Night One: Rite of Wind - Choosing my Signature Plant

Daily Affirmation: 

I am always connected to Spirit.  Spirit fills my every need and my every desire.  I know that Spirit lives within me.  - Silver Ravenwolf

The first night of my journey works with the wind.  I have opened all my windows to clean out the stale air and any foulness (smells or energy).  I have had my Nag Champa burning all day as it is my husband and my favorite incense.  I have even been airing out my car.  It is interesting that my journey begins with the element of air as it has never been the element I work best with.  However, I know that it will help push me to work harder with my changes as I need the wind to keep propelling me forward.

Part of my task for today, before my ritual this evening, is to choose a Signature Plant.  It will be one that I grow in my own garden and connect with always.  I had an idea of what the plant should be for, but it took me a few hours today to really come to a final conclusion about which one I should use.  And, in true Willow style, I choose one of the most expensive herbs in the world: Saffron

From the Herb Grimoire:

Saffron: Aphrodisiac, love, healing, happiness, wind raising, lust and strength. Burn, wear, or carry for healing and strengthening psychic awareness. Commonly used in love magick, healing spells, and to control the weather. Wash hands with water and saffron or keep saffron sachets in your home to bring happiness.

I think this is exactly the herb I need to keep around.  Part of my journey is to heal old wounds and close doors on my past, otherwise, it is going to keep disrupting my life and never let me move forward.  I need happiness in my life.  I want to be able to smile and mean it.  So, I ordered bulbs from a local nursery.  Apparently saffron grows during the months of September and October.  I am planting a bit late, but I might be able to get some plants to grow this year.  If not, there is always next year.

I want to move forward.  It always works.  Always a blessing.

Blessed be.

 

 

Flower Moon

Tonight is the Flower Moon or the Planting Moon.  The wildlife comes to full awakening in the month of May.  The late spring heat drives life forward and brings forth the early crops of the season.  Many people will enjoy the 3-day holiday weekend picnicing, going to the beach, enjoying parades and (hopefully) remember those who honorably served in the military and all its branches. 

The Flower Moon is a time for expanding and growing, metaphorically and in your garden.  For those of you that planted at the last full moon, it's time to move those plants to larger pots.  For those of you who have grown weary in your mundane lives, it's time to move yourself to another "pot."  Perhaps you need to quit the job that you dread going to every morning or just build up the courage to put in for that promotion.  If you've been out of work, maybe it's time to get back out there with your resumè. 

If you're going to be performing a ritual tonight and you're lucky enough to have nice weather (unlike those of us in the Northeast - thundershowers - whoo!) you may want to draw on that spring energy.  Light a few candles, grab those drums and head outside.  Dance around under the light and power of the full moon.  If you practice with your family, read or act out some spring themed myths from the pantheon you and/or your family feels closest with.


This myth is one of my favorites.  It's not a spring myth, but a moon myth.  Even though my mother's ancestors were Comanche Indians, I still love to read other American Indian myths.  This one is from the Pueblo tribes:

Why the Moon Has One Eye

Long ago, Moon and Sun were made to always keep watch over all of the children of the earth.  They kept their bright eyes on the earth all the time.  

Sun looked down from the sky during the days.  Under his bright light, the flowers and trees and other plants grew.  The birds flew and sang, and the animals went about their way.  The people also worked and played all throughout the day.  And that was good.

Moon looked down from the sky during the nights.  Her eyes were just as bright as those of her husband, the sun.  So it was that there was never any darkness.  Just as it was during the days, the flowers and trees and other plants grew.  The birds flew and sang, and the animals went about their way.  All throughout the night, the people worked and played.  And for a while, that was also good.

But because there was no darkness, it was hard for all the children of the earth to rest.  The flowers and trees and other plants grew without stopping, and they began to grow tired.  The branches of the trees hung down in weariness, and the corn found it hard to stand tall.  The flowers could barely lift their heads.  Because they were always flying and singing, the birds grew hoarse and their songs were no longer so beautiful.  The animals became so tired that it was hard for them to get food.  The people were so worn out from alwas working and playing that they no longer laughed and smiled.  They just walked about as if they were carrying great weights on their shoulders.

The moon and the sun saw that things upon the earth were no longer good for their children.

"We must do something so that our children can rest," the Moon said.

"I will give up one of my eyes," Sun said.  "Then it will no longer be as bright during the daytime."

"No," Moon said.  "It should be bright during the days.  There must be light so that our children can go about their way.  I am the one who must give up one of my eyes.  Then there will be darkness in the nights and things will be good again."

So it was that Moon gave up one of her eyes.  Now the night was no longer so bright as it had been.  All of the children of the earth - the plants, the birds and animals, and the people - could rest during that time of darkness.

Even though her light was less than before, Moon's one eye was still quite bright.  So it was that she decided to close her eye a little bit at a time throughout each month until it was all dark.  Then she would begin to open her eye again.

Although Moon has only one eye, the Pueblo people say that she is even more beautiful than she was before.  The sun is also beautiful, but his yes are so bright that no one can gaze directly at him without feeling pain.  Moon's light, though, is so gentle that even when she is at her brightest, the people can gaze up at her to give thanks for the gift of darkness that she gave through her sacrifice.  

- from The Girl Who Helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales by James Bruchac and Joseph Bruchac, PhD. 

Monday Mutterings: New Moon

Grandmother moon is returning and as usual, I will spend the evening of the new moon meditating.  New Moons are a time to plant your seeds of intention for the Full Moon.  These are the things you want to work towards in the coming days and then, with the next New Moon, you can look are your intentions, wishes and/or hopes and re-evaluate them.  Are these your same dreams?  Have they come true?  Have they changed?  It's also good to not cross off or check off your intentions as they do come to light.  Take note of them or do a tarot reading to see if the intention is complete.

Some ideas for a New Moon ritual:

• Start an intentions journal. At each New Moon, write down your wishes for yourself in the coming months/year(s).  As you work with your spells or with yourself, take note of which intentions come true and which ones don't.
• Tend to your garden.  While you water your plants or give them compost or fertilizer (we put coffee grinds in with our tomatoes), think of how you'd like to grow yourself.  Picture yourself as the plant and how you'd like it to grow.
• If you have children, you can do the first ritual in scrapbook form.  Have your children cut pictures of things that they dream for themselves.  If you're an avid scrapbooker, you may want to do this for yourself.  Sometimes having an image of the intention can help you meditate.

Beltane

May Eve and May Day or Beltane is one of the four fire festivals in the wheel of the year.  It is a celebration of the sexual union between the Lord and the Lady and is the point where the Lady becomes pregnant with the Lord and he will be reborn at Yule.  The May Pole is the most prevalent symbol of Beltane, but there are other ways to celebrate the coming together of the Goddess and the God.  Even though I'm not a technically a solitary, building a Maypole at my parent's house is not exactly feasible, so I needed a few alternatives.  So, I opened up my copy of Scott Cunningham's Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner and found a much more do-able ceremony for Beltane.

If you do not own Cunningham's Guide for Solitary Practitioner, I strongly recommend getting a copy.  It was one of the first three books I purchased when I started my "official" path last summer.  Of all the rituals I've read for Beltane, his is my favorite.  He recommends celebrating in a forest or near a living tree and then cast your circle.  The rest of the ritual is posted below:
Create a small token or charm in honor of the wedding of the Goddess and the God to hang upon the tree.  You can make several if you desire.  These tokens can be bags filled with fragrant flowers, strongs of beads, carvings, flower garlands - whatever your talens and imagination can conjure.  Arrange the altar, light the candles and censer and cast your circle. 
Then, say the following blessing:

May the powers of The One,
the source of all creation;
all-pervasive, omnipoten, eternal;
may the Goddess,
the Lady of the Moon;
and the God,
Horned Hunter of the Sun;
may the power of the Spirits of the Stones,
rulers of the elemental realms;
may the powers of the stars above and the Earth below,
bless this place, and this time, and I who am with You.

Invoke the Goddess and the God:

Gracious Goddess,
You who are the Queen of the Gods,
the lamp of night,
the creator of all that is wild and free;
Mother of woman and man;
lover of the Horned God and protectress of all.
Descend, I pray,
with Your Lunar ray of power
upon my circle here!


Blazing God,
You Who are the King of the Gods
Lord of the Sun,
master of all that is wild and free;
Father of woman and man,
Lover of the Moon Goddess and protector of all.
Descend, I pray,
with Your Solar ray of power
upon my circle here!

Stand before the altar and say, with wand (or hands) raised:

O Mother Goddess, Queen of the night and of the Earth;
O Father God, King of the day and of the forests,
I celebrate Your union as nature rejoices in a ritous
blaze of color and life.  Accept my gift, Mother Goddess
and Father God, in honor of Your union.

Place the token(s) on the tree.

From Your mating shall spring forth life anew;
a profusion of living creatures shall cover the lands,
and the winds will blow pure and sweet.
O Ancient Ones, I celebrate with You!

Enjoy Cakes and Wine and close the Circle.

Blessed Beltane Everyone!

Storm Moon Recap

Last night was our first coven meeting.  It was only four of us to start as some of the members are away for spring break, but it was wonderful.  Our ritual was very similar to what The Domestic Witch posted on her blog yesterday, so you can take a peek over at her blog for the ritual specifics.  It would be a bit redundant for me to post them a second time here.

We didn't get to see the moon herself last night, but the name of this March moon was quite appropriate as it is still storming here in New York.  There was a break in the storm, so we were able to go out into my friend's yard and spread our offerings to the Goddess and the creatures of spring.  In the distance I was able to catch the glipse of some spring rabbits running around.  It was quite fitting for the end of our first coven ritual. 

Something that all of us plan to grow and change along with our blessed seeds is in our health.  We all want to look better and feel better about ourselves which is why I cannot thank The Domestic Witch enough for her spring cleaning event.  It is really helping me keep focused on my overall goal for spiritual and physical cleansing.  We also all commented on how creating this coven is something we've all planned or hoped to do for a long time, but were not independent enough, from our parents and in our own selves, to actually do it.  I really think it will help bring our friendships closer together and really help us draw a great bit of power and energy into our projects. 

I hope everyone had an amazing full moon last night!  Blessed be.

The Storm Moon and more Spring Cleaning!

I know I've been a bit of a slacker when it has come to posting this week, but now that I'm on vacation from work for a week, I'll be able to post more often and everyday. 

In spring cleaning news, I've been doing ok with my diet.  I've had a little cheating this week, but I'll be back on track starting tomorrow.  Even though my food choices haven't been the most outstanding, I'm not overeating which is good.  I still need to be better about getting to the gym.  I did go twice last week and stayed for over an hour and a half.  This week off is much needed for my trips to the gym to increase.  I'm going tomorrow morning and I'll be there Tuesday night to start.  Then we'll go from there!

Tomorrow night is also March's full moon.  Originally I was planning on joining a coven in the area, but my personal schedule and the coven's meeting distance from my own home was a bit of an issue.  So, one of my friends who helped get me to this point in my path suggested starting our own coven.  Now, she does live in upstate New York, which is considerably further away than the originally coven I was going to join.  However, she is a good friend of mine and I'm always welcome to sleep over.  Plus, I love spending time with her, so the extra driving distance is really worth it for me.

For this full moon ritual, I plan on completing my wand project that I started at her house last month.  I have some beautiful beads that I purchased that are made from natural stones.  I'll be using Tiger's Eye (for personal empowerment and as a grounding stone), Hematite (for dissolving negativity) and Red Garnet (for self confidence and sexuality - hehehe).  The changes in season allow for a lot of creative energy and the full moon is a good opportunity to concentrate the wand.  I'll post some ritual ideas for everyone tomorrow along with my Monday Mutterings. 

And now my craft is in

the rock garden!

Plus, I love the idea that Catpriestess from eWitch gave me about making one for all of the Sabbats.  I think this will become a Sabbat tradition.  When the hubby and I finally purchase a home of our own, we plan on having a stone fire ring:

These stepping stones would be placed around the yard or near the fire ring.  Plus, I just was reading through my Ostara lessons from about.com and got another awesome idea.  Since the Ostara stepping stone has glow in the dark stars, I could use it in a Magical Moon Garden.  The ideas are just flowing this weekend!  I'm excited!

Spring Cleaning: Phase One

Spring Cleaning with The Domestic Witch starts this Sunday.  I'm actually starting a little bit early, but I am following her schedule:

Week ~ Area of the Home ~ Area of Life
Week 1 ~ Home Exterior and Repairs ~ Health and Fitness
Week 2 ~ Front Porch/Entryway ~ Personality and Self-image
Week 3 ~ Kitchen and Dining Room ~ The Heart of Your Life
Week 4 ~ Living Areas ~ Entertainment and Social Life
Week 5 ~ Your Bedroom ~ Love Life and Relaxation
Week 6 ~ Kids' Bedrooms ~ Fertility and Parenting
Week 7 ~ Bathroom ~ Beauty and Hygiene
Week 8 ~ Home Office/Den ~ Career and Finances
Week 9 ~ Back Yard ~ Connecting with Nature
Week 10 ~ Front Yard ~ Living Green
Week 11 ~ Garage/Attic/Basement ~ Emotional and Mental Clutter
Week 12 ~ Laundry Area and Closets ~Your Shadow Self

I don't own my own home yet, but I will be helping my mother clean hers.  Since The Domestic Witch's first Week is focused on personal health and fitness, I started by eliminating all harmful cleaners and beauty products.  I've been replacing them with plant based, green products and  I wanted to recommend one of them to all of you out there in blog land.  The company is called Onesta and they make all natural hair products.  The best part is that they are vegan (no animal products used) and cruelty free (no animal testing).  Everything in them is plant based.   It's not available for purchase except in salons, so I'm not sure how easily any of you can get it where you live, but their line of hair products, especially the shampoo and conditioner, are wonderful.  Check out their website and see if a salon near you sells their line of product.  Any pagan would appreciate their pledge for green living as well as their contributions towards cancer research.

Ostara Altar Ideas

stara

I thought my first Ostara post should be about altar ideas.  Whenever I set up my altar, I take my inspiration from the season itself, then I add the traditional symbols of the holiday.

Altar Cloth Colors
Everyone always typically picks pastel colors for spring.  Personally, I cannot stand pastels.  The closest I get to using a pastel is using a pale green for my Ostara altar cloth.  However, draw your own color ideas from what you see outside.  Another color I tend to use is violet because it is the color of the tulips outside of my house and they are the first flowers I see in spring.  You can do the same at your house.  Don't remember which color flowers come up first?  Then go with whatever color feels right to you.

Flowers
I also tend to decorate my altar with plants and/or flowers which reflect the season.  Tulips and Daffodils are early spring flowers and I will often use them in my set up.  Plus, if you'd like to get really symbolic, they both look like phallic symbols (tulips representing female; daffodils representing male). 

Spring Symbols
Growing up a Catholic, there were always egg and bunny decorations all over my house.  They are still there since I still live with my parents (I'm married too - imagine how much fun that is!). Interestingly enough, none of the decorations my mother has put up this year say "Happy Easter," but say "Happy Spring" instead.  Now to your altar.  Because this time of year was always rabbits and eggs, I continue the same theme on my altar.  The Christmas Tree Shoppe has tons of cheap, cute holiday decorations.  I highly recommend taking a stop in there if you have a store near you.  You can also make many of your own decorations.  I still color hard boiled eggs and place them on the altar.  I'm still working on Earth friendly, home-made dyes.  If they don't work out, food coloring and vinegar still works.  After my ritual, I put them back in the fridge for breakfast the next morning.  

                   Other Home-made Altar Ideas: These are all great, especially if you have little ones.

• Home-made butterflys or caterpillars
• Lambs
• Mosaics - great as a hot plate for your cauldron! 
• Stained Glass projects - AC Moore and Michael's have these or try this link to make one from melted crayons!
• Birdhouses
• Nests with eggs
• Tissue Paper flowers

Other Items You May Want to Include:
Honey and Milk are also spring symbols and you may want to include a glass of one or both on your altar.  Milk is obviously a symbol of fertility and motherhood.  You can pour the glass of milk outside as a gift (much like an Imbolc ritual) or offering to the Lord and the Lady or to the Fae.  Honey is a symbol of abundance.  Spring is a time that is abundant with life both physically and metaphorically.  The honey can be used later in cakes and wine or as part of an Ostara dinner or even in a nice cup of herbal tea.

I hope everyone enjoys these ideas!

March New Moon Ritual

I have been very busy with my Graduate school work this weekend.  Because I've been such a busy bee, I haven't had the chance to post my promised rituals for Ostara and the New Moon!  I'm a very bad blogger. 

Tonight is the March New Moon.  New Moons are a representation of the Goddess in the form of the Crone.  It is also symbolic of new beginnings, rebirth, and death.  The March New Moon can be seen as the death of winter and the birth of spring.  All around us we can see the signs of the coming warmth.  This morning I saw my first robin.  He was jumping around the raindrops in my backyard.  I couldn't help but watch and giggle.  Thank goodness neither of my kitties were outside!

I've often found that New Moons are the best time for meditation.  Full Moons rituals can be more elaborate as each has a name and purpose within the Wheel of the Year.  New Moons are separate in my practice.  I still conduct a small ritual, but the main purpose of the New Moon is to meditate and reflect on the self.  I seem to be doing a lot of reflecting lately and I think it is because I have so much stress in my life.  So, if you feel the same, I hope this short New Moon ritual is helpful for you.

You Will Need:
A Bowl of Water (Water)
A Bowl of Salt or Dirt (Earth)
A Feather or your favorite insense (Air)
A Yellow or Red Candle (Fire)

Arrange the items listed above as you see fit.  Everyone has their own preference for altar set-ups.  If you wish to have a traditional altar, feel free.

Ritual (This is my personal meditation.  Feel free to change it for your own needs/beliefs):

1. Light the red/yellow candle and incense (if using).  I usually arrange the objects around me in a circle and  I lay down.  I'd like to conduct this ritual outside, but it's always raining!

2. Raise your open arms and say "As [your name for the Goddess] are you known to me, for this is Moon of my Lady as the Crone, Lady of Darkness, of Wisdom, of Mysteries revealed.  The Wheel turns through birth, death, and rebirth, and every end is a new beginning.  You are the Passage from life to life; You are She who is at the beginning and the end of all time.  You, with Your Lord [your name for the God] at your side, abide in us all, so mote it be!" - from the Grimoire for the Green Witch by Ann Moura

3. Close your eyes and begin to meditate: While sitting or standing or laying down, cross your arms.  Imagine yourself walking in the woods toward your sacred space.  Concentrate on the feeling of the ground beneath you.  Focus on the cool feeling of the soil beneath your feet.  Feel empowered by the crunching of twigs and leaves as you walk.  As you walk, you notice a clearing in the trees.  There, in the clearing, you see an old woman.   She stands there, motionless.  However, a voice tells you to approach her.  There is nothing surrounding her except the trees.  They are leafless, but you notice the buds beginning to appear on the branches.  There is an immediate warmth surrounding the elderly woman.  Again, you hear a voice inviting you to take her hand and sit.  Together, you sit in the middle of the clearing, holding first one hand and then both.  Finally, she speaks, but only one word, "Listen."  You close your eyes, and focus on the sounds reverberating around you.  They are the sounds of spring: the robin, the scampering of small animals on leaves, water dripping from tree branches.  You open your eyes.  The old woman speaks again: "Listen, closer."  You begin to focus beyond the forest around you and you hear the Earth awakening.  You heart her heart beating and you feel it beneath you.  You begin to realize that your heart and the Earth's are beating together.  Feel yourself coming back to life with her.  Think of your mind, body and spirit opening up like a new spring flower.  You are reborn again.  Again, you open your eyes.  The old woman is now standing before you.  She speaks for the last time: "Rise."  As you stand before her, she takes your hand again and smiles.  That same warmth you felt when you first approached fills you again and you begin your walk back through the path.  Even though she is behind you, the Goddess is still walking beside you, holding your hand.


4. Slowly open your eyes.  You may still feel that warmth gaining in the meditation.  You may feel very emotional, especially if this is the first time you've seen the Goddess, in any form.  You may need a few moments with yourself alone.  Once you are ready, raise your open arms again and say: "You are the Dark Mother of All; the Tomb that is also the Womb.  You are at the beginning and end of life.  You dwell within us all for You are Life, the Passage to New Life, and Love; and thus do You make me immortal through in the cycle of Life, the Passage to New Life, and Love.  Love is the Law and Love is the Bond! So mote it Be! - from the Grimoire for the Green Witch by Ann Moura

5. Blow out the candle if you wish to end the ritual.  If not, you may wish to have cakes and wine.

I  also enjoyed the March New Moon ritual on A Pagan Tapestry. You may want also want to bookmark her blog.  I've put many of her posts into my Book of Shadows.

Quickening Moon Ritual

 

View of the Quickening Moon from Between the Trees at my Home

The Quickening Moon

The Quickening Moon is also known as the Snow Moon or the Bone Moon to the Cherokee.  It is considered the last moon of winter and is when the "quickening" can be felt in the pregnant animals whose babies are due in springtime.  It is a time when the Earth herself is reminding us that she is still alive underneath all of that snow.

Full Moons are sometimes a time for magic or for reflection.  For this Quickening Moon, I will be reflecting on my own mistakes and on how I'd like to improve myself.  Even though Imbolc has past, I still feel that its intentions are still in the air on this last night of February.  Imbolc is about cleansing the soul and meditating under the Quickening Moon is an excellent way to do that.  So, if you can find a window where the Moon can gaze down upon you or if you are brave enough to withstand the elements, light a candle (I always use white) and think about what you want to improve about yourself or in your life.  Concentrate on what you must do to make these changes possible.  You can even say this chant to yourself: 

I rejoice in the light of the moon

and in the presence of the Lord and the Lady.

I celebrate the season of darkness,
knowing that the next turn of the Wheel will bring light.
I use this time of darkness for thought,
introspection, and growth. 
As the moon above, so the earth below.*

*adapted from Winter Full Moon Ritual

After this you may wish to go into a formal ceremony or have a meal with loved ones and share in the warmth that they bring to the home.  This can be a reminder of the warmer weather that is on the way.  Decorate the table with signs of spring or just have a simple bouquet of spring flowers as your centerpiece (they can be real or silk).  Remember to give thanks (verbally or internally) for those who can share the meal with you and for the meal itself.