds to keep "gouls and goblins" away from the home. Samhain is also a day for honoring our ancestors and one of my favorite rituals is the Dumb Supper... laying an extra place at the dinner table for those who have passed over to the Summerlands. 

Now, to kind of clarify, Wiccans believe in a place called the Summerlands. This is what some would believe to be paradise, the afterlife, etc. Also, Yule is celebrated kind of  like the Christian Christmas, but different; it is celebrated because of the passing of the old king that is to be reborn for another year. I still haven't gotten a grip onto it very well, but if you look it up some more, I think you will understand it more. But the rest is very simple and very easy to understand I hope. Next time, we'll get more into the topic of hand-fasting and soul mates, because I believe it's a very strong topic that Pagans do believe is very important. Well, blessed be!

Information for this post came from the following website: http://www.catanna.com/paganholidays.htm

How To Work Spells - Healing Spells and Deepening Rituals

Okay, everyone, this is the final and last lesson that we will deal with spells (just how to work with them). In this post we're going to learn some of the most advanced and powerful magic out there. Before you try to perform any of this, make sure that you have a lot of PRACTICE. The spells here required a lot of energy to cast - but the reward is worth it. amazingly powerful spells can accomplish just about anything, beyond what you thought was possible with magic.

So if you feel comfortable trying some of these "Advanced Spells" get ready for an incredible power rush as you work with new, potent magical forces.

What Energies Do You Need?

Before we really delve into the advanced spells, you need to know a bit more about the powerful energy needed to cast these spells. Advanced magic requires you to raise and manipulate energy. Really, the better you become at raising energy, the more effective ALL your spells will be.

So, what does "raising energy" mean? Where does the energy come from? Let's remember about the three types of energy: personal energy, earth energy, and divine energy. Remember that most witches don't use their own personal energy for spells. Instead, they draw upon the earth energy from plants, candles stones, and other forces to use in their spells. (It's a lot less draining and makes for much more powerful spells, when you draw from the vast stores of earth energy.)

You've already practiced an exercise to sense and manipulate energy. Keeping practicing and honing this technique because it is very important. Remember, in the exercise, how you rubbed your hands together to create your personal energy ball? How you could change it, make it bigger or smaller if you wanted? Well, you can do the same thing with earth energy, but instead of drawing energy from inside yourself, you draw it from the earth, or a plant. This energy, instead of returning to the earth, is directed into a candle or another object used in your spells. This energy multiplies the power of your spell many times over.

Here's an example of how it works: If you are outside, try using a tree or the earth itself for this. If you can't find a place to be outside, or if you are working your spells inside, then a plant can also work well for this purpose.

Sit near your earth energy source. Close your eyes and breathe slowly and deeply, clearing your mind and relaxing your body. Hold your left palm a few inches above the earth, tree, or plant. Focus your awareness on your palm. Feel the energy radiating from the earth, and feel your own energy flowing from your palm, mixing together and blending with the earth energy. Picture small threads or tendrils binding the energies together, like a rope. Now you are connected. Use this connection to draw the energy up from the tree, earth, or plant.

Picture it forming a glowing ball in your hand. Now the energy is yours to play with you can make the ball bigger or smaller, and change its color or shape. When you feel comfortable manipulating the energy, you can either release it back into the earth, basically detaching it from your own energy and letting it flow back into the source. Or, you can direct the energy moving into the candle, as you slowly untangle your own energy, like untangling a ball of string.

Now, when you light the candle during your spell, it will contain the powerful earth energy that you have raised.

Eliminate Addictions Spell

So let's get right into the advanced spells YOU need to know about. Ready? Let's get started by talking about bad habits. We all have them, even the ones we don't like to admit to. And we have our own addictions too - some of which are very harmful to ourselves and others. Breaking free of addiction isn't easy, but with the help of some powerful magic, its possible.

The "Eliminate Addictions" Spell should be performed during the waning moon, when the moon is getting smaller.

You will need the following ingredients:

Your magic broom, circle, and altar
A blue candle and a tool to carve the candle with
One teaspoon of dried anise seeds
One teaspoon of ground cinnamon
One teaspoon of cloves
One teaspoon of sage
One teaspoon of St. John's Wort

Before you start the spell, take the time to "charge" your candle with energy. This is performed exactly as described; by drawing the earth energy from a natural source and directing it into the candle.

To prepare yourself for the spell, sweep the area with your magical broom. Lay your magic circle using crystals, candles, or a cord. Assemble your ingredients on your alter.

Now, hold the unlit candle in both hands and visualize yourself free of your bad habit or addiction. Affirm to yourself: "I control my desires."

Carve your name and birth date into the candle.

At the base of the candle, carve today's date and carve the symbol that represents the habit you wish to break. Scratch an X over it afterwards.

Concentrate once more on your wish to stop your addiction, feeling the power contained in the candle. Light the candle.

While the candle is burning, use a mortar and pestle to ground the herbs together. Allow the motion to release any pent up anger, frustration, or fears.

Place the herbs in a small pouch, and carry it around with you at all times. Whenever you should feel a strong craving or want to return to your habit, open the bag and take a deep breath of your charm. The herbs will relax you and allow you to overcome your craving, reminding you of your power.

The constant reminder of your power and self-control will allow you to easily break bad habits and overcome addictions.

Of course, with any serious or dangerous addiction such as drugs or alcohol or self-harming, you should also take other measures and consult with a counselor or an other professional. But the magic charm will give you the additional support even in that kind of situation.

Healing Spell

Healing spells. They are some of the most powerful spells that a witch can perform. But, like with other matters of life and death, their outcome is often uncertain. Performing a healing spell is not a surefire guarantee that the person will recover. Nevertheless, healing spells DO help in many cases, and they are especially helpful for giving strength and hope to the sick person.

Healing spells require a lot of energy to perform, so make sure that you have practiced your energy raising and manipulating before attempting this one.

This particular healing spell is an offering to the powerful healing spirit.

Here are the supplies you will need for this spell:

Your magic broom, circle, and altar
Some white wine
A white candle
A bowl of popcorn, coated in palm oil

Sweep the area with your broom, lay your magic circle and place a cup of white wine and the bowl of popcorn on your altar, along with the candle. Before you start, perform you meditation exercise to charge the candle with earth energy. Light the candle, and say the following incantation:

Healing spirits, hear my plea,
Look with favor on this offering for thee.
Bring healing energy to ______________ today.
And in the light of health may he/she forever stay.
So mote it be.

Leave the popcorn on your altar for seventeen days. During that time, use your alter for petition, prayer, and reflection. After seventeen days, take the popcorn outside and feed it to the birds.

This will seal the spell and the illness will be neutralized. Of course, you want to exercise preventative measures before you can get sick, so that you won't need this healing spell.

Congratulations! You have completed the "How To Work Spells" guide! I hope that you have learned a lot when it comes to working with spells and how you are to approach all of this. When given the chance, practice, practice, and practice as much as you can! Because you will be grateful for knowing what to do in a slip second instance. And if you ever meet Aurora, make sure to thank her to the bottom of your heart, because when I bought her book, I thought that it was very informative; that's why I used it for you guys!

Anyway, my next most will deal more about the moon phases and why they are important and how to tell which phase is which (because it gets SO confusing!) and we'll be talking about some pretty important dates that Pagans have celebrated for hundreds and hundreds of years (predating the Christian holidays, might I just add). So get plenty of rest, practice as much as you can, and blessed be!

Making An Altar

This is something I haven't done because of the fact that I don't have any money to buy stuff for this, my parents/family members can't find it, and it doesn't seem like I have space for this stuff. Okay, that's kind of a white lie, but there seriously isn't any place I can put my own alter because I share a bedroom & bunk bed with my seventeen year old sister who hates the fact that I am Pagan. And my bedroom is basically my step-mom's computer/cat room. Yes, it smells of bad cat litter, but I'm used to it right now. So, I started looking for easy and crafty ways for us Teen Witches and other Pagans could make some pretty cool alters.

I won't post the entire article, but it's called Be A Crafty Teen Witch by Gwinevere Rain  and she wrote about how most Teen Witches have a budget, which is REALLY true, so the best time, she advises, to get stuff is the after Halloween sales. There are a lot of stores that have some pretty good Halloween clearence sections that can be used for alters, but we also have to get CREATIVE. That probably means going to yard sales around town and finding items (snow globes, china dolls, glass figures, flowers, etc) that we like, define us or what we believe to be the Goddess and God. Also, we can just go around and find plants and natural things that we can use. 

Here is a video that gives examples of different alter ideas and what you should do with/for your alter.

And this video is like any teenager witch that will help you to understand why and what to put on your alter. Some of the things on here may not matter to Pagans, but if you want you can include whatever you want because this is YOUR ALTER.

And here is a picture so that you can get a better look to how to set up your alter. Like I said, I haven't set one up yet, but hopefully, soon, I can and I'll be able to take pictures for you guys! Well, good luck, and start thinking about what you want to put on your alters. In the next couple of posts, I will explain to you the esbats and moon phases and then I will explain about how to find your own Goddess and God. It's more of a Wiccan thing, just so you know, but since there are many cultures that have many Gods, you have a lot of chances of getting picked. I've heard that you get picked and that you get to pick or someone picks for you, but that's for later. Alright, well good luck and have fun!

Quick Love Spell --> magic-spells-and-potions.com

 

Hi everyone! So, the last time I posted a beauty spell, there were a lot of hits (really meaning you liked it!!!), so this is a love spell. The thing about love spells is they shouldn't really be used if you are breaking the 3x3 law (do unto you sort of thing) because taking a person's free will is against magic. Instead, this is to include that 3x3 law so you aren't breaking it! Later I'll be posting another beauty spell, so come check me out. Also, I'll be posting a good luck spell because I have a concert tonight and I need all the luck I can get! Blessed Be!

 

 

The Love Attraction Spell / Love Attraction Ritual

Featuring The Law Of Three

Light a candle.

Focus on the person/animal/object/creature/spirit/being that is your example of love, and of which you want more in your life.

If your mind drifts to "the bad bits of the squid" say to yourself out aloud and in your mind at the same time, "Only the love! Let me feel the love!" and focus on the sensations and feelings of loving someone/something with all your heart.

Remember that if you are using the law of three, the purer your vibration and the stronger your energy can be, the more powerful the good effects that come back to you in turn.

When you feel only love (admiration, wonderment, beauty, awesome, I love!) take a deep breath and say:

I now call love into my life
according to the law of three
love is my goal, love is my due,
love is my will, so will it be.

Clap your hands three times, then blow out the candle.

It's easy, a very good practice spell indeed and makes you feel really good, powerful, vibrant. As all good magic spells should!

So there we have it.

Thanks for your question, it's a good question and I'll post a version of this publicly too because it is such a useful all round spell that uses the principles of magic, and of love, well, they are the same!

Lots of blessings to you and may you find more love than you ever expected!

Information for this post came from the website http://magic-spells-and-potions.com/asksfx/love_attraction_ritual_love_spell_law_of_three.htm

When you have time, check it out, because it is a pretty good website and it also helps to deal with the teen problems of how we don't get much money for supplies or what our parents will think of this, so check it out!

Prayers For Death (or Things Having To Do With Death)

Tonight my dear childhood pet, Tobey, passed on. He may have been just a rabbit, but he was a good friend of mine. I have noticed, while I was looking for prayers to help his spirit move on to the next world, that there wasn't really much of any that had to do with Death. So, here is a list of prayers that will help in case you come across these problems. The subject of Death I will touch on later on, but right now I grieve. Blessed be.

Deep Peace to You
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the infinite peace to you.
- Adapted from Ancient Gaelic Runes -

Prayer For The Dying
Time has passed, the Wheel has turned.
It is time for you [person's name] to move on.
You will walk hand in hand with the Lord and Lady
and with your ancestors who came before you.
Great Mother, welcome [name of person]
back into your womb.
And Great Father welcome [him/her] back
into your divine instruction.
Let [him/her] come to you and
know that [s/he] has been blessed
by your gracious gift of Life.
Let [him/her] come into your Divine Love,
and let [him/her] know
that [s/he] has left behind a life of legacy,
that [s/he] shall be remembered and loved.
As [s/he] enters your world,
wrap [him/her] in your loving arms,
and welcome [him/her] back home.
Let [him/her] speak to the Ancient Ones
to learn the greater mysteries
that lie beyond the veil.
Give [him/her] the strength to take these final steps,
and allow [him/her] to do so with peace and dignity.
Those of us left behind
shall indeed mourn [his/her] death,
but we shall also know
that [his/her] Soul and Spirit
is coming back
to Holy Mother and Holy Father,
and that [s/he] shall be made whole again.
We shall cry, but we shall also laugh,
for we shall celebrate the Life
that had been given to [person's name.]
And let [him/her] also know
that as we now merry part,
that we shall also merry meet again.
And we now, with these candles {light candles}
respect the flame of [person's name]'s life,
and though these candle flames shall die out,
we know that [person's name] shall live on,
and [his/her] flame shall never cease to burn,
and we also know that [s/he] shall be reborn anew.
Take [him/her] by the hand and
guide [him/her] back into your heart,
for this is what is right and just.
Let [him/her] walk unerringly
down the path that leads to your Love.
This is our will and so mote it be.
Amen and Amen.
- Crimson Peaceful Wolf -
- Wiccan Prayer -

Carry On Prayer
Beloved one, you are dying [dead],
but you are not alone.
We are here with you,
the beloved dead await you.
You go from love
into love.
Carry with you
only love.
May our love carry you
and open the way.
- Carry Only Love

Wiccan Prayer for One Assisting
Someone in Dying
Goddess of death,
I stand here as your priest/ess
knowing that life
must be winnowed
to thrive.
This is a holy act I perform:
to open a gateway
for a willing one
to come to you.
This is an act of healing,
a release from suffering,
an end to pain.
Here is one
whose arms are open
to embrace you.

Wiccan Prayer For One Who Has Had
a Miscarriage
Mother of life,
Mother of death,
here is a spirit so new
that the gates of life and death
are just an archway in [his/her] dancing ground.
[S/he] has danced [his/her] way back to you.
[His/her] passage is easy
but mine is hard.
I wanted to hold [his/her] living flesh
and feel [his/her] soft breath and [his/her] heartbeat.
I nurtured [his/her] in my body;
I would have fed [his/her] from my breasts.
I would have cared for [him/her]
and watched [his/her] first steps
and listened for [his/her] voice.
No other child that may come to me
will ever be what [s/he] would have been.
Nothing, nobody, will ever replace [him/her].
Whatever healing I may find,
this loss will always be a part of me.
Bless my womb,
which has the power
to create life and death.
Bless my arms that would have embraced [him/her].
Bless my hands
that would have lifted [him/her].
Bless my heart that grieves.


May the Blessing of Light Be on You
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
like a great peat fire,
so that strangers and friends may come
and warm themselves at it.
And may light shine out of the two eyes of you,
like a candle set in the window of a house,
bidding the wanderer come in out of the storm.
And may the blessing of the rain be on you,
may it beat upon your Spirit
and wash it fair and clean,
and leave there a shining pool
where the blue of Heaven shines,
and sometimes a star.
And may the blessing of the earth be on you,
soft under your feet as you pass along the roads,
soft under you as you lie out on it,
tired at the end of day;
and may it rest easy over you
when, at last, you lie out under it.
May it rest so lightly over you
that your soul may be out
from under it quickly;
up and off and on its way to Heaven.
And now may Spirit bless you,
and bless you kindly.
- Pagan Invocation -

For Samhain Dreams of the Dead
Magic of Samhain dreams
Spirits of mystical north,
O’ guardian of earth, heed our prayers
Throughout this rite, come forth.
As the stars crown our brow,
This song of wicca we hear,
Open the gates that our loved ones may pass
And our words draw them near.
Magic of Samhain dreams
Spirits of mystical east,
O’ guardian of air, heed our prayers
At behest of wiccan words.
As on wings of warding we soar
This song of wicca we hear,
Open the gates that our loved ones may pass
And our words draw them near.
Magic of Samhain dreams,
Spirits of mystical south,
O’ guardian of flame, heed our prayers
And spare us lengths of drouth.
As your touch warms our souls
This song of wicca we hear,
Open the gates that our loved ones may pass
And our words draw them near.
Magic of Samhain dreams,
Spirits of mystical west,
O’ guardian of water, heed our prayers
And deem we sisters and brothers blessed.
As your rushing rivers flow
This song of wicca we hear
Open the gates that our loved ones may pass
And our words draw them near.
- Samhain Chant for the Dead -
- A la Wesley Lowe -

A Wiccan Prayer for the Dying
Time has passed, the Wheel has turned.
It is time for me to move on.
I will walk hand in hand with the Ancient Ones,
and with my ancestors who came before me.
Great Mother, welcome me back into your womb,
I come to you and know I am blessed,
for my life has been one I am proud of.
As I enter your world,
wrap me in your loving arms,
and welcome me.
Lord of Death, I wait for you to take me,
I come to you willingly, with eyes wide open,
as my last moment approaches on the horizon.
May I look upon you without fear, without pain,
and knowing that those who walked before me,
await me on the other side.
O Ancient Ones, give me strength to take these final steps,
and allow me to do so with peace and dignity.
Let my family mourn my passing but not my loss,
and let them heal knowing I will see them again.
Time has passed and the Wheel has turned.
It is time for me to move on.

Information for these Prayers came from the website http://www.a-good-dying.com/wiccan-prayers.html