Today is the day of the Blue Moon! I'm so excited! There is a lot of magic that can be done when the moon is full, and if it's Blue - so much more can be done! Blue Moons, because they come around so seldom, are much stronger than usual. The time is accelerated, what you would normally have to spread out over a full cycle, can be accomplished in 1 night! The night of the Blue Moon can be used for all the usual reasons you would use for a full moon, but increased in strength and speed. So Workings that you normally would start on the full moon and plan to continue throughout the cycle to the next full moon, can be started and completed on the Blue Moon! And furthermore, this Blue Moon is happening on a Thursday, so all the aspects of Jupiter are increased as well. Prosperity workings, growth, nurturing, finding lost articles (or people), etc. - all these workings are magnified in their results! So if you don't already have a Working planned for tonight - get busy and gather all your tools and resources, and plan carefully, so that you can avail yourself of the special powers of the Blue Moon!
Now, having said all that, I know that I had planned on giving you information on the upcoming Sabot yesterday, but I had a particularly exhaustive visit with the chiropractor in the morning and the rest of the day vanished in a haze in the recliner ! Sorry about that, but I am ready to make good on the promise today.
Litha is the longest day of the year, when the Sun is at the peak of power! Litha festivals are fire festivals and have more to do with the Lord than the Lady. This is a time when the balance of power shifts. Up til now, power has been on the Feminine side, all about new beginnings, growth, nurturing, and Fertility. But from Litha on, the energy is on the Masculine side. It is about more about accomplishment, harvest of things already begun. The feminine power is still around (the Lady never disappears completely), but her power is more supportive than the main influence. Now the King is ascendant, and the Queen watches and helps in the background.
Litha is a time when, much like Samhain, the veil between the Worlds is thin. Mortals may have strange experiences. It is a time when the Fae play more openly in this plane. It is said that if you step on St. John's Wort on Litha, you will dance with the Faeries all night and possibly never leave them!
Litha is a great time to harvest your magical herbs. Take care to ask permission and then leave a tribute to the plant from whom you harvested. Dry some St. John's Wort to hang in your home for protection.
Mead is the traditional drink for Litha. It takes a long time to make and is not something I have made successfully so I leave that to more experienced hands than mine. However, I came across a quick substitute that doesn't take much time and I enjoy the taste. Honey Apple Tea is non-alcoholic, so it's also suitable for the younger celebrants among the group. Here's a quick recipe:
4 black tea bags
1/3 cup honey
3 cups unsweetened apple juice
3 cups boiling water
several slices of lemon
Makes 6 to 8 servings In a 2 quart pot, brew tea bags in boiling water. Remove bags, add honey and apple juice. Stir well. Pour over ice.
Appropriate Litha herbs: Lavender, Chamomile, Roses, Daisy, Lily
Incense: Frankincense, Lemon,
Colors: Blue, Green, Yellow
Litha offerings: Flowers, nuts, St. John's Wort
So this should get you started on your Litha research for now. Perhaps you would like to add some of your favorite recipes for this time of the year. Just put them in the comment section of this blog and I will gather them all and post them in one place (giving credit for each one, of course, to the submitter)
That's it for now, I have preparations to make for tonight's Blue Moon Magic!
Have a Blessed and productive day!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Hello, it's been a few days since I've posted, so I want to catch us up with the days and their associations that I missed posting.
Since Friday was the last day posted, let's go on to Saturday, which is ruled by the planet Saturn. The color associated with Saturn is black, which is the combining of all colors and therefor very powerful and diverse in it's attributes. In general, Saturn (and the color black), is usually associated with Justice, Karmic Balance,High Magic,Dark Rituals and Wisdom. This is a day when, if you have a situation involving an injustice to you or yours, you may call the Karma of all involved into balance. Just remember, this can be a double-edged sword, because not only is the Karma called into balance of the one who has done the dis-service - but also the one who was wronged shall have their Karma balanced. So, be careful of this aspect - if you call for Justice and Karmic Balance, make sure that you are ready to have yours balanced as well!
On to Sunday, ruled by the Sun and resonating with the color yellow or gold. This is a day of material wealth (long term prosperity involving things more than actual cash), and physical strength. It is also a day to dispel dis-harmony, to bring about peaceful co-existence between long time enemies. Also a day dedicated to the Gods.
Monday is ruled by the Moon and resonates to white or silver. A day to honor Goddesses. The aspects associated to this day are: Emotional Balance, feminine beauty, and peace.
And now we come to today: Tuesday is governed by the planet Mars. Its color is red and the aspects are more aggressive - not necessarily hostile, but it could be that the energies around you will be much more assertive than usual. Mars energy is also healing by nature. Lust is another strong vibration for Mars.
Now, let's move on to the Herb Lore.
Calendula Flowers:
Protection, legal matters, and psychic/spiritual powers. Pick at noon for comfort and strength. Place garlands of calendula at doors to prevent evil from entering. Scatter under the bed for protection and to make dreams come true. Carry to help justice favor you in court. Touch the flowers with bare feet to better understand birds.
Also Called: Marigold, Summer's Bride, Bride of the Sun, Sun's Gold, Ruddes, Ruddles I like to put these, along with other herbs and flowers, into a sachet to hang in my Reading Room, to help strengthen my Intuitive and Psychic abilities.
Catnip:
Sacred to Bast; should be used in any ritual involving cats or cat deities. Use with rose petals in love sachets. Use in sachets and spells designed to enhance beauty or happiness. Provides protection while sleeping. Mix with Dragon's Blood to rid oneself of a behavioral problem or bad habit. Burn dried leaves for love magick. Grow near the home or hang over the door to attract good spirits and luck.
Also Called: Cat's Play, Catmint, Nip, Nepeta, Field Balm, Catswort, Catnep . Make sure you keep your extra Catnip stored in a tightly sealed, absolutely air-tight container if your familiar is of the feline persuasion or you'll come home one day to herb scattered everywhere and a cat that's drunk as a lord!
Tomorrow I plan to start adding a section in the Blog that will deal with the vibrations leading up to, and the traditions of the Sabbats. I'll start with the next one, which is Litha (also known as the Autumnal Solstice or Midsummer). Well, I have other catching up to do, and more preparation for the upcoming Blue Moon on Thursday, so I'll leave you for now, passing on the Blessings of the Universe to you and yours.
Since Friday was the last day posted, let's go on to Saturday, which is ruled by the planet Saturn. The color associated with Saturn is black, which is the combining of all colors and therefor very powerful and diverse in it's attributes. In general, Saturn (and the color black), is usually associated with Justice, Karmic Balance,High Magic,Dark Rituals and Wisdom. This is a day when, if you have a situation involving an injustice to you or yours, you may call the Karma of all involved into balance. Just remember, this can be a double-edged sword, because not only is the Karma called into balance of the one who has done the dis-service - but also the one who was wronged shall have their Karma balanced. So, be careful of this aspect - if you call for Justice and Karmic Balance, make sure that you are ready to have yours balanced as well!
On to Sunday, ruled by the Sun and resonating with the color yellow or gold. This is a day of material wealth (long term prosperity involving things more than actual cash), and physical strength. It is also a day to dispel dis-harmony, to bring about peaceful co-existence between long time enemies. Also a day dedicated to the Gods.
Monday is ruled by the Moon and resonates to white or silver. A day to honor Goddesses. The aspects associated to this day are: Emotional Balance, feminine beauty, and peace.
And now we come to today: Tuesday is governed by the planet Mars. Its color is red and the aspects are more aggressive - not necessarily hostile, but it could be that the energies around you will be much more assertive than usual. Mars energy is also healing by nature. Lust is another strong vibration for Mars.
Now, let's move on to the Herb Lore.
Calendula Flowers:
Protection, legal matters, and psychic/spiritual powers. Pick at noon for comfort and strength. Place garlands of calendula at doors to prevent evil from entering. Scatter under the bed for protection and to make dreams come true. Carry to help justice favor you in court. Touch the flowers with bare feet to better understand birds.
Also Called: Marigold, Summer's Bride, Bride of the Sun, Sun's Gold, Ruddes, Ruddles I like to put these, along with other herbs and flowers, into a sachet to hang in my Reading Room, to help strengthen my Intuitive and Psychic abilities.
Catnip:
Sacred to Bast; should be used in any ritual involving cats or cat deities. Use with rose petals in love sachets. Use in sachets and spells designed to enhance beauty or happiness. Provides protection while sleeping. Mix with Dragon's Blood to rid oneself of a behavioral problem or bad habit. Burn dried leaves for love magick. Grow near the home or hang over the door to attract good spirits and luck.
Also Called: Cat's Play, Catmint, Nip, Nepeta, Field Balm, Catswort, Catnep . Make sure you keep your extra Catnip stored in a tightly sealed, absolutely air-tight container if your familiar is of the feline persuasion or you'll come home one day to herb scattered everywhere and a cat that's drunk as a lord!
Tomorrow I plan to start adding a section in the Blog that will deal with the vibrations leading up to, and the traditions of the Sabbats. I'll start with the next one, which is Litha (also known as the Autumnal Solstice or Midsummer). Well, I have other catching up to do, and more preparation for the upcoming Blue Moon on Thursday, so I'll leave you for now, passing on the Blessings of the Universe to you and yours.
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